Building information modeling (BIM) is one of the most disruptive technologies to reach the construction industry. In the U.S., 93 percent of BIM adopters say the technology has brought value to their operations, and most agree they haven’t unlocked its full potential yet. The robotization of BIM can help with that.
BIM has plenty of value by itself but can offer more than what its users currently experience. Combining robotics with these services can take all of BIM’s benefits and push them further. As robots become more common in the construction industry, they could revolutionize BIM workflows.
How Robots and BIM Work Together
Despite BIM’s tremendous benefits, some teams may find that it falls short of their expectations. This issue is mainly that imperfect communication and implementation can stand in the way of these services. No matter how advanced a piece of technology is, its effectiveness depends on how users implement it.
A BIM model may be accurate down to the centimeter, but it relies on humans to carry out its design. Humans can still make mistakes, leading to project disruptions and delays. Workers might misunderstand instructions, become distracted, rush when they should take their time, or otherwise imperfectly execute even the most detailed plan.
Robots, on the other hand, can match BIM’s precision. These machines rely on data like that of a BIM model to work, so they don’t have the capacity to go off-plan. They provide a consistent level of speed and quality since the only force guiding them is BIM data.
The robotization of BIM can also work in the reverse direction. Robots generate data as they work, which can inform improved BIM models in the future. As automated tools gather data, they update BIM digital twins, thereby increasing worksite visibility and helping stakeholders to stay on the same page.
Preventing Delays
The agency and freedom of humans are helpful in many tasks but not for precise, instruction-based work. Robots are entirely data driven, so they have opposite strengths and weaknesses when compared to people. Though robots may not be suited for creative thinking, if they have precise instructions, they’ll create precise work, which prevents delays.
The robotization of BIM enables teams to create structures exactly as laid out by a BIM model. This precision reduces mistakes that, in turn, reduces rework. Since rework can account for 30 percent of total construction work, using BIM-guided robots leads to shorter completion times.
As these robots take care of repetitive tasks, human workers could handle other, more nuanced work. With each party focusing on what they do best, productivity could rise even more. Large projects typically take 20 percent longer to complete than scheduled, so these benefits are hard to ignore.
Minimizing Waste
The precision of BIM-guided robots also helps construction companies minimize waste. Robots can complete structures within fractions of a centimeter of BIM designs and provide this accuracy repeatedly. This consistent level of precision lets construction firms build with only as much material as necessary.
Even the most precise human worker can overestimate how much material they’ll need. The savings that construction companies can experience using BIM may be minuscule in each instance, but they’ll accumulate over time. By preventing rework, these robots could reduce waste even further.
Considering that the U.S. generated 600 million tons of construction waste in 2018, the industry could stand to become more efficient. Using BIM to guide precise operations, robotic building could help reduce this figure, saving money and improving sustainability.
Enabling Innovative Designs and Workflows
A less immediately evident benefit of the robotization of BIM is its potential to improve future designs and workflows. Robots can serve as data collection tools, gathering information as they work to influence future BIM models. Many construction companies already use data analytics to optimize operations, and robotics have the potential to improve on this practice.
As more robots work on construction sites, they’ll produce more data about how they can be helpful. BIM programs can then take this information to make better workflow or design recommendations. This cycle will lead to continuous improvements as construction teams learn more and more about how to implement robotics successfully.
Robots also don’t share human limitations, nor do they give us reasons to worry about their safety, so they could build structures that would be near impossible for humans. Architects could consider this and use BIM to create designs that capitalize on these abilities. These unique designs could capture potential clients’ attention, improve the safety or energy efficiency of buildings, and more.
Examples of BIM Robotization Today
The robotization of BIM is still a new concept, but it’s already taking root throughout the industry. While robots aren’t yet commonplace in construction sites, several BIM-driven models exist. For example, Hilti recently unveiled Jaibot, a semiautonomous drilling robot that runs off BIM data.
In 2019, Amsterdam-based startup M3XD 3D printed a steel bridge using BIM-driven robots. After humans designed the bridge with BIM software, these robots autonomously printed the structure in a warehouse environment. M3XD also installed sensors on the bridge to collect data for a BIM digital twin, which can be used to inform future projects.
One of the most popular instances of BIM robotization is using quadcopters to gather site data. Before starting construction, some teams fly drones equipped with cameras and sensors over the worksite. They can then feed the resulting environmental data into BIM programs to influence more accurate models that consider unique worksite factors.
The bird’s-eye view that drones provide can offer insight into things like potential hazards or geographical features that could affect a structure’s integrity. With this information, clash detection features in BIM solutions will more closely resemble the real-world site. Teams can then prevent costly errors and avoid hazards, improving safety and reducing project completion times.
Similarly, a company called NavVis makes an indoor mapping robot called the M6. The wheeled system can capture up to 30,000 square meters a day in video and laser readings. This data can help update digital twins in BIM programs to further guide construction or inform future property owners.
BIM Robotization in the Future
Since BIM robotization is still new, it has a long road ahead of it. As robotic technology and BIM software advance, the possibilities of this concept will expand. Construction companies could use these technologies to solve longstanding industry challenges.
Right now, robots are best suited for work alongside humans instead of by themselves. In the future, though, BIM-guided robots could finish entire structures independently. Some companies may fear using robots to replace human workers, but 81 percent of construction companies have difficulty filling positions. BIM-powered robots could help mitigate this labor shortage.
As BIM and robotics technology progress, entirely automated construction sites could become a reality. Construction companies struggling to find workers could use robots to complete entire buildings , not just a few structures. It will likely take decades to reach this level of automation, but BIM’s accuracy makes it theoretically possible.
Future BIM programs and robots could communicate in real time. This communication would enable these autonomous systems to adapt to changing circumstances like supply chain delays or inclement weather. This flexibility could help further improve completion times.
The Robotization of BIM Is a Potential Game Changer
BIM has already brought significant advantages to its adopters. As more construction companies start to deploy robots, they can unlock BIM’s full potential. More firms will see more dramatic results, reducing costs and shortening project schedules across the board.
As both technologies advance, their benefits will likewise grow. The construction industry could become far less wasteful, more productive, and mitigate the labor shortage. While the robotization of BIM is still in its infancy, its future looks bright.