Why do different teams of designers and subcontractors link and share their models during the design process?
What are the advantages of linking models?
Are there any disadvantages to linking models?
They do it to establish a good collaboration environment between all the participants on the project. The advantage, beyond collaboration, is that they could run a clashes exercise and see the issues that must be corrected in the design phase.
How do you think design coordination was done before we started using digital models?
What advantages does doing this coordination digitally have over previous methods?
Before design coordination was done, I think the designers and subcontractors solved the clashes issues on the construction site during the construction phase. There are minimum advantages; the most important one is that you see how your project goes in real life but is always better to solve these issues in the design phase.
What strategies can design teams use to find and avoid clashes prior to the start of construction?
What can be done besides sharing the models digitally?
The best strategy is to merge all the models (architectural, structural, and MEP) to see clashes before construction starts. Besides sharing model, I would suggest strong communication coordination must be among all the teams involved in the project.