Constructibility refers to ensuring in advance that a building or structure can be built efficiently, in terms of time, resources and money. Building Information Modeling, when developed and accurate enough, lets the industry achieve efficiency with information-rich, as-built models and find possible problems before starting to work, using or wasting real materials. As-built models minimize costly surprises, RFIs (requests for information) and opening the way for more profitable projects.
If the question is “What is BIM?”, constructibility should be a part of the answer. With Tekla, constructibility is the foundation of developing BIM software. Software must meet the needs of the industry, putting the “I” like information to BIM – the more information a model includes, the more beneficial it is to all project parties.
Everyday constructibility
Constructibility is a practical, everyday issue for builders. Because construction is a process, software must support the whole workflow including the inevitable changes. As buildings comprise several materials, software should be able to handle the same.
Constructible, as-built models allow the industry to make informed decisions early in the process. Tekla Structures is made for creating, combining and distributing highly developed, accurate and information-rich structural models using any material. The data is accurate and ample as it accumulates as what is entered at the beginning of the process stays with until the end. The builders can manage changes and avoid errors, find clashes and produce better quality with less time and waste.
“We have seen cases where the costs have been reduced by 50 % when using BIM. Having constructibility issues sorted out before starting construction will inevitably lead to fewer errors.” Charles Eastman, professor Georgia Tech College of Architecture
Bigger, better, cheaper, faster – now
Current trends in construction promote constructibility. The industry trend is towards increasingly complicated architecture, designers and builders have to find ever more innovative solutions, and then realize these. The need to build successfully and safely is the reason why accurate information is necessary already in the design phase.
Cost pressure is ever-present. Using constructible models, the building can become cheaper, better, and faster. Processes can be planned and scheduled and possible mishaps in the design phase detected before starting construction. This leads to less ad-hoc problem solving on-site.
The off-site building is another trend that makes accurate information crucial. It is gaining ground as the industry heads towards savings and a higher level of automation. Even larger units, such as steel-roof assemblies and factory-built bathrooms, arrive prefabricated to the construction site to be installed just on time. Naturally, every such item needs to fit exactly and stay on the schedule while vast amounts of changing information must reach those who work on the project. This process definitely calls for accurate, as-built, up-to-date information that is easily shared and found – sounds just like constructible models.
Want to learn more about Tekla Structures? Contact us – and ask about special financing on multi-year subscriptions!
