la bimstorm - aia bim awards jury's choice award 2008

International BIM Charette

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Documentation of Innovative Processes used to Realize the Project

Process Change that Enhances Overall Architecture Services

Effective Team Collaboration

Clear Depiction Using Interoperability to Gain Design Benefits

Quantifiable Benefits Addressing Costs, Schedule, Quality and Sustainability

Google Earth | KML Files

Design Team Members by Role - Defining Their Roles

Relevant Work flows and Data Exchanges to Realize Goals (within the category submitted)

Quantify the Benefits Achieved (Based on the category of the submission)

Non-Technology Factors

Cultural Change in the Way Projects are Delivered

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.................................................BIM Los Angeles | Project Overview 4

..........................Design Team Members by Role - Defining Their Roles 5

..........................................Relevant Workflows and Data Exchanges 8

.........................................................Quantifying Benefits Achieved 11

.................................................................Non Technology Factors 15

Quantifiable Benefits Addressing Costs, Schedule, Quality and .................................................................................Sustainability 18

........Clear depiction of using interoperability to gain design benefits 22

............Process Change that Enhances Overall Architecture Services 33

....Documentation of Innovative Processes Used to Realize the Project 35

..........................Cultural Change in the Way Projects Are Delivered 36

...............................................................Google Earth | KML Files 37

International BIM Charette | Table of Contents

BIM Los Angeles | Project Overview


On January 31, 2008 architects, planners, engineers, industry experts, government agencies, academia, students and a multitude of experts from a cross section of building industry gathered virtually to design over 60 Los Angeles city blocks encompassing 40 million square feet in real-time. Preparation for the charrette continued for about one month and the core of the charrette itself happened in a 24 hour period (the day before this document was created).

Comprising 600 acres, the Cornfields area, just north of Chinatown and downtown Los Angeles, was the site. Two major freeway and a light rail system runs through the predominantly industrial area, interspersed among sporadic multi-family residential developments and artists lofts.

The International (Building Information Modeling) BIM Charette was an unprecedented mass collaboration of small one person offices and large architectural firms working in real time to design with information. It demonstrated a systematic approach for design, promoted, sharing, open-ness and acting globally. The technologies used were desktop applications and BIM. What made it possible to collaborate worldwide in real time was a web based BIM model server with a user interface that allowed access and editing of the BIM data on the web in real time.

Although the scenarios were fictional, the architectural and planning set was real. The intent was not to create a “final” optimal solution, but to create an engine that allowed rapid scenario building to create a trajectory and then to be able to adjust the assumptions to get varying results. As architects we have the opportunity to increase the value we provide to clients and society by imagining and aggregating decisions at a much larger scale and with a direct connection to what the implications are in the future.

Encouraging experimentation and being controversial is good. It is much better to make mistakes in the virtual world than to make them in the real world. Make a lot of mistakes, make them fast and move on.

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Design Team Members by Role - Defining Their Roles

1 Design Team Members by Role - Defining Their Roles

With the size of each team ranging from one to ten people, over ten teams each collaborated in the 24 hour charrette. Teams were defined by task and expertise. The goal was not to focus on technology but on the experience and capabilities of each individual. The real time collaborative process using a web based system allowed the teams to function as a whole. The teams included, owners, architects, planners, standards organizations, energy analysis, codes, cost, lifecycle, emergency planners, and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysts. For clarity sake, the teams were identified to have two levels of participation. Creators and analysts. The design and planning fulfilled the “creator roles,” while the analysts roles included their immediate reaction, comments and expertise that provided valuable information on the projects as they progressed.

Architects should be looked at as information experts. In this new reality, architects are in the information business and positioning ourselves to understand this demonstrates the relevance of our profession. The line between what is software and what is architecture will start to blue.

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Relevant Workflows and Data Exchanges

2 Relevant Workflows and Data Exchanges

Typical workflows in architectural and planning processes are linear and drawn out over time. The International BIM Charette was based on traditional charrettes that had all stakeholders in a room together. The main difference is that the participants were not in the room together but spread out all over the world and interconnected with technologies and new processes. Workflows happened in parallel.

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Quantifying Benefits Achieved

3 Quantifying Benefits Achieved

153,956,533 square feet of program area and 1,124 buildings were designed in 24 hours, by 25 teams and more than 130 people. The equivalent of millions of pages of documents were catalogued. The 1,124 buildings could be exported in various formats including BIM IFC files. The fact that the BIM data was in the Web Based Online BIM database, that allowed users instant access to hundreds of thousands of individual plan files was a huge benefit. On many desktop BIM applications opening a single BIM file takes from three minutes to ten minutes each depending on size. Having to work with 1,124 building would take up most of a 24 hour period in opening and closing files alone. Out of the total area studied, 54,755,153 square feet was submitted by all the teams at the end of the 24 hour charrette.

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Non Technology Factors

4 Non Technology Factors

The willingness to collaborate in an open way through the internet and working in real time, took more than just an internet connection. Change is required to accept the new process. Prior the the start of the charrette, teams were invited from around the world to collaborate and prepare for the BIM charrette. The teams assembled were willing to accept this changed process that included much more transparency in sharing of information.

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Structural Sketch

Quantifiable Benefits Addressing Costs, Schedule, Quality and Sustainability

Quantifiable Benefits Addressing Costs, Schedule, Quality and Sustainability 5

Cost analysis were generated in real time as the designs progressed. In the early stages of design, the costs were in lower levels of detail. As the day progressed more detailed cost analysis were created for selected projects. Operations and life cycle costing for 20 years on selected projects were completed within the 24 hour period. Energy use was calculated in real time on all projects as well.

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Quantifiable Benefits Addressing Costs, Schedule, Quality and Sustainability 5

Operation Costs Summary Whitestone Research

Building: Bank Tower

Building Use: Office

B 39_961Building Number:

1,940,00GSFT:

Facility: Bank Tower (S39_619)

Operation Cost/GSFTAnnual Annual

Total

City: Los Angeles, CA

2008Built Date:

Percent

$326,937,474Replacement Value:

Building Type: Corporate Office

Custodial $1.627 $3,155,604 14.8%Refuse $0.072 $139,098 0.7%M&R $2.407 $4,669,774 21.9%Energy $3.495 $6,779,330 31.8%Water/Sewer $0.111 $214,952 1.0%Grounds $0.246 $476,658 2.2%Pest Control $0.065 $125,130 0.6%Road Clearance $0.020 $38,800 0.2%Security $0.695 $1,347,524 6.3%Management $1.786 $3,465,537 16.2%Telecom $0.475 $922,082 4.3%

$11.00 $21,334,489Building Total 100.0%

$0 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 $3,000,000 $4,000,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $7,000,000 $8,000,000

Telecom

Management

Security

Road Clearance

Pest Control

Grounds

Water/Sew er

Energy

M&R

Refuse

Custodial

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31-Jan-08All costs expressed in ($) 2007.

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Clear depiction of using interoperability to gain design benefits

Clear Depiction Using Interoperability to Gain Design Benefits6

Building Information Modeling using open standards based exchanges of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate (OSCRE) were used as the core of the exchanges that happened through the Internet. This was using a model server that was not a file based system. The data was created on the fly as users edited in various interfaces. This is much different than storing and retrieving files from an FTP site on the internet and the reason why data editing is possible in real time with hundreds of users. All of the data was geospatially located using OGC standards. The fact that the buildings used the local coordinate systems of BIM and the global coordinate systems of GIS and resolved them, allowed for both urban scale master planning and local building or room level planning to happen in an integrated way. Each user did not need to know about the technicalities of the coordinate system, and focused on their task while being assured that it was landing in the correct geospatial location.

For years we’ve used 3D and BIM on all of our large design projects. With BIMStorm we were able to take it to the next level and was able to avoid design mistakes early on. Working this way gains a lot of profit. We can see how we can save hundreds of thousands of euros.

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Clear Depiction Using Interoperability to Gain Design Benefits6In

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We immediately noticed real time information as well as longer term strategic information.“

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Effective Team Collaboration7

The International BIM Charrette demonstrated porous boundaries, and utilized resources outside the traditional enclosures, harnessing external knowledge, capabilities and information. Void of independent silos, this upset traditional processes. In real-time, architects working in tandem with industry experts supported transparent back-and-forth communication while generating rapid design iterations. Projects as they were developed online were immediately visible by other analysts reducing the need for time consuming coordination. For example, the structural engineers in Hawaii, were able to immediately design the structural system for several buildings as they were being designed. One team prepared the design of a house and had the house built in one day for needy families in Mexico. The scale of collaboration from large projects to single family homes all happened using the same open standards.

A web site forum for communication was created. Teams communicated directly with each other and posted text and file messages. This was separate from online and offline BIM tools. 354 separate messages were posted, and 2864 views of those messages were generated.

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Teams attach comments directly to BIM online.

Statistics for 24 Hours

Number of Firms 68 Firms

Number of Players 84 People

Number of Analysts 49 People

Total Number of Players 133 People

Total Est. Man Hours During 24 Hour Period 650 Hours

Construction Team 40 People

Number of Teams 25 Teams

Number of Observers 700 People

Number of Countries 11

Universities 5

Students 80 People

Miles Travelled to Assemble in One Location 0 Miles

Number of Buildings in All Schemes 1,124 Buildings

Total Area Floor Area of All Designs 153,956,533 SF

Number of Buildings in Submitted Schemes 420 Buildings

Number of BIM IFC Files 420 IFC Files

Total Area Floor Area of Submitted Schemes 54,755,153 SF

Total Estimated Energy Use for Submitted Schemes 795,486,320 kWh / Year

Total Acreage of Submitted Schemes 4,017 Acres

Smallest Project 600 SF House

Largest Project 1,940,000 SF Tower

Estimated Equivalent Letter Size Reports, Plans, Cost, Created During 24 Hour Period 2,800,000 Pages

Estimated Equivalent Height of Paper Stacked on Top of Each Other for All Reports 1,100 Feet

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Effective Team Collaboration7

Plan

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Desktop BIM

Owners & Developers

GIS

Energy Analysis & Sustainable Design

OSCRE

Operations & Maintenance Building Life Cycle

SMARTCodes

Cost Estimators

Fire/Emergency Planning

Analysts

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project and location on the project site. Collaboration in real time was encouraged and supported with open communication and ability to “see” neighboring teams design decisions.

Some quotes throughout the day

“Your building is on top of my building, can you move it please.”

“Lets plan for a community park at the border of our projects.”

“Don’t forget to use green roofs.”

7 Effective Team Collaboration

Rather than using disconnected email communication, and online forum supplemented the live data of one BIM projects. Teams were encouraged to communicate openly about project issues. The transparency of information lead to faster and more accurate decision making. Analysts were able to spot problems in real time and make recommendations to the teams as they saw the decisions materializing.

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24 Hour Coordination24 Hour Coordination24 Hour Coordination

UK Switzerland Hong Kong PST CST EST

4:00 PM A 5:00 PM A 12:00 AM 8:00 AM A 10:00 AM A 11:00 AM A5:00 PM A 6:00 PM A 1:00 AM A 9:00 AM A 11:00 AM A 12:00 PM A6:00 PM B 7:00 PM A 2:00 AM 10:00 AM A 12:00 PM A 1:00 PM A7:00 PM 8:00 PM A 3:00 AM 11:00 AM A 1:00 PM A 2:00 PM A8:00 PM 9:00 PM A 4:00 AM 12:00 PM A 2:00 PM A 3:00 PM A9:00 PM 10:00 PM A 5:00 AM 1:00 PM A 3:00 PM A 4:00 PM A

10:00 PM B 11:00 PM A 6:00 AM 2:00 PM A 4:00 PM A 5:00 PM A11:00 PM B 12:00 AM A 7:00 AM 3:00 PM A 5:00 PM A 6:00 PM A12:00 AM B 1:00 AM A 8:00 AM A 4:00 PM A 6:00 PM A 7:00 PM A1:00 AM B 2:00 AM 9:00 AM A 5:00 PM A 7:00 PM A 8:00 PM A2:00 AM 3:00 AM 10:00 AM A 6:00 PM A 8:00 PM A 9:00 PM3:00 AM 4:00 AM 11:00 AM A 7:00 PM A 9:00 PM 10:00 PM4:00 AM 5:00 AM 12:00 PM A 8:00 PM A 10:00 PM 11:00 PM5:00 AM 6:00 AM 1:00 PM A 9:00 PM A 11:00 PM 12:00 AM6:00 AM 7:00 AM A 2:00 PM A 10:00 PM B 12:00 AM 1:00 AM7:00 AM B 8:00 AM A 3:00 PM A 11:00 PM B 1:00 AM 2:00 AM8:00 AM B 9:00 AM A 4:00 PM A 12:00 AM B 2:00 AM 3:00 AM9:00 AM B 10:00 AM A 5:00 PM A 1:00 AM 3:00 AM 4:00 AM

10:00 AM B 11:00 AM A 6:00 PM A 2:00 AM 4:00 AM 5:00 AM11:00 AM B 12:00 PM A 7:00 PM A 3:00 AM 5:00 AM 6:00 AM12:00 PM B 1:00 PM A 8:00 PM 4:00 AM 6:00 AM 7:00 AM1:00 PM B 2:00 PM A 9:00 PM 5:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM A2:00 PM A 3:00 PM A 10:00 PM 6:00 AM A 8:00 AM A 9:00 AM A3:00 PM A 4:00 PM A 11:00 PM 7:00 AM A 9:00 AM A 10:00 AM A

The challenge of working across multiple time zones rapidly turned into an opportunity to accelerate collaboration as the projects and decision making moved across the globe.

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All projects and teams were working on interoperable systems and therefore had access to decisions that were happening in real time. The scale of the projects ranged from single family homes to multi story towers.

Home built in Mexico on Jan. 31, 2008

Milestones PST Zone

Start of International BIM Charrette. Owners submit BIM Request for Projects

8:00 AM Teams in US and UK Start

100 Buildings Submitted by Architects and Planners 9:00 AM Engineers Start Analysis Of Schemes

Physical Home Construction Starts in Mexico 10:00 AM Life Cycle Analysis of Schemes Starts

Fire Stations Defined for Entire Area. Earthquake of 2012 Defined as a Scenario for Los Angeles

11:00 AM Online Training and Support For All Teams Starts12:00 PM

200 Buildings Submitted by Architects and Planners 1:00 PM University Team Demonstrates Immersive View in 3D2:00 PM

Green Roof and Sustainability Recommendations Submitted 3:00 PM

4:00 PM Teams in Philippines Start

Structural Analysis of Towers Submitted in BIM 5:00 PM Teams in Hong Kong Start

300 Buildings Submitted by Architects and Planners 6:00 PM

7:00 PM Teams in Netherlands Starts (3 am)

Physical Home Construction Completed in Mexico for One Home

8:00 PM

9:00 PM

10:00 PM

11:00 PM

12:00 AM Teams in Germany and Switzerland Start1:00 AM Teams in UK Start

Operating Room Specifications and 3D Model Complete for Hospital

2:00 AM

Mechanical Engineering Completed for Tower by Netherlands Team 3:00 AM Teams in US Break for the Night4:00 AM Teams on EST Start Up5:00 AM

Energy Analysis Results 6:00 AM

7:00 AM

420 Buildings Submitted by Architects and Planners 8:00 AM Wrap up and preparation for 1PM overview of 24 hours.


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don’t forget to

John Smith


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tte All projects were using both a Geospatial Coordinate System (GIS) and local BIM coordinate system. The resolution between GIS and BIM used open standards. This allowed for collaboration among all teams regardless of project location and scale, in real time.


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Teams were taught to use only Excel Skills to create Rapid Blocking and Stacking Models. BIM IFC files were automatically generated. The emphasis was on collaboration no matter what skill level you had with BIM. The value is in the knowledge and process not the technology.

750,000 SF program requirements for a US Coast Guard building created from Excel.

Process Change that Enhances Overall Architecture Services

Process Change that Enhances Overall Architecture Services8

For years we’ve used 3D and BIM on all of our large design projects. This charrette took us to the next level and we were able to avoid design mistakes

early on and make a viable design. Working this way gains a lot of profit. We can see how

it will save hundreds of thousands of euros.

Team from NetherlandsInte

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accumulated knowledge and benefitted the entire team. For instance, a team of engineers made immediate comments and greatly impacted design decisions because the process was in realtime.

Another example is a German medical equipment and operating room manufacturer supplying BIM data to a Florida architect, with the client interacting simultaneously. This virtual ongoing process demonstrated unification in real time.

Teams also had the power to make critical decisions early in the design process and the full life cycle of the project, by tapping into resources like LEEDS, sustainability reports, energy use, and then taking that information for comparison strategies and design implications that support carbon neutral goals helping the team connect data that could achieved 2030 goals.

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Medical Planners were defining the requirements for a hospital as operating room equipment suppliers were laying out the specifications for a detailed view of the OR rooms. This was all happening in parallel and then attached to the projects.

Documentation of Innovative Processes Used to Realize the ProjectThe entire process and all versions of design were captured in an online database as the projects progressed. Decisions and comments were tracked at the building and room level. In other words when a LEEDS expert commented on a part of the design, an interface allowed that expert to incorporate messages in the building model itself.

SMARTCodes™ from the International Code Council were used to demonstrate automatic code checking of BIM.

Documentation of Innovative Processes used to Realize the Project9In

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Cultural Change in the Way Projects Are Delivered

Cultural Change in the Way Projects Are Delivered10In

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tte In the end it is not about the technology and is everything about the cultural change needed to change the way projects are delivered and the industry. The technology used for the International BIM Charrette has been around for years. The resistance to change is huge in an industry and planet that needs that change yesterday. Architects and planners have the ability to drive this change, and with the proof that this is possible for the profession to advance toward 2030.

Google Earth | KML Files

Google Earth | KML Files | IFC Files11

Project team members linked BIM to GIS and viewed BIM data in geospatial view using tools such as Google Earth.

Google Earth KML FilesAttached KML file illustrates the process and type of analysis that was conducted.

The KML file is a self playing animation or the user can select what to view.

Playing the Google Earth File1. Open “AIA TAP Awards Project” folder2. Select Folder “Click Me - Play Tour”3. Select the Play Button4. Pause at any point to view the model and data in more detail

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NOTE: as part of this project, 420 buildings were created in BIM at varying levels of detail. A sampling of some of the buildings are being submitted. In addition there were 420 IFC files total. Three are part of this TAP submittal. All the schemes are available in Google Earth KML as well as IFC, GBXML, Excel and other formats. These files are all on the model server and can be accessed in real time. In order to maintain anonymity for this submittal, some sample files were downloaded and attached to this submittal. The actual projects files are accessible on the internet.