BIM Storm
What is a BIMstorm™? A BIMstorm can be used for many scenarios for example:
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Real time cost and area / program calculation linked to 2D and 3D models.
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Web enabled tools to allow for multiple users to collaborate in real time.
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Massive Real-Time Collaboration
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A series of rapid-fire live charrettes or a BIMStorm™ to design projects at warp speed.
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When decisions happen in real-time, and are linked together through open standards based exchanges, potential errors are spotted faster, and a proper trajectory is created
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Sustainable decision making
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Open standards based exchanges
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Watch the on-line presentation or participate
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Useful Tools: Archicad, City GML, DDS-CAD, Elite CAD, Google Docs, Google Earth, Go To Meeting, IFC, Knowledge, MS Excel, MS Word, Navis Works, ONUMA Planning System, ONUMA BIMXML Converter, paper, PDA, pencil, Revit, Skype, Webex, OGC WFS, 3G cell phone (listed here, but not all are necessary to have a full working knowledge of)
In a traditional design and construction process, a developer must find an appropriate property and program for a project. Let's say for a hotel and office building in Los Angeles. They must then run through multiple scenarios of what to build to support the changing market and their bottom line. At the same time they may need to negotiate with city agencies and a broker for the various properties they are reviewing. They may bring on an architect at an early stage of development to study several scenarios and create an early plan. All of the above activities and many more are dependent of each other. In a traditional process much of the early planning and design and is very linear and disconnected. The architect prepares early plans and documents and submits to the developer in a few weeks. By that time the requirements may have changed. There is a constant back and forth between experts, engineers, cost estimators, city agencies to review and approve the next step or in many cases to backtrack and redo work. This is just for the early design process.
The ONUMA BIMstorm™ allows all the experts to collaborate in decision making in real time. This real time collaboration allows you to spot problems and identify patterns and trends as the project progresses and make corrections on the spot. You can bring in other experts to view the project data while the design evolves. There is no need to be an expert at any software in order to participate. For example cost estimates and area calculations can be viewed in real time on the web or exported out to Excel. The numbers in the reports and Excel file are directly linked to the graphics and 3D. There is no need to manually confirm that everything in sync because it is in sync by design.
Imagine if the airline industry published a paper catalogue of airfares every month and mailed this out to us. Or if the published a CD with the same data. Then we would have to call the airline or have an agent manage the reservation. Today with Expedia or Obitz, you can do this in real time. The construction industry is in many ways functioning like the first scenario of passing static project information around. There are better and more efficient ways to do this. Welcome to the ONUMA BIMstorm™.
Visit the ONUMA page on BIM Storm
To go further: also visit the Build London: Live website
Build London: Live
Build London Live was a 48 hours design-fest to create virtual buildings on a real-world site in south-east London. Despite the name, the teams from Asia, the Americas and Europe did not have to roll up their sleeves in London. Their “distance” participation in a virtual environment mirrored the flexibility that BIM allows in real-world projects. Any construction project using BIM can benefit from the collaboration of supply-chain partners wherever they are located.
The event took the form of a competition and the design teams were given a brief for a mixed-use development on the Greenwich peninsula in London. The site context was supplied through Google Earth and a video. Two software platforms were provided: the Asite collaboration system (cBim) and the Onuma Planning System (OPS), used as the BIM model server for early-stage sketch design.
The success of Build London: Live (the Build London Live website had 49,327 hits on the 26th of June alone!) opens the way for future "Build Live" events...
Read our full article about Build London: Live
Visit the Build London: Live website
BouwGame
Incorporating sustainability in the construction process has sometimes proven to be challenging.
While there is a common mindset for the promotion of sustainable construction, stemming from a variety of stakeholders, such as politicians, local government, businesses and consumers, communication has proven to be a key challenge to overcome.
The AECGame foundation perceives sustainability as a core value that needs to be incorporated in the construction industry. Traditional construction processes need to evolve, thus prompting calls for the development and implementation of new and innovative approaches to construction, with positive effects on behavior.
How does it work?
The AECGame foundation uses game and simulation techniques to promote sustainable construction practices. 
As an example; a variety of stakeholders are brought together and assigned the task to complete the planning of a sustainable construction project. A coach moderates the game, temporarily halting the process to offer spectators the opportunity to provide comments and reactions. A jury then evaluates the team using a sustainability tape measure. The game may be run as a competition. Spectators can offer feedback to the team or provide the ‘golden tip’ which awards them a prize.
Games are tailored to the requirements of those who commission it, always having a core focus of promoting sustainable approaches to issues in hand. Situations are ‘played-out’ and the process aims to inform, educate and overcome constraints in applying the theoretical knowledge in real life situations.
The AECGame foundation is possible thanks to the contribution of a group of enthusiastic innovators within the construction industry.
Activities
In 2008, focus has been placed on establishing a solid base and an even larger network of operation. Activities include the organization of a pilot game for the Dutch province of Utrecht, new games including the ‘Construction team selection’ and the BIM game in partnership with Cadvisual. In addition, customized games according to our clients' needs continue to be developed.
For more information, please consult www.bouwgame.nl
Contact
Cora Gijswijt (BouwWijzer B.V. )
Jenny Senhorst (Horst & Com)
University courses on BIMs
A number of universities are now proposing courses on Building Information Models. A non exhaustive list of courses is available y clicking on the link below:
