Overview

Reed is introducing a new concept that will make it easier for owners, architects and building product manufacturers (BPM's) to more quickly take advantage of BIM. The concept is SmartBIM Spaces. With SmartBIM Spaces Reed will deliver complete spaces with generic SmartBIM Objects and links to BPM's SmartBIM Objects. Architects will be able to compose projects more quickly utilizing high quality SmartBIM Ojbects,- BPM's will be able to insure that architects are selecting the correct products for the space, and owners will be able to insure that their designers are following design standards and product recommendations.

Architects and Engineers

Architects and engineers are moving to BIM very quickly. I have written about the lack of objects previously, which is why Reed creates generic and BPM specific SmartBIM Objects. The Reed SmartBIM Library and SmartBIM.com helps architects and engineers find our objects and also helps manage the designer's objects. However, when the designer is working on a specific project, such as a school, they still need to find the objects for all the spaces within the school. Not only must they find the objects but they need to often decide between multiple objects to determine which one is the most appropriate. Prior to BIM the designer could draw a symbol and the specifically specify the product later in the design process. With BIM that is not always possible or logical, if you want to show a light fixture you can no longer draw a couple of lines and label them as a fixture, you need to pick the correct object, perhaps it is even faster for the project if you select the specific product.

With SmartBIM Spaces you can import the entire space with SmartBIM Objects (classroom, gymnasium, etc.) and then drag and drop from the SmartBIM Spaces to the architect's spaces; this is much faster than needing to search for the correct objects. Reed has also linked BPM's SmartBIM Objects to the spaces giving the architect to option of using generic objects or BPM SmartBIM Objects that have been specifically selected as appropriate for the space. When more than one BPM has linked their SmartBIM Objects to the space the architect can select the manufacturer of they prefer.

The architect can also use the SmartBIM Spaces as a sophisticated "bubble diagram". The architect can insert all the applicable SmartBIM Spaces into the project and use them for layout, as a checklist, or even use them with modifications as appropriate for their design. The architect can use the SmartBIM Spaces in conjunction with SmartBIM QTO to run early cost estimates.

BPM's

BPM's have a major challenge. Most manufacturers produce scores of products, some very specific to a space within the project. They need to get their products in front of the designer at the moment that they need the object, or at the moment that they should be considering their product, this is difficult. With SmartBIM Spaces there is a direct link between the space and the BPM's product. If the BPM's designs basketball backboards and the architect has the SmartBIM Spaces gymnasium it is a simple click to see a listing of the BPM's backboards. SmartBIM Spaces can also be a path of the BPM to educate the architect, for example there are several types of glass that perform very differently and have different thermal transmission and visibility characteristics. When the architect is using SmartBIM Spaces they not only get the BPM's products but appropriate links back to the BPM's information.

Conclusion

BIM has been focused on how the documentation process is improved, model more and draw less. BIM has been focused on how the data can be used, analysis, automated schedules, the foundation for facilities management and operations. Now with SmartBIM Spaces we are starting to look into how we change the design process and the delivery of massive amounts of information in a cohesive format based upon the spaces. BPM's and even Owners see immediate value in SmartBIM Spaces. I was somewhat concerned that architects might feel we are infringing on their turf. My concern faded rapidly as we presented SmartBIM Objects at the AIA show earlier in May. Architects, as I had hoped, viewed SmartBIM Spaces as a delivery system for information, just like a graphic standards book.We are not creating designs, just comprehensive collections of SmartBIM Objects.

I have stated often that BIM will change everything and everyone connected with ownership, design, construction, manufacturing, real estate and the operations of buildings. We are at the start of a new era.

Click here to learn more about SmartBIM Spaces or go to the website now.