Developers are able to compile the necessary information for increased efficiency
Using technology cuts down on time wastage in manual operations.
PETALING JAYA: Building information modelling (BIM) technology will enable developers to build more earthquake-resistant buildings. By creating a 3D model of a developer’s project for greater maintenance capability, a building’s minor movements can be monitored.
In the recent 30th National Real Estate Convention (NREC), Aurecon Australia director Ken Lee described the use of BIM in natural disasters such as earthquake monitoring, which will provide developers with early warnings.
“Change is not easy,” Lee said.
By tagging specific assets, developers are able to compile the necessary information for increased efficiency in later maintenance, such as date of manufacture, type of model and condition of an asset.
With a 3D model, developers are able to schedule maintenance runs with all the information at their fingertips.
This cuts down on time wastage in manual operations, where mechanics will have to be onsite, surveying the progress before returning to fix the issue. Information can simply be sent to the proper authorities.
The model can also be used for real estate viewing. With the digitalisation of the industry, consumers will no longer have to go onsite. Technology will be able to provide a 360 virtual tour, and with BIM, able to inform potential investors on the height of the room, the cost and material of a floor tile.
“We use BIM in maintenance and basically, we use BIM to assist our facility management team. Every single piece of equipment, every furniture is tagged, and the equipment has a birth certificate, the year of manufacture, where it comes from and when it is due for replacement,” said Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd senior general manager Hassan Ramadi.
“We use BIM to assist our facility management team,” said Hassan.
The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry has been lagging in technological advances in comparison to other industries.
While BIM technology is not new, its usage varies among Malaysian developers. Companies such as UEM Sunrise Bhd utilise BIM for design coordination, in addition to the industrialised building system (IBS), to minimise construction issues and wastage on site while achieving higher quality finished homes. However, others are used to operating manually, and with the additional costs in the construction stage, developers may not find BIM worth it.
Hassan said that developers may induce additional costs in the construction stage but maintenance costs would be reduced during and after project completion.
Findings from a report commissioned by the University of Cambridge, Centre of Digital Built Britain (CDBB) revealed that using BIM, the reduction of on-site staff time is estimated to be 3.7% and around 1% project margin improvement. The estimated project-level financial return was £6.90 (RM38.24), boosting productivity and GDP in the long run.
“This is also a part of change management and change in organisation and business is difficult. Change is not easy,” Lee said.
“What is more important is that we feel that we are doing justice for future generations for leaving behind this kind of property. What is most important is whatever we do has to be sustainable,” Hassan added.
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