The BIM Student

Today I have not one but two very smart women who will drop some real wisdom bombs on the Collaboration aspect of BIM process. Anneka Chand and Xenia Gordienko. Both Anneka and Xenia are VDC Managers working for General Contractors in Vancouver. Anneka is currently working for the US-based, Turner Construction, whilst Xenia is working for BC-based, ETRO Construction. Prior to their current posts, the two were former colleagues at EllisDon Corporation. The two have been working in the design and construction industry for over 10 years and draw from their experience in the UK, Europe, Russia and North America. Anneka has a unique background in studying Architectural Technology and Nuclear Design and Technology. Xenia carries a valuable combination of Computer Science and Engineering, and Architecture and Design degrees They are also the co-founders of The BIM Kitchen, a virtual and physical space, in which a whole variety of perspectives are captured across the industry, as well as, their shared love of food and the like parallels they discovered between the kitchen and the office!

Adrian Mitchell- VP Sales & Business Development at Kreo Modular. Kreo modular is a AI powered software for developers, manufacturers, and contractors that are involved in modular construction and looking to save time and money while improving the quality and speed of their feasibility assessment. All this while integrating seamlessly into any BIM authoring tool.

Our guest today, Adrian, has a diverse construction background with expertise in prefab and modular methods. A former director of sales at both Horizon North Modular and BONE Structure; Adrian understands how new and modern methods of construction can leverage technology to achieve mass adoption.

Let’s listen to him and get a deeper dive into the world of possibilities that Kreo modular can bring on to modular construction.

Checkout the latest episode of #TheBIMStudent.  In this episode we talk to Derek Cheung, Manager BIM and Strategic Sourcing at Mattamy Homes Canada, about how are they leveraging Design technology to create a product that most people take pride in - owning a home.  Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned builders in North America, Mattamy Homes is Canada's largest residential home builder and top-25 builder in the United States. Derek Cheung runs the Building Information Management Program at Mattamy Homes Canada alongwith various technology-centric and innovation-related projects. He is also a Board Director at CanBIM. He comes with the background in Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) and held a senior management role in a distribution logistics firm in the Far East. Let’s listen to what Derek has to share about BIM and Home building industry in Canada.

Scan to BIM : Process of digitally capturing a physical space or site as laser scan data, which feeds into the initial creation, development and maintenance of a Building Information Model.  This is what are we going to talk about, with Albert Mansour from Planit measuring in this episode of #theBIMStudent.

Content creation is the one of the most important aspect of BIM implementation. Irrespective of the software you like to work on, BIM content forms the basis of the process. After all, content is the medium through which, information is recorded and transferred.

Dylan Beimann, BIM Coordination specialist from IBI group and Navid Hoorzad is design technology lead at Quasar consulting group discuss their strategies, workflows and challenges when they work on a project and need to create content.

While talking about BIM and Digital transformation in AEC industry, the talk about BIM authoring tools is the starting point of the discussion. And when talking about tools, there is always a discussion, what tools is best for what kind of work and which kind of Project. If you are someone who has been on this path of BIM adoption, where do you start? Do you start with the most popular tools that everyone is using, or you try out different tools that suit your design and documentation process? And Also, do you even think that there is any option, anything more, than what market is driving to wards anything that would suit your unique process in a much better way. Also Do you even think there is any other way to implement BIM. Do you challenge yourself, and your colleagues to look beyond what market is dictating…!! 

Joe Magas is the one who used and implement more than one BIM authoring tool has seen both sides of the coin. Let’s listen to him and ask him, is there really a way to take a path in BIM adoption that is not the most popular but has surely all the ingredients that we would help the success of the BIM implementation process.

What is the most common acronym used when we talk about BIM? LOD. Some say LOD means Level of design, or Level of development or Level of detail…everyone has their own definition and standard conforming to LOD. Also definition is one thing, LOD level is another thing, 100 for schematic, 200 for design development 300 for Construction documentation 400, 500, 600… and so on for construction and fabrication level models etc. LOD matrix has become an important part of our BIM process. We see it in BIM execution plans, clients ask for a certain level of LOD and Project managers, Designers and Engineers define their scope budget and time based on this.  This episode we talk to Daniel Doherty about all things LOD Daniel is Manager of Operational Support at PCL Construction. Throughout his almost 20 years in design and construction, his goal has always been to create a more sustainable building industry. His focus is on restructuring the value chain in order to leverage technology, eliminate waste, and improve collaboration. Daniel has a bachelor’s degree in Technology Management (B.Tech), is a certified engineering technologist (CET) and holds both CM BIM and CM-Lean designations. Daniel also sits on the CanBIM board of directors and Construction Management think tank.

If Architects Design a structure, and Structural engineers make sure of its structural safety and integrity, Its MEP engineers that make that structure habitable. I mean just imagine a perfectly designed and engineered building without any HVAC, Plumbing and electrical systems…How would that look like? A beautiful structure without any actual use.

When talking about digital transformation in AEC, MEP engineers have a very important part to play. The software, the training, the industry standards, collaboration and coordination protocols, everything needs to be devised to incorporate the wholistic view of how we view our digital construction technologies and at the same time they also need to be customized to meet the requirements of MEP designers and modelers...!!

I believe that in this dichotomy of Standardization and Customization there must be a balance between the two, especially for MEP designers and modelers. Our guest today is Laura-Lee Moran who currently is the WSP Canada Mechanical + Electrical BIM Manager in the GTA and Southwestern Ontario, as well as their National M+E BIM Deployment Lead. Despite graduating with an Architectural Science degree, she made the move to the Engineering sector almost immediately, dedicating her career to the strategic development of BIM in the AEC industry. She first gaining experience as a mechanical designer before stepping into broader corporate and industry roles as National BIM Manager.  After more than a decade dedicating herself to developing and implementing BIM standards, Laura-Lee joined WSP Canada to build upon her experience and to help create a BIM environment that is paramount. Laura-Lee is currently deploying national training programs, as well as content and company standards, ensuring each project is produced to the highest level and as efficiently and innovative as possible. She enjoys guiding industry colleagues as they seek out effective methodologies to leverage new technologies. Laura-Lee combines practical project experience with big picture thinking, extending her unique passion for the growth and application of BIM technologies across WSP within Canada as well as globally.

An Entrepreneur, Investor and Technologist, after exiting the Automotive sector, Thomas has worked in Project Management, built Virtual Design and Construction departments, led strategy as the Chief Technology Officer for one of North America’s largest construction companies, and co-founded industry non-for-profits. Thomas currently manages a construction technology consulting practice, acts on the board of directors for several startups and is the President & CEO of CanBIM, which is Canada’s largest Building & Infrastructure focused technology & Innovation Organization. As a Construction industry consultant, Thomas helps Canada’s most advanced builders develop new innovations to create new profits and remain competitive