Thinking Beyond Today

Building Information Modelling:

Opportunities in Housing

Mandla Dlamini and Gingi Khoza

CSIR Built Environment

2

Presentation Outline

1. Building Information Modelling

Defined.

2. Self-Help/Self Built Housing.

3. How BIM can be used in Self-Help

Housing?

4. Conclusions and Recommendations.

3

Building Information Modelling

“BIM (Building Information

Modelling) is an intelligent

3D model-based process

that gives architecture,

engineering, and

construction (AEC)

professionals the insight and

tools to more efficiently plan,

design, construct, and

manage buildings and

infrastructure”

4

BIM Software Applications

BIM Software Applications

• Autodesk Revit

• Archicad

• Rhino-BIM

New professions in the Built

Environment

1. Building information modeller

2. BIM managers

Formation of BIM professional

Bodies: SA BIM institute est. 2014

5

Scale in which BIM is applied

Used successfully in large complex

building projects:

Notable examples are:

a) One freedom tower-New York, USA

B) Burj Khalifa- Dubai, UAE

Can BIM benefit “small” scale construction works such as house building.

6

What’s so special about BIM?

1. Modelling in 3 dimensions is more

intuitive, easier to understand.

2. Data

*

-Storage

-Processing

-Extraction

-Automation

-Presentation

3. If skilfully implemented it can make the building

process much easier. Reported Efficiency

improvements: a factor of 3-5.

7

Data Processing, Manipulation

Open Virtual Hardware Store Data Structure

1. Revit Refers to building

components or materials as

“Families”.

Computational capability

Inbuilt Functionality- Automated

schedules.

Writing and running dynamo

scripts.

8

Some Statistics on Housing

1. High demand. Johannesburg IDP survey, 5 out 7 regions

identified housing as the top priority need. (2017 integrated

development plan COJ).

2. Reported “600 000+ RDP housing unit backlog for Gauteng, 2.3

Million Units Nationally.

3. Massive population growth expected, GP expected to have a

population of 20-24 million inhabitants by 2050. (Landau, 2008).

4. Informal housing accounts for approximately 19% of all dwellings in

the province. (Statistics South Africa, 2016).

5. Self Built units account for very small proportion of total housing.

Less than 1% of State provided housing has been delivered by self

builders (Napier, 2003)

9

Pro’s and Cons of Self Building

Pro’s

Landman and Napier (2009) report the following benefits to self-building:

• Generally larger housing design to meet individual household needs

• Choice, creativity and community involvement

• Citizenship and pride

• Empowerment and participation

• Individual choice

• High levels of beneficiary suitability.

Cons

• Difficult due to regulation

• Quality is highly variable

• Professional services

required

• No benefits from

“economies of scale”

10

Inputs to a BIM for Self-Built Housing

SANS

Standards

on Building

Materials

Architects EngineersQuantity

Surveryors

National Building Regulations

Professional Bodies (SACAP,

ECSA etc...)

Competent

Persons/

BIM

Modeller

Certified Home

Builders

Local

Hardware

Vendors

Well

Structured

Building

Information

Model

NHBRC

Local

Labour

Practices/

Capability

Self

Builder

Needs

Pre-Existing

House

Archetypes

11

Building information modelling: Materials

How BIM can assist Material Selection for the Self Builder

1. Building Materials

a) Tailored for local conditions.

b) Underlying technical material data as opposed to brand

data

c) Optimised use of materials.

d) Accurate data for material choices from the model.

e) With data comes choice. Client is empowered to make

decisions using their own criteria.

CEMENT*

Technical Classifications

a) 5 composition Classes

(Cem I – Cem V)- (FA,

GGBS, Pozzolans etc.)

b) 2 hardening classes (R

and N)

c) 3- Strength Grades

(32.5 MPa, 42.5 MPa,

52.5 MPa).

Market

30+ Cement variants.

12

Building Information Modelling: Contracting/Labour

Services

How BIM can enable fair contracts between self-builders

and contractors/Labour.

a) Tailored for local conditions.

b) Local labour data used in computations.

c) With data comes choice. Client is empowered to make

decisions using their own criteria.

Concreting*

Classifications

a) Mixed on Site Service

b) Ready-mix

BIM can provide the

Quantities necessary.

Accurate data enables fair

pay for work.

13

The BIM porcess

Data on local Building practices

Local Building Materials

Virtual Library

Family Modelling and Assigning real building element data to bim families and libraries

Building Information Model

Building Modelling

Construction Drawings and

Blue Prints

Specifications

Analysis1. Cost2. Time

3. User defined Paremeters

Data Extraction, Analysis and presentation

14

Potential of BIM for Self Builders

15

Conclusions and Recommendations

Conclusions

1. The implementation of BIM requires built environment professionals to embrace it.

2. The of BIM include,

a) Automation of some tasks resulting in higher efficiency.

b) Accurate data, resulting in the ability to make better choices for both professionals and self-builders.

c) Intuitive and user friendly presentation of data.

Recommendations

1. Encourage the integrated development of Building Information Models among built Environment Professions for professional services in housing.

2. Capacitation of Built Environment professionals in information technology. Information technology skills are critical for the efficient use of BIM.

Thanks.

Questions?