This BIM dialogue is fantastic. All seem to agree that some degree of BIM is useful and inevitable. The real debate seem to revolve around a complete BIM file for construction documents, a file good enough to use for competitive bidding.
Some of the recent authors touched on the important fact that the design build community has and can better capitalize on the BIM format in that it "pays" to build a "model" of the project with the team and owner on board to critique the design. All parties are looking at the same file (with the same software). Although the fox in the hen house is a real threat, an honest team is unbeatable.
In contrast, the design-bid method leaves the poor architect literally alone to build a complete model without the benefit of the construction industry knowledge. I know architects are smart, but contractors know how to get things done. Until the bidders can look at a BIM file for themselves, (which some have done) the architect will create a complete detailed BIM model to mostly check their work. And if the BIM file is used for bidding, it better be good and if it's going to be good, i suggest it requires more time and a higher fee than a traditional 2D set of documents. Is anyone actually creating bid documents from complete BIM files? If so, what is the bid document format if not 2D?
As an aside we are still are using Datacad (since 1984) we've been working in 3D for all that time and recently with "smart" entities. It a good program (that doesn't update every day like Autocad products) and has a quick learning curve.
Thank you,
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Michael Boudreau AIA
Michael T. Boudreau, Architect
San Luis Obispo CA
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