Building Information Modelling (BIM) was first introduced to the Housing Authority (HA) in 2006 and has since been put on trial in some public housing projects to improve their design and enhance coordination among concerned parties. Today, about 11 HA projects have had BIM applied at various stages of their design and construction. David Mak, Alex Ho and Patrick Tse, the trio overlooking the development of BIM, share with Housing Dimensions how the technology has been developed and applied.
Firstly though, what exactly is BIM? David Mak, Senior Manager in the Business Information Technology Unit (Construction), explains, "BIM is a technology that allows us to develop building data using three-dimensional
(3-D), digital representations throughout the building lifecycle." He emphasises the importance of such data which can be used to plan and organise the whole building development process, and present the premises and surrounding environment in an objective manner.
HA staff who have tried out BIM applaud the technology not only because it goes beyond the limitations of 2-D drawings, but also because it can perform building analysis, help avoid clashes in design, and improve communication among project teams, contractors and the public. For example, architects can discuss the building design with contractors on site by displaying BIM models on their tablet PCs or iPads.
Alex Ho, an Information Technology Manager, further elaborates on the benefits, "BIM can project the accurate amount of required building materials and service installations such as doors, windows and pipes, thus helping to avoid wastage. Moreover, when coupled with a special printer, BIM can produce 3-D models, helping contractors, suppliers and even the general public to understand the projects more clearly."
BIM also enables environmental and micro-climate analysis by simulating topographical features like mountains and valleys. Alex says, "Even the time of sunrise and sunset at a site and the direction the sun travels can be simulated by BIM. This enables us to determine the best location for sitting buildings and for planting greenery. We can also enhance the design by leveraging natural resources like sunlight and airflow, which eventually helps reduce the use of air-conditioning and consumption of energy."
Architect Patrick Tse elaborates on other benefits of BIM. "All the pipes and connections hidden inside the false ceiling can be seen clearly in a model made with BIM. Despite the cramped space inside ceilings, we can now arrange pipes and ducts of different sizes easily, minimising the chance of clashes that require on-site trimming or rearrangement," he says. The recently completed Yau Lai Shopping Centre is a good example that has benefited from this technology. BIM has helped to boost the environmental effectiveness of the shopping centre while cutting the construction cost and time.
Not only can BIM generate 2-D drawings and 3-D models, it can also add the fourth dimension when a time scale is input, simulating the works sequence in a construction cycle. According to David, "By using BIM, we can monitor the construction progress closely and ensure a six-day construction cycle for a typical floor. The site planning for the Kwai Chung Tai Pak Tin Street project is a good example of the application of BIM. The site is very congested and has slopes on its three sides. It called for detailed planning for the whole construction process. Among other things, BIM has helped us define the best routes for site workers and trucks, the best location for soil disposal, as well as the optimum works sequence for transporting formworks and steel bars. The detailed programme and the 'rehearsal' of workflow simulated by BIM have enhanced both work efficiency and site safety."
The Tung Tau Cottage Area East project is another illustration of the benefits of BIM. The technology played an important role in the design of the complex foundations and the building. "Since the three wings of the building sit on three different platforms, our engineers had to use BIM to calculate precisely the amount of soil that needed to be excavated from the hill and backfilled into the voids during the site formation stage," explains Alex. "This cut-and-fill measure helped us eliminate wastage and promote sustainability."
The HA is one of the pioneers in applying BIM in Hong Kong. David remarks, "We will continue to train our colleagues so that they can better understand BIM and apply it more effectively in the design and construction of public housing estates, something that will ultimately benefit our tenants. On the other hand, we promote the application of BIM among industry practitioners and organise seminars for the local academia." He adds, "Our goal is full implementation of BIM in all new HA projects by 2014/15. To this end, we have set up a BIM Centre and a BIM Service Team since 2009 to support our project teams. We have also produced a BIM user guide which is available at the Housing Authority / Housing Department Website. Last year we also installed a 3-D printer to produce models for easy visualisation."
Looking ahead at the future development of BIM, it is expected that the technology can be applied in estate management too, helping to streamline the maintenance, repair and management of HA facilities.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) was first introduced to the Housing Authority (HA) in 2006 and has since been put on trial in some public housing projects to improve their design and enhance coordination among concerned parties. Today, about 11 HA projects have had BIM applied at various stages of their design and construction. David Mak, Alex Ho and Patrick Tse, the trio overlooking the development of BIM, share with Housing Dimensions how the technology has been developed and applied.
Alex Ho, an Information Technology Manager, further elaborates on the benefits, "BIM can project the accurate amount of required building materials and service installations such as doors, windows and pipes, thus helping to avoid wastage. Moreover, when coupled with a special printer, BIM can produce 3-D models, helping contractors, suppliers and even the general public to understand the projects more clearly."
BIM also enables environmental and micro-climate analysis by simulating topographical features like mountains and valleys. Alex says, "Even the time of sunrise and sunset at a site and the direction the sun travels can be simulated by BIM. This enables us to determine the best location for sitting buildings and for planting greenery. We can also enhance the design by leveraging natural resources like sunlight and airflow, which eventually helps reduce the use of air-conditioning and consumption of energy."
Architect Patrick Tse elaborates on other benefits of BIM. "All the pipes and connections hidden inside the false ceiling can be seen clearly in a model made with BIM. Despite the cramped space inside ceilings, we can now arrange pipes and ducts of different sizes easily, minimising the chance of clashes that require on-site trimming or rearrangement," he says. The recently completed Yau Lai Shopping Centre is a good example that has benefited from this technology. BIM has helped to boost the environmental effectiveness of the shopping centre while cutting the construction cost and time.
Not only can BIM generate 2-D drawings and 3-D models, it can also add the fourth dimension when a time scale is input, simulating the works sequence in a construction cycle. According to David, "By using BIM, we can monitor the construction progress closely and ensure a six-day construction cycle for a typical floor. The site planning for the Kwai Chung Tai Pak Tin Street project is a good example of the application of BIM. The site is very congested and has slopes on its three sides. It called for detailed planning for the whole construction process. Among other things, BIM has helped us define the best routes for site workers and trucks, the best location for soil disposal, as well as the optimum works sequence for transporting formworks and steel bars. The detailed programme and the 'rehearsal' of workflow simulated by BIM have enhanced both work efficiency and site safety."
The HA is one of the pioneers in applying BIM in Hong Kong. David remarks, "We will continue to train our colleagues so that they can better understand BIM and apply it more effectively in the design and construction of public housing estates, something that will ultimately benefit our tenants. On the other hand, we promote the application of BIM among industry practitioners and organise seminars for the local academia." He adds, "Our goal is full implementation of BIM in all new HA projects by 2014/15. To this end, we have set up a BIM Centre and a BIM Service Team since 2009 to support our project teams. We have also produced a BIM user guide which is available at the Housing Authority / Housing Department Website. Last year we also installed a 3-D printer to produce models for easy visualisation."