(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Construction conflicts between stakeholders during a project's life cycle often result in time and labour delays, cost overruns and generates tonnes of waste as well. Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is one of the most voluminous waste streams generated in the UAE. Latest reports show that close to 70 per cent of all solid waste in the UAE is from CDW sources, including concrete, bricks, gypsum, wood, glass, metals, plastic, solvents, asbestos and excavated soil. This is a much higher percentage than in other parts of the world like the European Union, where it is only around 25 to 30 per cent.
"The construction industry in the UAE is unlike its counterparts in other parts of the world in many respects. The kind of ambitious building projects here require several teams working together. One miscommunication between an international design team and a local contractor could result in unnecessary delays, costing not just time and labour, but generating tonnes of waste in the process as well. This is where collaborative tools such as BIM [building information modelling] come in, helping teams mitigate construction conflicts before they happen, reducing costs and waste significantly," says Naji Atallah, head of AEC and manufacturing at Autodesk.
Poor coordination between contractors and designers, incomplete review and approvals and bids based on flawed drawings are usually the early stages of the loss of time and money. The primary underlying cause for this is the opaqueness of sharing information between relevant stakeholders. As a result, the wastage of time, money and resources spreads across contractors, materials suppliers, manufacturers, MEP contractors and even construction machinery suppliers.
"Additionally, many contractors and architects still rely on 2D drawings, which can be inaccurate and lead to design-construction flaws that are only detected once construction has begun. This in turn affects ordering of materials, labour costs, causes delays from new reviews and acquiring approvals and, of course, construction waste. The flaws also lead to quality and safety concerns as crews have to work overtime, extending costs even further," adds Atallah.
With a technology like BIM, all the information about a project is collected on a common platform that can be shared with all stakeholders. This means that everyone has access to the building designs, from the designers to the contractors and everyone in between. Designers can also use virtual reality (VR) tools to virtually walk through the building site and spot clashes that often would go unnoticed until well into the build phase, when correcting such mistakes becomes much costlier.
"We are early adopters of BIM and have been using it since 2012. It has been mandated to be used by authorities as well. Using BIM helps create less errors in project implementation. It is a positive way to review drawings with clients. The tool is almost an industry norm now. The completely documented database benefits everyone in the supply chain," says Martin Baerschmidt, founding partner and managing director at EDGE, a design architect and the lead consultant for the 1/JBR project.
Currently, the Museum of the Future is being built using BIM. The complex shape and structure of the building requires various teams to work together, making use of tools such as BIM and VR, among others. Other projects that were constructed using BIM were the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi.
Architects in the Middle East use BIM on 30 per cent or fewer of their projects, according to research. Therefore, there is potential for the technology. The utilisation of BIM is, however, gaining traction across the region. Large infrastructure spending is helping drive adoption, driven by mega events such as the Expo 2020. Growth in social infrastructure, which includes housing, education and healthcare, is also driving the adoption of BIM.
Says Avin Gidwani, CEO of BNC Network: "BIM is a cornerstone of modern design engineering. If applied correctly, BIM can reduce delay on projects and save consultants, contractors and owners a tremendous amount of time and money."
Another factor that has prompted further BIM adoption is government decrees. Following in the footsteps of the EU in January 2014, the UAE was one of the first countries in the GCC to call for the compulsory use of BIM on specific projects. By 2020, 79 per cent of current BIM users expect to be using it on more than 30 per cent of their projects. In the Middle East, 80 per cent of BIM users believe they are experiencing a positive return on investment from BIM implementation, with 25 per cent saying they believe their RoI is 50 per cent or higher.
"As the public sector mandates the process, the private industry has also shown more interest in working with BIM-ready teams. Developers increasingly demand BIM on particular projects, even in countries where government mandates are not yet in the works," informs Atallah.
However, deploying the technology may meet with some resistance since some stakeholders approach new technologies and processes with uncertainty as it requires retraining teams and making the transition from the 2D zone into the world of 3D models.
"The biggest cost associated with adoption of BIM would be time and resources required for the culture change, as shifting from 2D to 3D environment requires some new skillsets and mindsets," reckons the Autodesk executive.
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Deepthi Nair I cover all things related to real estate in the UAE. Working as a print journalist in Dubai since 2008, I have reported on all the flashy new projects in town. Dubai's passion for setting new records continues to amaze me. I love to do stories that strike a chord with the average expatriate in the UAE. If you have any news related to your community or rents, you know who to get in touch with at Khaleej Times. When I am not working, I travel, catch up with friends, mall trawl, catch up on movies, explore new places in town or just unwind in a spa. Originally from India, I have been a journalist for more than 11 years. Language has been my forte right from school. That's me in a nutshell
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