BIM (Building Information Modeling) and Virtual Construction

BIM covers geometry, spatial relationships, quantities and properties of building components. BIM can be used to demonstrate the entire building life cycle including the processes of construction and facility operation. Quantities and shared properties of materials can easily be extracted. Scopes of work can be isolated and defined. Systems, assemblies, and sequences are able to be shown in a relative scale with the entire facility or group of facilities.

BIM provides the potential for a virtual information model to be handed from Design Team (architects, consulting engineers, and others) to Contractor and Subcontractors and then to the Owner, each adding their own additional discipline-specific knowledge.  The result is greatly reduced amount of change orders and request for information.

Able Steel Fabricators, Inc. has developed an outstanding grasp of the “BIM” technology.  Our detail department is currently involved with the BIM task force developed by ASU and ACE (Alliance for Construction Excellence). Our involvement with this organization allows us to address the problems and needs of our industry, and assist in creating BIM documents for educational purposes. We acknowledge BIM as both a design process and design tool.  

Currently and for the past 4 years, we detail our structural steel projects with a 3D application know as SDS2 by Design Data. SDS2 provides us with the ability to produce high quality steel fabrication and erection drawings. Able Steel Fabricators, Inc. has added connector products purchased through Design Data to allow importing and exporting of 3D model files utilizing the newest industry standards. This allows us to do more than just 3D renderings and become involved in the process of sharing building information. When uncommon software products are used on the front end, if necessary we have made use of conversion software manipulating received files to import into our SDS2 system. Our exporting features are current with all industry CAD systems, and imports into NavisWorks and others similar for virtual clash detection.

Able Steel Fabricators, Inc. has developed FTP tools for collaborating with the BIM teams on projects. This allows us to share information quickly in the design process. Working with the Team up front to establish a protocol in the naming of model files and the establishment of one place to share the information eliminates lost time.