Which types of structural framing systems and materials are most commonly used in the US for residences? For office buildings?
What factors determine why these are the most used materials?
Why do different teams of designers and subcontractors link and share their models during the design process?
What are the advantages of linking models?
Linking models allows each model to change accordingly when one model changes. You can also copy and paste elements that are useful from other models to aid in design and have overlays to help understand where different elements are placed.
Are there any disadvantages to linking models?
Sometimes linking models will produce a plethora of errors since elements overlap which may be a modeling inconsistency rather than a design flaw which adds an extra obstacle when building linked models.
How do you think design coordination was done before we started using digital models?
Design coordination was conducted using paper/electronic drawings that were either hand-drawn or drawn using CAD software. Engineers would submit their drawings, contractors would submit shop drawings which would be checked to see if the design was understood properly by all parties.
What advantages does doing this coordination digitally have over previous methods?
Using digital coordination with a BIM model removes any ambiguity from design since everyone is working with the same model and has access to 3D views which help all stakeholders clearly understand how each building element works together.
What strategies can design teams use to find and avoid clashes prior to the start of construction?
By using a coordination tool such as BIM 360 Coordination, teams can create views that combine different models (architectural and structural) and identify any discrepancies and issues which they can send to other people to fix during the design phase.
What can be done besides sharing the models digitally?
Having clear lines of communication, regular meetings, and a clear delegation of responsibilities will help to avoid clashes.
At what point in the project development process should design coordination start?
Is it ever too early?