A working group of the American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) Committee 131 on Building Information Modeling (BIM) is actively developing an Information Delivery Manual (IDM) for cast-in-place concrete. The IDM will capture in written form the interaction that occurs in the design and construction of concrete structures by identifying the parties involved in information exchange, what information is exchanged and when, based on a typical construction project timeline.
This IDM project is the outcome of ACI’s Strategic Development Council’s (SDC) initiative to focus the concrete industry on developing interoperability standards, and represents the first step in the development of data exchanges into the buildingSMART’s Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). IFC is an open and neutral data exchange format that covers construction information related to procurement, design, construction, and operations. IFCs will allow project information to be entered once, and then to be available and usable by every project team member across any software platform. The improved communication, coordination, and collaboration afforded by BIM implementation have already been shown to save time and money in projects.
A $60,000 grant from the Charles Pankow Foundation accounts for the majority of the $90,000 funding for this IDM project. Remaining funding is provided by Bechtel, Tekla, Bentley, Applied Systems Associates (aSa), RMC Research & Education Foundation, CRSI Education & Research Foundation, ASCC Foundation, Post Tensioning Institute, and two of the ACI Foundation’s Councils – the Concrete Research Council (CRC) and the Strategic Development Council (SDC).
A team from Georgia Technological University’s Digital Building Laboratory headed by Professor Chuck Eastman will assist the ACI IDM working group. The group’s first meeting took place during December of 2011 in Atlanta and its expected to complete the IDM by the end of 2012. The next meeting will be held in conjunction with the ACI Spring 2012 Convention in Dallas, Texas. BD+C
Related Stories
| Mar 30, 2012
New windows and doors revitalize older buildings
With their improved aesthetics, energy efficiency, and durability, replacement windows and doors can add significant value to a renovation project.
| Mar 30, 2012
18 handy tablet apps for AEC professionals
Check out these helpful apps for everyday design and construction tasks. Our favorite: MagicPlan, which uses GPS to help you measure and draw a floor plan of any room.
| Mar 29, 2012
U.K.’s Manchester Airport tower constructed in nine days
Time-lapse video shows construction workers on the jobsite for 222 continuous hours.
| Mar 29, 2012
Roller shade operating system wins IF Product Design Award
Design experts in the iF jury recognized the engineering invested in the RB 500 Roller Shade, including a metal clutch with a patented construction, a durable zamac housing with polished finish, and a chain drive unit that excels in maximum operating comfort.
| Mar 29, 2012
Lehigh engineering student wins Thornton Tomasetti Foundation Awards Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate student in structural engineering deemed by the department to have the potential to make an impact in the field professionally.
| Mar 29, 2012
Construction completed on Las Vegas’ newest performing arts center
The Smith Center will be the first major multi-purpose performance center in the U.S. to earn Silver LEED certification.
| Mar 29, 2012
Apartments provide permanent housing for California homeless
Gonzalez Goodale Architects designed complex to embrace community and engender sense of pride among residents.
| Mar 28, 2012
40 Under 40, the Class of 2012
Chosen from 223 applicants, these 40 young AEC professionals represent the Class of 2012 in Building Design+Construction’s “40 UNDER 40” competition.
| Mar 28, 2012
Milestone reached for LEED-certified buildings?
Total number of major global green buildings now stands at 12,000.
| Mar 28, 2012
Holden Cancer Center opens at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
The new cancer clinic provides a significant increase in patient space from the prior facility, which was located in an adjacent building.