Future-Proofing BIM
A white paper presented by Dell and BD+C
FPO
Netsian Technologies Group
White Paper Contents
Creating a Robust Environment
for Successful Building
Information Modeling
To benefit from new building design and construction technologies as well as
novel project management approaches, leading AEC organizations of all sizes
and scales are deploying building-information modeling (BIM). While the benefits
and methods of BIM systems are well accepted, there are important questions
about the most suitable hardware and network environments for BIM. Effective
transition approaches to upgrade workstations for BIM have been implemented
by a growing number of AEC companies.
Leading experts in BIM technology and application have demonstrated how highperformance graphics workstations (HPGWs) can be used to enhance productivity,
IT life cycle, and full project integration. Experience from AEC firm managers
and IT leaders – BIM managers – from small- and medium-sized organizations
have shown how successful BIM hardware adoption can be achieved. Their
conclusions are relevant to AEC firms of all sizes.
The white paper presents the comparative benefits of various kinds of hardware
specification, with some guidance on the proper selection and specification of
BIM workstations. Compatibility with existing standards, such as software types
and project workflow, are outlined. Advice on adoption strategy is reviewed, such
as the phased introduction of BIM workstations and expectations for cost control
and ROI on preferred, higher-end systems. The white paper will address relevant
key trends, including mobile BIM.
Section 1. Overview and Background
• AEC industry: The need for collaboration
• New directions for BIM
• The question of hardware
Section 2. The Case for Improving BIM Hardware:
Cost Vs. Efficiency
• Requirements for supporting BIM
• Medium enterprise vs. small user
• Development of higher-end systems
• Desktop, workstation and mobile choices
Section 3. Planning and Preparing a
BIM Hardware Upgrade
• Researching options
• Internal research
• External research
Section 4. Hardware Choices for Best-in-Class BIM
• One big issue is hardware
• Another issue is mobile vs. fixed workstation
• Types of stations:
- modeling only (“mainstream desktop”)
- modeling and rendering (“advanced desktop”)
- mobile workstations – mainstream vs. advanced
Section 5. Action Plan and Next Steps
• BIM decision tree
• Top-level specs
• Other hardware questions
• Networks
Section 5a. BIM Hardware Decision Tree (sidebar)
Section 6. BIM : Seven Steps to Success
Section 7. Sources and References
About the Sponsor
1
I. Overview and Background:
The AEC Industry’s
Need for Collaboration
Only a few years ago, there was still significant debate over
whether the adoption of building-information modeling (BIM)
was a foregone conclusion as the future design, model and
delivery platform of choice. Today, however, the architecture,
engineering and construction (AEC) community is preparing
for a wholesale adoption of BIM. The building design and
construction market already leans heavily toward increased
reliance on BIM platforms and objects; improvements in the
technology – combined with its adoption by large numbers of
design firms and contracting companies – have increased the
incentives for AEC firms of all kinds to consider moving from
CAD software to a BIM-ready platform.
As this white paper shows, however, the accelerating
adoption of BIM work tools raises important issues of AEC
firm hardware performance. Attention to the specifications,
operating environments, and future needs of computing
hardware technologies is vital to success with BIM.
This is an urgent area for consideration in spite of the
macroeconomic situation. Ironically, the glacial pace of the
North American construction market recovery following the
2008 financial crisis may have led directly to wider adoption
of BIM. General contractors (GCs) looking for an advantage in
the crowded marketplace, for example, saw BIM as a way to
reduce costs in the short-term – as the technology can produce
accurate construction plans that slash material waste and lost
time – and gain a technological advantage over competitors for
the long term. To a certain degree, the design and engineering
communities are now playing catch up.
This market dynamic reinforces an important lesson for the
AEC community: that proper and thorough collaboration
among stakeholders is key to project success. Creators of
BIM platforms strive to offer technology that simplifies the
processes of communication and collaboration in every
stage, from planning and design to construction and building
operation. The ideal BIM process creates highly technical
models for manufacturers and GCs, which the client can
see and, to a limited degree, understand by looking at 3-D
renderings. Though the BIM model has different meanings
for each member of the building team, the fact that the one
model has meaning for all of them does much to simplify and
streamline the process. Nigel Davies, a principal with Evolve
Consultancy in London, puts it succinctly: “BIM is the process
by which the right information is made available to the right
person at the right time.”
Yet a number of challenges to the full and widespread adoption
of BIM persist – including the hardware issue. For example,
the proliferation of competing BIM and project information
management (PIM) platforms is generally viewed as a good
thing: competition drives technological improvements. Yet
it also creates a suspicion among potential BIM converts
that they will adopt a platform that underserves them, that
is incompatible with the platforms used by collaborating
stakeholders, or that is distributed by a company that could
disappear, leaving its user base with unsupported software.
Confusion over the relative merits of different platforms, as
well as a satisfaction with CAD systems and a reticence to
invest in a costly new technology, has also slowed the adoption
process. But it is the question of successful collaboration that
simultaneously drives and stymies the growing role of BIM in
design and delivery.
Successful collaboration
simultaneously drives
and stymies the role of
BIM in project design
and delivery.
Yet BIM is also behind a wholesale reinvention of how buildings
are built. This makes it critical for all leading firms, from small
to large, to invest in BIM immediately. This includes making an
action plan, as recommended in this White Paper, to upgrade
or plan for upgrading current BIM workstations and related
hardware.
BIM is a significant change from CAD environments, not merely
a more powerful app, say experts like Will Ikerd, P.E., LEED
AP, CWI, a structural engineer and IPD director at Raymond
L. Goodson Jr. Inc., Dallas. “BIM is a process, not a tool,”
says Ikerd, who who has chaired the Structural Engineering
Institute (SEI) and Council of American Structural Engineers
(CASE) SEI-CASE BIM Committee and Association of General
Contractor (AGC) BIM Forum designer group.
Where Is BIM Going?
The adoption of BIM points to challenges for its adoption and
successful penetration in the market. Architects have driven
the use of BIM fastest, with many firms noting that some of their
clients required them to use the modeling platforms. Recently,
BIM software market penetration into architectural firms has
been occurring three times faster than the market penetration
2
of 2-D CAD in the 1980s, according to Scott Barrington, CEO
of Barrington Architecture & Design, Sarasota, Fla. Year-overyear gains in perceived expertise are staggering; in late 2009,
43% of architects using BIM considered themselves advanced
users, versus 26% in 2007.
Yet, the majority of architecture, engineering, and construction
firms are not regularly using BIM, according to Ed Hannan, a
vice president with PSMJ Resources, Inc., Newton, Mass. In
the United States, architects are the heaviest users of BIM,
using it on more than 60% of their projects, compared with
43% of architects who claimed to be BIM users in 2008. Using
BIM is perceived as good for architecture and A/E businesses:
In an online survey by the BIM platform maker Autodesk, San
Rafael, Calif., users of BIM calculated the tools had a return on
investment (ROI) of more than 60%. In fact, many architecture
firms anecdotally report gains of more than 100%.
In 2008, a survey showed that 82% of BIM experts believed
BIM was having a “very positive impact” on their company’s
productivity, with about 44% of BIM experts regularly tracking
ROI of BIM projects. Those statistics have grown.
In other parts of the AEC community, BIM use is also steadily
advancing. Half of structural engineering firms use BIM, though
only few consider themselves proficient, based on an email
survey last year of 25,000 SEI and CASE members. The 1,400
responses were mainly from small- to medium-sized office of
two to 10 people; most structural design firms have fewer than
20 designers.
Based on recent estimates, more than half of all U.S. contractor
firms are using BIM, and about four in 10 building owner groups
use BIM today. Owners have yet to realize “a significant impact
from BIM on their own operations and maintenance needs,”
according to PSMJ, yet more federal agencies now plan to
require BIM on some or all of their future project contracts.
The General Services Administration (GSA), the Army Corps
of Engineers and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are
among the most advanced in the process, says PSMJ.
BIM Platform Overview
Graphisoft’s BIM platform, ArchiCAD, is
currently in its fourteenth iteration. Since
debuting in 1987, the platform has been
considered a BIM system by its developers from its inception. Originally designed for Mac hardware, the software
used what Graphisoft called a “Virtual
Building” approach, meaning that ArchiCAD itself is condiered “one of many
satellite applications orbiting a virtual
building model rather than being seen as
the central repository for the entire model,” according to the company.
Graphisoft boasts about 150,000 ArchiCAD users, according to company materials. ArchiCAD is considered to work
well with outside 2-D software while offering greater control over the balance
between 2-D and 3D models. Elevations
are updated automatically as changes
are made, and construction documents
are derived without additional plug-ins or
software add-ons.
Another platform considered competitive with Revit is Bentley’s MicroStation,
which also debuted in the 1980s and is
currently in its 15th iteration, referred
to as MicroStation V8i. In its recent versions, Bentley’s platform boasts easy
access to older file types as well as integration with other engineering programs. Bentley’s devotees have said that
the software is less “boggy” than others,
meaning it runs more quickly and uses
less CPU resources than a competing
BIM platform, even when the model is
composed of a relatively large number of
diverse elements. This aspect has made
Microstation a tool of choice for owners
and government agencies and projects.
Revit, the BIM platform produced by Autodesk since it purchased Revit Technologies in 2002, makes the strongest case
for being considered an industry standard for BIM. It is the primary platform
for Windows-based machines, which typically dominate most markets. (Mac hardware can also run Revit with a Windows
operating system provided by Parallels or
Boot Camp, and the same is also true for
Bentley Microstation, which also is published for Windows only.)
Unlike ArchiCAD’s Virtual Building approach, Revit’s strategy is full integration
in one place. The platform is parametric,
meaning that changes made trigger updates to all views and schedules within
the model. The designer can work with
company-wide element standards or create custom elements for a specific project; additionally, designers speak highly
of Revit’s massing, a functionality which
makes fast work of schematics and their
conversion into working drawings.
It should be noted that while few platforms compete with Revit, Microstation
and ArchiCAD, many designers are excited about Google Sketchup becoming an
open standard for BIM through the creation of increasingly advanced plug-ins.
Known as a fast and intuitive early-stage
design-and-draw program, Sketchup is
not a BIM platform; however, the proliferation of plug-ins which are designed
to take Sketchup models and convert
them into BIM-ready objects may change
Sketchup’s status in the future.
For instance, a product known as a
4-D BIM construction management plugin, Envision, by software developer Ennova, was built entirely around the framework of Google Sketchup. The program
takes what was a tool for designers and
offers a platform for the designs to become construction plans and schedules,
as well as BIM models for environmental
sustainability models.
Sources: “Building Information Modeling, Two Years Later”, Ian Howell & Bob Batchele, and
“Contractor Considerations: Insider Insights into Getting Started with BIM,” John Jurewicz
3
One result of this steady move toward BIM has been ongoing
improvements to BIM workstation and network technology.
About 20% of all IT spending in the AEC industry in 2010 was
for hardware, according to ZweigWhite , exceeded only by
staff costs (31%). Software costs, including for BIM platforms,
ran about 17% for the typical AEC organization. Many AEC
companies surveyed in 2010 had made commitments to new
hardware – some related to BIM planning – in spite of soft
billings or lower values for total construction put-in-place.
Reasons BIM Will Predominate
The need to improve hardware for BIM is driven by a number of
overarching trends. Experts in AEC computing and technology
contacted for this White Paper not only confirmed that BIM
environments – with suitable hardware and networking –
provide the best support for future project work, but they also
suggested important reasons to plan for upgrades now. BIM will
prevail over the next 10 years or more, they agree, for a number
of compelling reasons:
1. Integrated project delivery (IPD), a highly collaborative
method that often includes design-build or design-assist
contracting approaches, benefits greatly from using BIM. IPD
spreads risk evenly among project team members, works out
feasibility issues early in the process, and leads to high-value,
cost-effective building solutions. The AGC’s BIM Forum has
focused on IPD over the last two years. The American Institute
of Architects (AIA) documents E202 cover IPD in relation to
its BIM protocol.
2. Virtual design & construction (VDC), will be relied on in
coming years for constructability analyses, cost estimating
and project scheduling. BIM supports VDC very well, providing
dimensionally accurate 3-D models to eliminate conflicts
among the trades – a process known as clash detection – and
to identify significant discrepancies in modeled and even nonmodeled data.
3. Sustainability and green building. Many firms use BIM to
guide the LEED certification process, and it can be integrated
into energy modeling, airflow analysis, and daylighting studies.
BIM also contributes directly to improved “cradle-to-cradle”
project analysis as well as “lean construction” methods,
which are both meant to reduce construction-related waste
and embodied energy. Just-in-time delivery and industrialized
prefabrication are also enabled through dimensionally
accurate, information-rich parametric building models.
BIM Platforms Have
Reached Maturity
In addition to these market factors, hardware upgrades are an
imperative because BIM is “has been ready for prime-time” for
almost a decade, says a national construction executive.
FPO
Precision ™ CADD & Graphics
Many software developers have been entering the buildinginformation market as a result, though only a few companies
offer comprehensive software suites that can be considered
platforms for BIM. (See sidebar, “BIM Platform Makers.”)
Autodesk Revit has the largest market share, which is
causing some in the industry to use the terms Revit and BIM
interchangeably. It is important to note, however, that Autodesk
does have significant competition, primarily from software
makers Graphisoft, based in Budapest and Newton, Mass., as
well as Bentley Systems, Inc. based in Exton, Pa. And while
Autodesk may dominate, all three platforms are notable for
their relative maturity. Google Sketchup may be another future
BIM player.
Regardless of the BIM
computing environment,
success for the AEC
firm depends heavily on
choosing the right
hardware to support
BIM production.
It’s intuitive to expect that performance of any BIM platform
depends to a large extent on its hardware environment, yet
experienced AEC firms relate that platform success is, even
more so, a function of capabilities, expertise and firm processes.
In addition to following recommended and requisite hardware
guidelines, BIM user groups should also follow industry best
practices for modeling and BIM model development. The
ultimate goals, say savvy AEC firms, are smooth workflow,
consistent and robust BIM performance, and models that are
computable and properly express design intent.
4
II. The Case for Improving BIM
Hardware: Cost vs. Efficiency
The hardware investment for BIM may appear as a significant
cost “but in the evaluation of an overall business plan for a firm
it is a non-issue,” according to some AEC end-users. Once
a decision is made that BIM should be a part of a company’s
business plan, the costs of training, developing expertise and
efficiency, and creating the necessary standards and tools for
proper implementation will far exceed hardware cost concerns.
Every firm uses hardware in their business, so the question is
not whether hardware is needed but whether more advanced
hardware is needed in order to run BIM programs at the
firm’s desired level, says one BIM manager at a medium-sized
engineering and architecture firm. Again, say others, once a
firm has evaluated that BIM is a necessary part of their future
business plan due to client demands, market trends or other
reasons, the cost of hardware vs. the overall costs of the
implementation will not be deciding factor.
Some firms have BIM managers or BIM directors, though this
may not be necessary for smaller and medium-sized firms.
However AEC firms agree that, if they are implementing a BIM
production basis, it is critical that one individual make the
choice of hardware and the use of software their main focus,
using the IT systems daily not just for production but also to
push the envelope of what can be done with it.
For anyone implementing a BIM program, a very significant part
of their responsibilities will be to develop the standards and
tools needed by the entire company to increase efficiency and
maintain consistency in their production work.
Defining “Hardware Efficiency”
According to leading AEC companies contacted or reviewed
for this white paper, when equipment is selected, every choice
must take into account the user or user base, too. This issue
has been called “hardware efficiency” by some BIM managers
and AEC IT leaders. Hardware efficiency is variable and highly
dependent on user training. If the user can’t employ or take
significant advantage of the product or tool, it may be a waste
of money. IT surveys in the AEC industry have quantified
some of the losses attributed to poor hardware and software
selection – useless workstations, incompatible equipment,
insufficient storage or bandwidth, among other situations
leading to hardware writedowns.
For BIM, however, hardware efficiency is directly related to
maintenance of the BIM model. A building-information model
has a lot of data behind it, and project teams must have
proper knowledge of how it’s used. Today’s BIM procedures
and programs place a high demand on your IT infrastructure,
according to David Pluke, a principal and vice president of
technology for a mid-sized structural engineering firm based
in Saint Paul, MN, so you must identify potential weak links in
your chain, prioritize upgrades, and develop a plan of attack to
eliminate IT impediments to user productivity.
When proper BIM training and execution are in place, the most
likely potential liabilities are in hardware that is insufficient to
maintain the model.
BIM and the Case for
Upgrading Hardware
Pluke and other BIM hardware consultants recommend that
AEC firms consider a few top-level ideas that frame the go/nogo decision on BIM hardware purchases and upgrades. First,
AEC companies need to distribute functionality across all users
while also centralizing BIM services. Second, BIM productivity
studies show that larger displays, more powerful computers,
and improved connectivity contribute to more competitive
businesses. Third, smaller BIM file sizes, in general, improve
company performance metrics. Fourth, maintenance and
obsolescence are a reality, whether for BIM or any other
leading-edge business app.
Keeping in mind these few guidelines will help firms plan for
rightsizing and improving BIM hardware. The following is
a brief outline based on the recommendations of Pluke and
others, with some strategies and approaches recommended
for these underlying principles:
1.Distribute BIM functionality while consolidating
services. A simple network hub will not do: Optimizing
a firm’s network is crucial for successful integration of BIM
technology into the firm’s work and culture. Whether the
firm embraces a local-area (LAN) or wide-area network
(WAN) model or opts for a “BIM cloud,” the idea is to create
a network that maximizes access to software functionality
to the greatest number of participants. This means not only
access to all software and files, but to shared random-access
memory (RAM), for instance, or video/rendering support
when necessary to sustain particularly robust aspects of the
technology being used by individuals at need.
5
At the same time, the network must centralize all data and
progress, ensuring that the firm’s services are supported
by the technology on the network. The hard work of a lone
designer, properly saved to a centralized location, will update
BIM objects and models across the board on most platforms.
This coordination of efforts, supported by proper networking,
ensures that the BIM representation of a project is always
updated and ready to be handed off to a P.E., a GC or set up to
demonstrate progress to the client, with nothing left behind.
2. All else equal, bigger tends to be better. In terms
of RAM, hard drive capacity, network flow, video rendering
and more, bigger is nearly always better. The same is true
of monitor size and connectivity. RAM, whether on the
motherboard or on a video card, is directly proportional to the
hardware’s speed; the same is also true of network bandwidth.
While most BIM platforms are available for 32-bit architecture
and operating systems, a 64-bit OS is considered by some BIM
experts to be mandatory for workstations. (This is discussed
at length later.) In terms of video displays, not only should the
monitor be at least 1280 x 1024 pixels in size, but the display
adapter should be capable of 24-bit or 32-bit Truecolor and
provide for 512 megabytes of its own RAM.
3. For BIM operations and files, smaller is better.
BIM platforms create challenges for file management. Revit’s
platform of a centralized model may be ideal for working,
especially after a firm has invested in powerful BIM hardware,
but the file size creates a challenge for even the biggest,
most up-to-date workstations. “While BIM collaboration tools
such as Autodesk, Navisworks and Solibri Model Checker are
effective at collapsing and managing large amounts of data
from multiple stakeholders into a federated BIM,
It’s safe to say the days
of KB-sized CAD files
are quickly fading.
said Jason M. Dougherty, LEED AP, of business consultant
Navigant Consulting. Now consider that the more data stored
in a single file, the bigger the loss will be should the file become
corrupted. Perhaps most importantly, smaller files are more
easily shared and distributed, creating a better platform for
collaboration.
For these reasons, file-management solutions should be
integral to any BIM hardware upgrade strategy. On a Revit
system, for instance, files should be stored at multiple
locations for ease of access as well as for the purpose of
backing up crucial data. Files should be shared most commonly
as DWFs, smaller compressed files that nevertheless allow for
viewing and manipulating objects in 3-D. When the .RVT file
(a Revit filetype) is accessed for use, the workstation using
it should have the option of “detaching” from the network.
Maintaining file integrity is crucial; the upgrade solution may
require a document management suite like Autodesk Vault or
Projectwise.
4. Focus on suitability, redundancy, maintenance
and obsolescence. The more time spent exploring options
for BIM tools, the more one realizes that there are multiple
platforms and programs for a reason: Each has something
different to offer. For this reason, many AEC firms embrace
more than one platform or suite of tools. This is especially
useful in firms where engineers, planners, designers and
builders work in parallel. A pure designer may like to start
work drafting in Sketchup, but eventually the project planning
and construction will need to be coordinated with Revit or
another BIM program. Most BIM platforms allow for at least a
certain amount of compatibility, with built-in ability to import
and/or export file types from other platforms. DXF and DWG file
extensions, for instance, are supported by all three major BIM
platforms.
Long-term success of the BIM infrastructure depends heavily
on regular maintenance. Not only will your chosen platform
need to be regularly updated, but so will operating systems,
support software, plug-ins and more. As the platform itself
upgrades, so too may some hardware requirements. Planning
ahead for this will not only prepare AEC firms for the eventuality
of further cash outlay for hardware upgrades, but will also help
the firms create an overall IT strategy that recognizes this. Work
should not stop while hardware or firmware issues are being
handled; lost productivity is a far greater liability than the initial
cash outlay or premium. A properly designed infrastructure
will absorb this issue by virtue of distributed functionality.
Last, obsolescence is a critical planning variable for all IT
investments. As many BIM managers point out, this is the same
as saying, “We need right tool for the right job.” Some part of
a firm’s BIM infrastructure will achieve obsolescence at some
point in the future; for firms that have invested well in hardware,
it’s unlikely that obsolescence will be a business issue as long
as maintenance and redundancy have been considered in IT
upgrade or purchase planning. That said, BIM software itself is
very vulnerable to market forces, say AEC BIM managers: one
software developer may outpace another, or the industry may
embrace the platform of a competitor to the point where some
installed base of BIM platforms becomes unsupported.
Planning for this issue means being ready to make the switch,
as easily as possible, to another platform. For AEC firms
that have already expanded their BIM toolbox to include nonpreferred suites and platforms, the ability to work on other
platforms is more easily achieved. For example, if Sketchup
were to become an accepted open standard for BIM, firms that
already uses the tool for early-stage environmental modeling
or construction planning would have an advantage when it
became time for switching platforms.
Sources: Autodesk University DT134-1; Jill Bernhardt, Avatech Solutions,
Inc.; and Naylor Network, “Office BIM to Trailer BIM - Is your IT
Infrastructure Ready?
6
III. Planning and Preparing
for a BIM Upgrade
FPO
FPO
FPO
RealDesigns LLC
Once the decision is made to upgrade to a BIM-ready
infrastructure, the firm must still conduct a review to determine
the shape of that system. The firm should conduct its review
in two parts: internally, to determine the needs of the firm, and
externally, to determine the system parameters which will
meet the firm’s needs cost-effectively.
1. Internal research – Create a ‘business plan for BIM.’
While it is widely believed that BIM hardware decisions, such as
workstation specs, are determined by software requirements
and other outside mandates, seasoned BIM managers point out
that AEC firms have widely varying BIM project requirements
and work structures. “The first research needed to determine
hardware demands is internal,” says KL&A’s Barker. “The
company needs to determine their ‘business plan’ for BIM.”
Once a company has determined how it will use the modeling
environment, it should be an “easy discussion with the software
supplier” to determine the level of hardware needed to support
their business plan, adds Barker. For the BIM business plan
review, questions to ask may include:
• Will BIM be used only as a replacement for CADD
production?
• Will the company only be providing models to others for
multi-discipline coordination?
• Will the company be overlaying multiple models in their
working environment for coordination?
• What is the size of the typical project to be developed in
the BIM environment?
Note that the size of the firm is not an issue here, but rather the
goals of the firm are the key concerns. For example, memory
use increases in direct proportion with building project
complexity – so bigger models demand more RAM. As stated
by Brian Skripac, director of BIM at DesignGroup, Columbus,
OH, “It boils down to ‘Is it a better way of working?’”
Having an internal champion for the BIM conversion or
upgrade is also highly recommended. Skripac, Barker and
other seasoned BIM IT professionals suggest that hiring or
appointing a dedicated BIM manager is often a wise choice:
“There is no way to better achieve your project goals, for a
firm of any size. The champion of IT and BIM takes on the dual
role of driving change in the organization while doing project
work,” says Skripac. The BIM manager can also coordinate the
hardware changeover and any research that the upgrade or
deployment requires.
2. External research: Listen to software makers
and AEC peers. According to leading AEC companies, it is
recommended to collaborate in two ways: (1) with the software
vendor for assistance in what supports the work plan, and (2)
with other similar AEC firms for valuable, comparative insight.
Discussions with your clients as to what they are using and
also with fellow design-and-construction firms – in similar
disciplines – will provide valuable insights. Everyone continues
to learn with this process and it changes with each new release
of the software. What worked one year may not work the next.
As fast as the software is changes, the decisions should be
based conservatively on have a little more than you need. As
your own learning curve grows with the software, so will the
demands you place on it and your hardware.
An excellent way to collect credible information while
developing a BIM infrastructure is through both online and
print media, as well as making use of continuing education
sources on the topic. Revit Community (www.revitcommunity.
com) and Connect Press (www.ConnectPress.com) are both
recommended sources of peer-to-peer communication and
learning on BIM infrastructure topics; AUGI World and Autodesk
University are also recommended sources, both of which are
focused on the building industry.
7
IV. Specs and Strategy:
Hardware Choices for
Best-in-Class BIM
The decision tree for an AEC firm’s BIM hardware strategy and
selection begins with the givens: If software and BIM platform
are known, the range of choices is reduced significantly. Other
variables are contingent on user preference or existing installed
base, or both. For example, is the AEC company’s user base
fully mobile? Or is there a desktop or rackable infrastructure?
When accommodating an upgrade for BIM performance, it’s
an excellent time to consider a firmwide change to mobile
workstations or a new mix of fixed and mobile hardware.
In all cases, today’s BIM platforms are powerful and demanding
application, so it takes a higher-end computing system to work
effectively. Hardware selection will relate to the AEC firm’s
approach to virtualization – the use of a virtual hardware
platform or operating system – and the typical BIM model size,
as megabytes of BIM file size directly impact RAM requirements.
Many AEC firms upgrading their workstations over the last
two years recent have specified two to four types of hardware
across their BIM user base. These workstation types may be
generally described as:
• modeling only (“mainstream desktop”)
• modeling and rendering (“advanced desktop” or,
colloquially, “power users”)
• mobile workstations, including both mainstream and
advanced.
An example is the merger last year of the AEC player WWCOT,
a 50% to 75% Revit-based architecture and design firm, with
DLR Group. The combined firm undertakes projects with
base-level BIM for client and consultant interactions, as well
as full IPD with BIM for other projects, with fused models for
clash detection, energy analysis and LEED documentation,
as well as AIA E-202 documentation. The firm deploys three
standard hardware configurations to complement its business
approach: (1) an AutoCAD level workstation; (2) a “strong,
stable” midrange Revit-modeling workstation; and (3) a “toplevel” modeling-and-rendering workstation, which allows for
the creation of photorealistic renderings up to 4 feet by 6 feet
wide, for example.
The latter – typically called high-performance graphics
workstations, or HPGWs – are increasingly the focus of BIM
hardware procurement and upgrades. Advanced desktops are
not just for “power users” – they are critical for the rendering
functionality that AEC teams rely on for every phase of building
project development, from the schematic phase presentations
to a financing entity to coordination-phase clash detection and
even detailing steel assemblies for the fabricator.
Cost is an issue for HPGWs, which some AEC firms have
addressed by using cloud computing. An example is Little
Diversified, a Charlotte, N.C.-based A/E firm that uses heavy
simulation, analysis, rendering, and 3-D modeling in their
building design process. The firm was spending about
$300,000 annually to support a two-year refresh cycle for their
mobile workstations (laptops) to improve software capability.
Recently, a firm switching
to a workstation cloud
strategy®doubled its
refresh cycle for laptops
by using them as “cloud
access devices.”
according to Chris France, CIO. The approach combines
virtualization of the firm’s HPGWs and the storage of 50
terabytes of data.
In general, more AEC firms are choosing mobile HPGWs
to improve access to BIM models from the jobsite, remote
work locations, and satellite offices. An increasingly mobile
workforce depends on the power, flexibility and scalability of
these workstations to maximize BIM.
Other questions related to BIM hardware selection may
be affected by preferences or existing installed base. The
operating system is likely a given. Current schemes for file
storage and networking impact hardware selection. External
collaboration methods are an important factor also. Last,
preference on chips or other performance engines matter:
The company’s rendering experts, for example, may prefer one
graphics card over another (AMD or NVIDIA ®), or they may be
agnostic on video choice. (See sidebar graphic, “Sample Specs
for Decision Tree.”)
8
a. Memory and CPU Speed
The decision of central processing unit (CPU) is central to BIM
hardware selection. BIM platforms are demanding in terms of
computation performance. Pentium® 4 3.4 GHz processors or
faster have been considered a minimum spec over the last two
years.
For Revit 2010 platforms, for example, mobile workstation
CPU choices include Centrino®/Pentium-M®/Core Duo® Intel
processors. These laptop CPUs are noted for low heat levels
and high efficiencies. In some cases, firms have successfully
used a higher clock rate (more clock cycles per second) than
specified by the CPU manufacturer. Overclocking can be
applied to processors, video cards, motherboard chipsets and
random-access memory (RAM), by changing settings for the
front side bus (FSB) and the CPU multiplier.
Overclocking comes with risks; components must receive
enough power for manipulated clock rates, and excessive
overclocking can damage components. Some OEM systems do
not support overclocking.
b. Dual-core Processing
The use of multiple-core processors is recommended by
experienced BIM users, and consultants like Pluke recommend
a minimum dual-core approach. BIM rendering engines
are optimized for use with two to four CPUs, although only
minor gains have been reported for using more than four
processors. Some BIM directors in medium- to large-sized
firms recommend opting for faster speed over additional cores.
Benefits of multiple-processor systems include a performance
boost up to 20% or more, in part due to reduced cycle use
by other applications running concurrently. Many BIM users
dedicate their computers to the BIM work only, with a second,
lower-grade laptop or desktop used for email, Word, Excel and
all other applications.
Increasingly, BIM software supports the multithreading of
computing functions, where the threads are handled by a single
core. For dual-core and multiple-core systems, multithreading
can improve the utilization of a single core in the system. Recent
releases of Revit, for example, provide for multithreading of
wall join cleanup, hidden line removal, and print functions. For
most dual-core systems, however, processors can actually
lose performance due to multithreading.
Also recommended in hardware choice are processors (or
motherboards) with a Level 2 or L2 cache, part of a multilevel
storage strategy that boosts computer performance. Up to
three levels of cache (L1, L2 and L3) may be employed to
improve interaction between the very fast CPU and the much
slower RAM. Seasoned building teams note high performance
improvements using CPUs with L2 caches of 2MB or more.
c. RAM
Memory use increases in direct proportion with building project
complexity. Teams developing large structures and facilities
simply need more memory available for BIM computing, based
on file/project size. One rule of thumb is to have at least 1GB
of RAM for workstations using BIM, though most seasoned BIM
managers recommend 4GB or more. A growing number of users
put the minimum for modeling-and-rendering workstations at
8GB, and also recommend 12GB. Rendering engines in some
BIM environments, for example, operate separately from the
BIM application, so additional memory can speed the rendering
process. In all situations, select workstations that allow room
for adding more memory.
The “rule of 20” is another useful shorthand for estimating RAM
requirements, according to DesignGroup’s Skripac, although
this shorthand does not apply to linked files. The calculation is:
• Local machine RAM needed = 20 x compacted central
file size
• Alternatively, one can determine the maximum file size
based on available RAM:
• 8GB RAM / 20 = 400MB maximum file size
Even more important, total RAM is not always or fully available
to the BIM platform. Other variable affecting RAM availability
include the Windows® operating system in use, and the
hardware specification. Dual-channel RAM, for example, may
perform better than other memory specifications as far as
BIM applications go. In addition, as with most graphics- and
data-intensive programs, simple memory maintenance steps –
such as restarting daily or more frequently – can boost RAM
performance dramatically.
To boost performance,
BIM users recommend
dedicating workstations to
BIM alone — and closing
inactive applications.
d. Hard Drive
Considered secondary to CPU performance and available RAM,
the speed of a workstation’s hard drive is a factor in hardware
selection. Faster drive speeds can enhance such functions as
loading and saving models, and so some users have employed
SCSI or SATA drives for use with BIM platforms. SAS [drives?]
are recommended where available and affordable. More
important, say users, is maintaining the right settings and
periodically defragmenting drives. For example, the operating
system drive should be set to minimize Windows [Swap File
Space]; a second drive can be dedicated solely to Windows
Swap File.
e. Video Cards and Graphics Cards
While the video card is an important consideration for base
9
model hardware selection, many experienced companies
report that it’s not a factor in BIM or system performance.
h. Network
In general, however, specified video cards should (a) be
designed for CAD or BIM applications; (b) use on-card memory
rather than machine RAM (as in integrated video support); (c)
be of sufficient quality for high-end graphics rendering; (d)
provide for a good level of video RAM, such as 128MB of video
memory for Revit platforms.
In addition, the specs for the network should be considered.
A gigabit-speed LAN – with a gigabit available consistently
throughout the network – is considered a minimum requirement.
That means the network should have minimum category 5e or
category 6 cabling, gigabit switches and routers, as well as
matching Ethernet cards at the SAN or other storage device
and at every desktop.
f. Operating System
i. Wide-Area Network
Many companies experienced in using BIM contend that 64bit operating systems are critical for effective BIM workflow
support. A 64-bit operating system can handle large amounts
of memory more efficiently than a 32-bit operating system.
The existing limit on 32-bit Windows O/S is 2GB of memory.
Windows XP with SP2, for example, allows only 2GB of
available system memory, although the memory can be
extended to 3GB by adjusting the system settings in the boot.
ini file. Similarly, Windows Vista is also limited to 2GB, but
has a switch called /increaseuserva 3072. These adjustments
allow the system to use 3GB, an approached used by many
engineering, architecture and construction users. Typically,
operating systems reserve about 1GB for running the operating
system and associated hardware.
The benefit of 64-bit operating systems is that they allow more
memory than any typical BIM model or workflow requires.
BIM platform makers recommend 8GB of memory for the 64bit Windows O/S environments. If using a 32-bit BIM platform
with a 64-bit operating system (allowing at least 5GB of total
memory), the BIM application will use up to 4GB of RAM.
In some cases, users have reported better model stability and
performance with 32-bit BIM platforms.
g. Storing and Maintaining Files
While file storage and maintenance may be considered
an ancillary issue, it is important for success in a BIM
environment. For example, the use of Storage Area Networks
(SANs) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) – two networked
storage solutions that are increasingly prevalent – are often
used with auto-migration features, which may reduce BIM
platform performance. The use of distributed caching, where
clusters or caches are hosted at multiple locations, may be
beneficial to BIM platform efficiency. Whatever the solution,
it must be considered for its ability to protect the integrity
of BIM files. Document management and data management
products used with BIM automatically protect data creation,
simulation, and documentation processes. Examples include
Newforma, ProjectWise, and Vault. A variety of static
and dynamic archiving procedures can be used with BIM.
For work within mobile communities and for interoperable
collaboration with outside AEC and owner groups, WAN
optimization is a key issue. This consideration has grown as
more AEC project teams employ mobile workstations for use at
jobsites as well as the home office or touchdown space.
WAN optimization for BIM is provided by a long list of reputable
vendors, including Riverbed Steelhead, Cisco WAAS, Juniper
Networks and GlobalScape. These vendors can help with a
variety of issues (such as traffic optimization and acceleration)
and implementation questions, but in all cases, bandwidth is the
key currency. A second issue is network latency or response
time – the time it takes for a packet of data to run a round trip
from the sender to receiver and back is called the latency of
the network.
Others are using BIM clouds to see if there are improvements to
performance. So many design/construction teams are mobile
today that the idea of “bringing the model to the worksite” is
common and a realistic expectation.
A typical AEC firm may
employ direct local server
storage for network files,
and monitor the speed of
accessing the files locally
and remotely to ensure
productivity remains at
good levels.
Data servers for the central files of BIM applications should
have hard drive speeds that are “as fast as is economically
practical,” with multiple processors.
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V. Action Plan & Next Steps
Few AEC firms will relish the opportunity to expend resources
and cash on the upgrades necessary to truly become BIMcapable. However, the reality is that the transition to BIMready equipment and high-performance graphics workstations
(HPGWs) is vital for firm performance and competitiveness.
While grappling with the monumental task of changing over
to BIM-compliant equipment, it will be useful to keep certain
guidelines in mind.
3. Determine hardware configurations most suitable
for the BIM environment. Consider user preference or
1. Use BIM more to improve business prospects.
4. Review required and recommended hardware
specifications. The best sources for information on
With a return on investment (ROI) of more than 60%, BIM
makes an AEC firm more competitive. About 82% of AEC users
say BIM has a “very positive impact” on productivity. Clearly,
upgrades to hardware, such as HPGWs, can improve an AEC
firm’s business prospects. Each company must establish their
own business plan for the implementation of BIM based on
their own and their client expectations. The demands of the
business plan will dictate the production processes and the
hardware requirement to support these activities.
2. Produce a capital plan for hardware and
workstation upgrades for BIM. BIM offers real ROI, and
capital costs are insignificant compared to gains, say BIM
experts interviewed for this white paper. The key questions
is whether and what advanced hardware is needed in order to
run BIM programs at the firm’s desired level. Develop a capital
plan focused on the cost of hardware and the overall costs of
the implementation, which often exceeds the former.
existing installed base, as well as business needs for mobile
vs. fixed workstations. If virtualization is an option, that will
affect hardware choice. Consider typical BIM model size
to estimate RAM requirements. Last, determine how many
users require modeling only vs. full modeling-and-rendering
advanced workstations, or HPGWs.
hardware upgrades, including HPGWs, are peer firms and
leading BIM platform vendors. Compare to specs offered by
leading hardware vendors, and discuss with clients what they
are using. As the firm’s own learning curve grows with a BIM
platform, so will the demands the firm places on it and and the
firm’s installed hardware.
5. Make necessary upgrades quickly and
conservatively. AEC firm hardware costs are vastly
exceeded by other IT spending, which account for 80% of more
of all IT costs. Competitiveness is directly impacted by BIM
readiness. These two facts encourage AEC firms to upgrade
their hardware quickly. On the other hand, firms must act
judiciously in an environment where technology change is swift
and unrelenting. For that reason, prepare the plan carefully,
using best-in-class procedures and specs to ensure the firm’s
BIM hardware investment is solid and lasting.
Case Study : The BIM Hardware Decision Tree
Beginning with a few basic questions, the user can begin to establish a base specification and plan for a BIM hardware upgrade.
The following example, provided by Dell, shows how firm procedures and hardware use are evaluated and translated into a profile for
a mainstream desktop (BIM modeling only) or an advanced desktop, or high-performance graphics workstation (HPGW) for modeling and full rendering capabilities. In addition, the initial consideration for type of work and application may lead to a need for mobile
workstations (mainstream or advanced) or for cloud computing or other hardware approaches.
Initial questions:
1. How does the firm use the workstation?
2. What is the workstation’s primary focus?
3. What is the primary application?
4. Desktop or mobile workstation?
5. Graphics preference?
Recommended Specification: Mainstream Desktop
Model: Dell Precision™ T1500 Workstation
Processor: Intel Core i7-880, 3.06Ghz
Operating System: Genuine Windows XP Professional
Memory: 4GB, DDR3 Non-ECC SDRAM Memory,1333MHz
Primary Hard Disk: 250GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ
and 8MB DataBurst Cache™ (no secondary hard disk) Graphics Card: NVIDIA® Quadro® 600
Sample AEC firm answers:
Engineering
Architecture, Engineering and Design (AEC)
AutoCAD, Revit, and Microstation all used
Desktop or Rackable Configuration
User prefers most cost-effective – has no preference on AMD or NVIDIA®
Recommended Specification: Advanced Desktop
Model: Dell Precision™ T3500 Workstation
Processor: Quad Core XEON, W3565, 3.20GHz
Operating System: Genuine Windows XP Professional
Memory: 4GB, 1333MHz, DDR3 SDRAM, ECC
Primary Hard Disk : 300GB SATA, 10K RPM Hard Drive
Secondary Hard Disk : 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ
16MB DataBurst Cache™
Graphics Card : NVIDIA® Quadro® 2000
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VI. BIM:
Seven Steps
to Success
The argument for upgrading hardware to more successfully
use BIM is supported by a number of proven strategies and
approaches. The following highlights, developed by consultant
David Pluke and AEC BIM managers interviewed for this white
paper, address the key underlying principles:
1. Start with a team. A BIM upgrade execution plan
requires a team representing several AEC firm functions,
including financial and management.
2. Define the upgrade scope. Begin by evaluating the
BIM business plan, and then assess current and future uses of
BIM. How big are the projects in square footage and complexity? Consider whether the model will be used for bidding,
fabrication, construction and facilities management; this will
impact hardware specs as well as BIM approach and staffing.
3. Assess BIM proficiency. More advanced users
demand better equipment for full modeling and rendering capabilities. In many cases, however, the firm’s users will need
modeling-only hardware.
4. Clarify modeling approach. The size of the typical
BIM project – in square feet, BIM file size, or RAM needed – is
critical to hardware selection. Other factors include precision
requirements and level of detail (LOD) issues. These should
be known prior to business planning and platform hardware
selection.
5. Formalize timeline for the BIM hardware upgrade.
6. Obtain buy-in from key participants. The business
plan and BIM execution plans demand cooperation and agreement from all AEC firm members.
7. Educate users. The BIM user group should be aware of
the schedule and budget implications of the new BIM platform
and hardware.
VII. Selected
Sources and
Bibliography
Dell Precision™ Workstations : www.dell.com
Structural Engineering : http://www.gostructural.com/
magazine-article-gostructural.com-4-2010-who_acute_s_using_bim-7840.html
ZweigWhite : http://www.zweigwhite.com/p-911-informationtechnology-survey-2010.aspx
Bim Forum : www.BIMforum.org
AIA : www.AIA.org/IPD
IAI : http://www.buildingsmart.com/
(http://ce.construction.com/article.php?L=45&C=310&P=10)
BD+C Network : http://www.bdcnetwork.com/article/
CA6650149.html
BIM / SEI : http://content.seinstitute.org/files/pdf/BIMandtheStructuralEngineer.6.15.07.pdf
CURT : www.curt.org
NIST : http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/publications/gcrs/04867.pdf
U.S.GBC/LEED : http://www.usgbc.org/
Autodesk : Autodesk University DT134-1: BIM Infrastructure
Best Practices, Autodesk Model Performance Technical Note
(Revit 2010), March 2009
Ennova/Envision : http://www.envisionapp.com
KL&A : www.klaa.com
Avatech Solutions, Inc. : http://revitmepautocadmep.blogspot.
com/2010/03/is-your-computer-ready-revit-mep-2011.html
Naylor Network : http://www.naylornetwork.com/ngc-nwl/
articles/?aid=71907&projid=4254
Little Diversified : www.littlediversified.com
The Business Value of BIM : (McGraw-Hill 2010), cited in:
http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&co
ntext=techdirproj
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