RAIA National Conference, Melbourne, April

Integrated Practice – the way of the future

an extract from National President Carey Lyon's RAIA MEMO September 2006

The notion of “integrated practice” and the long-term role and impact of Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems are of growing importance to the profession. As a result, I recently proposed the establishment of an Integrated Practice Taskforce, agreed to by the National Council in Brisbane in July. This is in line with other countries, such as the United States, that are already committed to making integrated practice a key area of research and activity over the coming years (AIA Report on Integrated Practice).

For those not familiar with the terminologies, Building Information Modelling is a generic title for four-dimensional design and documentation (three-dimensional CAD plus object-based data). This is a new generation of software that will replace current CAD software. If one was to think of CAD as simply a replacement for conventional “drafting”, then these new modelling systems will allow design and documentation to occur as a complete digital or virtual model. Integrated practice refers to the concept of using this digital model as a basis for integrating architectural services with engineers, quantity surveyors, subcontractors, fabricators, constructors, interior finishers, material properties, town planning requirements, Green Star rating assessments, and the list goes on. The digital model in effect becomes a 100 percent accurate virtual reality of the actual construction.

The adoption of BIM systems and integrated practice was patently apparent at the American Institute of Architects annual conference, which I attended in June last year. My experience there indicated that a number of major American practices are committed to these new systems and approaches, and are currently using them in their project delivery. One of the more interesting consequences for these practices is the potential to completely redefine the traditional risks associated with delivering a project. The traditional approach is fundamentally flawed. The architect imagines and designs the project, using physical models or computer models, then artificially compresses this information into “traditional” forms of drawings – plans, sections and elevations...

...Of course, it sounds like an ideal world, but at least part of this is already happening in Australian practices and will continue to grow in its pervasiveness. Many architectural practices are already adopting three-dimensional documentation (or parametric) software.

Given the importance of these new BIM systems and integrated approaches, they will now form the focus of one of two complementary session streams at our 2007 National Conference in Melbourne next April. I encourage all members to take this opportunity to familiarise themselves with these systems, which represent the way of the future.

The construction profession needs to evaluate this new technology.

This is a very different and much more important time in the history of the profession. When 2D CAD was introduced in the late 80s and was taken up dramatically in the 90s there was a low knowledge of computing (it was emerging at the same time) and little understanding or consideration of the impact this technology might have on the profession.
At this time BIM - building information modelling - has become the internet buzzword; architectural practice, construction industry practice and businesses generally have acquired mature and efficiently run IT infrastructures.
What has not happened is the development, by the industry, of an information standard that addresses the root problem of wasted work, duplication, inefficiency.

In the last two years the IAI has turned its attention to broader issues of achieving beneficial change in industry, using Building Information Models (BIMs) and IFCs as the trigger to smarter ways of working. Smarter ways of working will directly affect the processes and skill sets used in industry and indirectly other issues such as contracts, payment systems, insurance, education and training.

BuildingSMART Australasia is working with the RAIA (and other similarly motivated organisations) to support processes which deliver faster, better, less expensive and more predictable results than can be achieved with traditional methods.

BuildingSMART = BIM + IFC