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Innovaya Software
New Program help bridge design and construction gaps in BIM
uilding information modeling, the intelligent 3D representation of a design, is seen by many as the key to efficiency and accuracy in the construction process. But there are contractors that find that the gigantic BIM data files with their complicated geometries and foreign semantics aren’t as useful as the hype indicates.
Innovaya Software, Portland, Ore., has developed a bridging application that makes the architect’s BIM more useful for the contractor, with its Visual Estimating 9.4 and Visual Simulation 3.0 (4D-scheduling) software. These programs take information from the BIM and bring it into the contractor’s existing estimating and scheduling software.
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| Innovaya Software allows the estimator and scheduler to see exactly where each number is generated and improves scheduling accuracy down the line. |
Kevin Yu, Innovaya’s president and founder, says that with traditional or 2D drawing, “all the computer understands is a set of lines. Downstream applications cannot make use of them effectively, as the computer does not understand the meaning of the lines. In a BIM or 3D model, design information is represented by objects such as walls, windows and doors and their specific properties such as types, length, height, etc.”
An estimator using Innovaya’s Visual Estimating will be able to pull out information about design quantities, and turn it into an estimate of materials and costs by applying construction methods from the estimator’s database.
Yu says Visual Estimating can produce quantity takeoffs automatically, based on the user’s specific requirements. “And all these elements from the [BIM ] and the estimating are linked so that if the design is changed, the estimate can be updated,” he adds. “Visual Estimating can also enable automatic estimating for the entire design model. Scheduling data and cost data should be generated from one set of numbers. If one changes, then it should impact all other things.”
Innovaya’s software also allows the estimator and scheduler to see exactly where each number is generated. Having this information allows estimators to check the veracity of their numbers and improves scheduling accuracy down the line.
George A Pontikes Jr., CEO of Satterfield and Pontikes Construction Inc., Houston, says that he sees many contractors failing to take advantage of the information in BIM.
People use the models for marketing tools and then stick them in the drawer, he says. “Innovaya has come up with a way for the contractor to leverage a model. Visual Estimating radically reduces the size of the database necessary to estimate off a model by virtue of the process it employs.”
Installing Innovaya’s software takes just a few minutes, and Yu says that learning the functions of the software packages is fairly easy. Users do have to learn and experience running BIM applications and they must see how each application works with the other, he says. “A contractor needs to have personnel that understand BIM and know how to manipulate data in Revit,” he adds.
Visual Estimating and Visual Simulation work with Revit, ADT (Autocad Architecture) and ABS BIM formats, integrate with Sage Timberline Estimating and support MS Project and Primavera. Call Innovaya for pricing.
Innovaya Software
5370 NW Crady Lane
Portland, Ore. 97229
503-488-5836
www.Innovaya.com
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