The AEC sector has experienced significant transformations in information management over the last century. Transitioning from traditional hand-drawn blueprints to BIM, this evolution has been driven by the increasing complexity of projects, technological innovations, and the need for enhanced collaboration. Analyzing this progression offers valuable insights into the future of information management and its pivotal role in advancing the industry.
The Blueprint Era: Manual Drafting
In the early 1900s, manual drafting was the foundation of information management in AEC. Professionals relied on blueprints, hand-drawn technical representations detailing every aspect of a building's design. Creating these documents was a labor-intensive process, often taking days or weeks to finalize a complete set of drawings.
Blueprints served as the main communication tool among stakeholders, making the management of numerous drawings on larger projects a daunting task. Storage and distribution presented challenges, with any modifications requiring entire sheets to be redrawn by hand. This slow and error-prone process lacked real-time collaboration capabilities.
The CAD Revolution
The 1960s saw a significant advancement with the introduction of CAD. This technology allowed architects and engineers to create more precise drawings much faster than manual methods. Although early CAD systems were costly and required specialized hardware, personal computers made CAD more accessible by the 1980s.
CAD transformed information management by enhancing accuracy and flexibility. Modifications became straightforward, and digital files eliminated the need for physical storage. However, despite these improvements, information sharing remained document-centric, with digital 2D drawings exchanged linearly among stakeholders.
The Emergence of 3D Modelling and BIM
The 1990s introduced another pivotal development: Building Information Modelling, BIM. Initially a tool for architects to generate 3D models for better project visualization, BIM's true potential lies in its capacity to manage and disseminate information throughout a building's lifecycle.
BIM promotes collaboration among all project participants—architects, engineers, contractors, and owners—by allowing them to work from a shared model that integrates data on materials, costs, schedules, and maintenance. This comprehensive approach enhances decision-making and minimizes errors by ensuring all parties have access to current information (For more insights on this topic, check out my article about information waste).
The shift to BIM signifies a major transformation in information management. Rather than focusing on individual documents, BIM utilizes a Common Data Environment (CDE) where all project data is stored and updated in real time. This change has revolutionized AEC project execution, leading to improved efficiency, collaboration, and overall results.
ISO 19650: Supporting Information Management
ISO 19650 is an international standard (For more insights on this topic, check out my article on the ISO 19650 series) that plays a crucial role in enhancing information management within the AEC industry. It provides a structured framework for managing information throughout the lifecycle of built assets using BIM principles.
Key aspects of ISO 19650 include:
Standardization: It establishes clear responsibilities for data management and promotes consistency across projects by defining how information should be created, managed, shared, and stored.
Common Data Environment (CDE): The standard emphasizes the use of CDEs to facilitate secure collaboration among all stakeholders while ensuring that everyone has access to up-to-date information.
Information Requirements: ISO 19650 helps teams identify and articulate their information needs effectively, guiding projects toward efficient delivery.
Lifecycle Approach: The standard applies to all phases of asset management—from design through operation—ensuring that relevant information is maintained throughout each stage.
By adopting ISO 19650 principles organizations can improve collaboration, reduce errors, enhance decision-making processes, and ultimately drive better project outcomes across the AEC sector.
For more insights on this topic, check out my article on the importance of certification for business success in BIM.
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Author: Panagiotidou Nicoleta, Breakwithanarchitect
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