PAS 1192-2 --- Specification for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building information modelling

Its a long title, and Google might blow a fuse, but this time I am taking no notice, "PAS 1192-2 --- Specification for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building information modelling" is a document we should all have read, and if you have not, then do so, its the route the government has set for the introduction of BIM,

OK its a long document, and the content is very much gov speak, but the underlying tone is the foundation of BIM, and like it or not, its the future, and here I speak global, not just the UK, there will be no country constraints, building are going digital.

You might also want to read an excellent article on the CIOB web site, and cedrtainly watch the youtube interview with BIM Task Group chairman Mark Bew. The page itself might be behind a fire wall, but the interview is on youtube, see below.

I would also recommend downloading PAS 1192-2 its free and can be obtained via the BSI shop for free, mine is in Evernote and well read. The reading list once you have just made the first read is enormous, and mine needed refining a tad, I am lucky, being a Visiting Prof at Birmingham City Uni, I get to use the excellent library, and have access to gov docs for free. plus I can sit an talk with other Prof's who teach this subject. I am planning a CPD event in the near future, where I will try and explain the documents and some of my research, with if they will agree, some of the lecturers.

Birmingham City Uni have an excellent Masters course being planned for the new year 2016, and you can bet its going to take apart a lot of the PAS 1192 doc and more. As soon as I can I will post more on this.

The image I have used today is the one you will see on almost every BIM presentation and shows the BIM maturity levels you will here so much about. The goal of 2016 is level 2, but this is only part of a much larger graphic showing the different standards related to each level, so a much needed document and read.

The video for some reason is in 6 parts, but watch the first and look to the side bar in Youtube for the remaining.

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Can we drop 2D CAD drafting

I had a conversation with several people recently re the way we draw, and as we progress through the 3D path, would it be possible to drop 2D CAD drafting. I must admit, 90% of my work is still 2D, but I see the benefits of drawing in 3D, so perhaps the next big project will be the one I turn a corner with, and reduce the %.

But, yes it's that word again, But, even when I draw in 3D, the sections created require I draw in 2D, simply because the internal portions of any wall style is void of anything.

So here is my thoughts on getting the detail at least partially drawn, and as I use Vectorworks primarily, that what I will talk about here.

First lets look at the easiest to sort, brick coursing, we all use bricks, and their size varies from country to country, but their size is known, and the base point or the point at which coursing begins is also known.

I see two alternatives, use

• Marionette to add coursing to any section, from the base point, 
• Have the wall style, have the ability to use top of foundation, and work out the coursing.

Once one brick has been defined, as a symbol then each other is just a placement, file size is not a huge problem.

Thats the vertical problem, next is the horizontal coursing, again I see the wall style being used to defile the start point, and rules set to use only full or half bricks, to set windows and doors or any other opening.

Interestingly, I have started to look at Solibri to inspect any IFC file, perhaps we can set up a rule to check coursing and show any conflict both vertical and horizontal, windows, doors and lintel heights, truss placement.