The BIM process is heavily reliant on sharing of data seamlessly across the disciplines and the supply chain. At the collaborative design stage for instance, building design data can be hosted in a centralised location often referred to as BIM servers or model collaboration servers (MCS). These servers are often IFC-compliant and there are three potential configurations (Fig. 2).
Fig. 1 – Different configurations for BIM servers showing (a) single BIM models, (b) single BIM models that are then aggregated and (c) co-created BIM models (Source: Jorgensen, et al. 2008)
The first configuration of BIM servers can better used in scenarios when ‘Lonely BIM’ is applied (RIBA, 2012). In many instances, a typical cloud-based server would suffice for this purpose.
The second configuration (Fig. 1b) probably best describes existing attempts at Level 2 BIM, where each discipline produces its data (or model) which is later aggregated (or federated) by a ‘BIM Coordinator’ who would probably use a common data environment system e.g. (4BIM) or a BIM coordinating and auditing tool like Solibri Model Checker. It is possible to achieve Level 2 BIM using common platforms like Autodesk Revit servers or with Graphisoft BIM servers. The third configuration (Fig. 1c) is closer to the current thoughts on how Level 3 BIM could function.
At Level 2, BIM can be said to enhance a phenomenon called ‘situational awareness’ (Cannon-bowers, et al. (1995) amongst AEC designers. The situational awareness theory is a relatively new one which is defined by Endsley (1995a) as “the ability to perceive and understand the aspects of an environment (e.g. events, information, people and actions) while bounded by a common volume of space and time and crucially, being able to perceive the near future status of a project or task. The situational awareness theory can therefore be helpful to the sorts of dynamic decision-making processes that are experienced in the AEC industry, especially at the design stage (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 – The situational awareness concept as applied to dynamic decision-making processes (Source: Endsley, 1995b)
When (or if) the situational situation awareness is implied as a key goal of the BIM process, then audio-visual feedback can be available on demand. And when the sharing of data is done in real-time (e.g. at Level 3) during the co-creation process, the situational awareness can be aid to be ‘shared’. In other words, BIM at Level 3 is arguably aimed at shared situation awareness (SSA). So while ‘situational awareness’ could be an existing reality, shared situational awareness can bring added dimensions of real-time binding by ‘same volume of space and time’ amongst designers. Now when such designers are geographically dispersed, then multi-cultural input which affects technical outcomes(Larsson, 2003) could lead to designs of much higher quality.
In BIM-Hub, the prohibitive costs and the technical hassles of implementation were not attributes that endeared us to a BIM server. An opportunity arose, based on some pilot study (yet to be published) for collaboration amongst students to occur in real-time, using remote desktop services (RDS). Specifically, we utilised GoToMeeting as a collaboration tool. Essentially, each group of students were given a unique GoToMeeting account with which they not only communicated audio-visually, but also shared their desktops, (i.e. the applications running on them) and granted keyboard and mouse control to team members.
References and suggested readings
Cannon-Bowers J., Tannenbaum S., Salas E. and Volpe C. (1995). Defining competencies and establishing team training requirements. In R. A. Guzzo & E. Salas (Eds.), Team effectiveness and decision making in organisations, 333 – 380, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
Endsley M.R. (1995a) Measurement of situation awareness in dynamic systems, Human Factors, Vol. 37, No. 1, 65–84
Endsley, M.R. (1995b). Toward a theory of situation awareness in dynamic systems, Human Factors, Vol. 37, No. 1, 32–64.
RIBA (2012) The BIM overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, available online at: http://www.ribabookshops.com/uploads/b1e09aa7-c021-e684-a548-b3091db16d03.pdf , [accessed 12 March 2013].
