As the construction industry becomes more digitised, a new function of BIM has come to the fore: BIM to field, or ‘Field BIM’. It’s the process of managing construction data in an information model while onsite, and using the data to inform accurate construction, operations and maintenance.
With Field BIM, handheld mobile devices become essential tools. Onsite workers use them to access shared information, collaborating in real time with colleagues back in the office.
It has many benefits, from saving time and minimising the risk of error, to building trust, ensuring coordination and enhancing visibility. You can download our whitepaper for an in-depth look at how you can take full advantage of these advanced digital tools. Read on for an overview of how Field BIM can transform your construction projects, and the sector as a whole.
Safety and the success of a construction project both depend on how much those involved can trust one another and the work being carried out.
Effective collaboration between team members requires a certain level of trust, but clients also need to be able to believe that a project will be delivered on time and according to expectations. Providing data-led evidence of progress in real time reassures stakeholders, and trustworthy actions result in a good reputation, which will positively impact morale and bring repeat business.
Field BIM is set to greatly enhance the coordination of your projects. Inspections, compliance reporting and delivery timings can all be coordinated on smartphones or tablets. A field BIM mobile app will typically include access to 3D BIM models, a project document library, Quality Assurance/Quality Control checklists, a site diary and more. Snagging can be tracked live until it’s signed off. Some functionalities can even be used without an internet connection onsite, such as the creation of checklists.
Accurate data ensures project teams can resolve issues as they arise, minimising errors, delays and costs. Field BIM is increasingly seen as essential for successfully delivering projects on time and to budget.
Field BIM also gives greater visibility of the fundamental aspects of a build, making it easier for architects, engineers and contractors to carry out inspections and assess and hand over vast amounts of important asset information on project close-out.
During the build, teams can view real-time data, update status information, and mark up the 3D model in the field, giving stakeholders a detailed overview of the entire process. Field BIM tools also capture the inspection history of a project, including inspection dates and the person who was responsible for sign-off. To boost visibility further, workflows can be built into the toolset at every stage.
With Field BIM, the golden thread – true transparency of information across buildings – is now a reality. It enables data to be securely recorded, so that key information can be relayed through the chain of relevant stakeholders from architects through to end-users.
Although digital tools are progressively becoming the norm in the construction industry, there are some who remain hesitant about adoption. To be able to see the full range of advantages, it’s vital to find a platform that’s both user-friendly and delivers outstanding results.
Ultimately, contractors want standardisation across projects to make their work simpler, so streamlining the various stages of a project is essential. As paper becomes obsolete and we rely on digital communication while still amidst a pandemic, it’s crucial to use tools such as Zutec Field to keep people connected.
Field BIM allows your workforce to stay up to date and keep learning new skills, so they are prepared for a world in which work may eventually be completely virtual. For this to happen, everyone needs to stay committed to the shared goal – to deliver the best project possible.
The construction software market has become increasingly complex and noisy, and it can be difficult for companies to have confidence that they’ve chosen the right, most user-friendly Field BIM provider. As one of the first construction software companies in the world, Zutec achieved the BSI BIM Kitemark™, demonstrating that our solutions are compliant, user-friendly, and will guide you towards best practice, helping you make the most out of BIM.
A Common Data Environment (CDE) is essential to the smooth running of any construction project. In this article, we explain the functions of the 4 distinct phases of the CDE workflow.
Read more
Since Mark Farmer’s 2016 review of UK Construction, titled ‘Modernise or Die’, the industry has taken great strides in its adoption of digital technology.
Read more
COVID-19 has hit construction hard. Lockdowns, site closures, social distancing measures and supply chain disruption have all conspired throw up new challenges throughout the industry.
Read more
Login