4D BIM Scheduling, String Theory and Einstein

Most of the world is still dealing with 2 dimensional drawings/blueprints. Plan view, section details, quantity takeoffs... then simple construction schedules to plan out the work. If that's you, you're in the right place.

Well, simple schedules can get very complicated very quickly. While doing a search online for construction schedule examples, I stumbled across this image that stopped me dead in my tracks:

Wha !?

Welcome to the world of BIM (Business Information Modeling) and 4D BIM Scheduling.

If you haven't come across it yet, here's what you're missing...

BIM essentially allows companies (with very expensive software) to "build the building" digitally before it's built on site. The 2D drawings that have been the mainstay of construction for decades are turned into 3D models... great for impressing clients, spinning the building around on a computer screen, and seeing how the building will fit into its environment. 

Now, add the schedule to these 3D BIM geometric shapes, and well, you have 4D BIM scheduling, and the schedule may look something the picture above.

When I saw this, I had to take a second look. People actually create these, understand them, and can build off them.

Reminds me of an except from Brian Regan on when he came across a Nova documentary on String Theory. It's worth a few minutes of your time, trust me. He tops it up with a beautiful reference to Einstein.

Fortunately BuildIT schedules are simple to create, and simple to read (as shown below).

And you don't have to be an Einstein to figure it out.