Building Information Modelling, or BIM, is often portrayed as the saviour of the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. On the whole, BIM can be seen as a positive direction for the industry, attempting to address the inefficiencies and waste in the industry. Yet at the same time, numerous fractions of the BIM movement are threatening to hinder its cause.

 

Go into any architectural office in the world today and you’ll find someone ‘doing BIM’. Typically with a technical background, they are known as evangelists, preaching the word of BIM. Listen to them closely and you’ll discover common threads in their arguments – All projects should use BIM;  People in my office don’t understand BIM; BIM should be mandated by governments; and, Software X is better than software Y. While I have no doubt that many of these people’s hearts are in the right place, I can’t help but think we are approaching the problem of BIM adoption all wrong. Let’s dissect each issue first, before discussing a different way to look at things.

 

Issue 1: All projects should use BIM

 

BIM is touted as being more effective at coordination, communication and collaboration. Chances are, it probably is. However, this doesn’t mean BIM should be imposed onto every project from day dot. Its implementation into the project needs to be carefully timed and curated.

 

Despite what software vendors may claim, BIM is slow compared to CAD. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Technology was supposed to save us time and make our lives easier. We can confidently say neither of these things have happened. Many technological innovations, from email to instant messengers to productivity apps, promise to make our lives faster, easier and more efficient. Yet we are as busy as ever.

 

Sure, if you are designing conventional buildings with repeatable elements, BIM will mostly likely save you time. But most architects design custom buildings that a one-offs. Even if an architect specialises in a single typology, say housing, chances are each house will be substantially different from the next. And herein lies the problem. Since no two projects are ever the same, it is not possible to simply ‘arrive’ at an architectural outcome. Each brief will be different, each site different and each budget different. An architect is obliged to go through the schematic design process or they would be doing a disservice to their client. Keeping in mind that the design process is an iterative process of ideation, testing, and refining.

 

READ MORE: https://parametricmonkey.com/2017/09/26/putting-bim-in-perspective/

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READ MORE: http://www.peikko.ca/products/deltabeam-slim-floor-structures/overview/

 

This a question for a curious mind.

How can columns or pillars be built underwater?

Where is their foundation laid, and how is it even possible to do such a thing?

Today we are going to make a sincere attempt at answering these questions.

 

Columns

Construction over waters is done by employing 3 techniques broadly.

 

These techniques are governed by the pertaining conditions on site.

e.g. Type of Sand underwater, Type of Water, Weather conditions of the area and Depth of water.

 

In case of shallow waters, a temporary foundation is made on which piers (a type of pillar) is constructed to support the upper structure. No rocket science is employed here and things are in general, Simple.

 

What if the water is deep, very deep and the soil conditions are not supportive?

In that case, Engineers employee different techniques to raise the piers.

Here comes the Cofferdam Technique:

 

Technically Cofferdam is a structure that retains water and soil in a particular area. No matter how deep the water is cofferdam can be built.  Now in a cofferdam, an underwater bounded room type structure is constructed which is enclosed with soil and water. Then the water and excess soil are pumped out to make the area dry. It requires constant pumping out of the water and other undesirable materials.

 

READ MORE: https://engineeringinsider.org/bridge-columns-built-underwater/