In an industry as old as construction, there are some practices that are decades — even centuries — old. The last two decades have brought advances in technology at an ever-increasing rate in virtually every facet of modern life, including how we convert plans for a building into reality. As new technology is introduced, the ways in which firms adapt and react to them can influence those firms’ futures.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) software is used by businesses and government agencies for planning and constructing buildings and infrastructure for water, wastewater, electricity, gas, refuse and communication utilities to roads, bridges and ports. At Miron Construction Co., Inc., we have embraced the use of BIM technology for the design and construction process wholeheartedly, and both our customers and our team itself appreciate our company-wide enthusiasm for learning and using new techniques to accomplish traditional tasks. By empowering our team to use the latest technology to plan, design, communicate and construct projects, we have empowered our team to move forward as a leader in BIM.

In the past, new technology has not always quickly taken hold in company or even industry culture. Today we are seeing that project teams are increasingly interested and engaged with the newest BIM tools. As team members at every level began to reach out to our virtual construction team, we began to place an emphasis on team education and training with new BIM tools as they became available to us. This focus has grown to be a part of the Miron culture, as the desire to learn is one that moves everyone forward in a positive and prosperous direction.

By utilizing available technology in innovative ways, both the construction team and the owner benefit. Taking advantage of virtual construction gets the right information to the right people at the right time. Miron currently uses BIM in a variety of ways, including: constructability review, 4D time-lapsed construction, 3D animation and visualization, and systems interference detection.

This has opened the door to global opportunities as our ability to communicate and coordinate with architects, engineers, building owners and subcontractors has grown. It has also improved our operating efficiency and enhanced clarity for all team members across the board. As owners have the opportunity to visualize their investment in accurately displayed virtual environments with BIM, we must continue to expand our skills and knowledge to compete for contracts. This competition will lead to even more innovation in the years to come as we all strive to best meet our customers’ needs.

One area where Miron has pushed into new BIM territory is in the industrial sector. Many general contractors have not utilized virtual construction for industrial projects, but Miron has gone out on a limb to think differently and engage other markets in innovative uses of this technology. We have been successful in using what we know about BIM in applying concepts to the industrial world, resulting in unique projects and partnerships.

By thinking of BIM in new ways, it’s become an additional tool that makes Miron stand out. Using and creating 3D models is now the norm for Miron. By tying the conventional tools of the building industry into industrial manufacturing, using tools that have traditionally been used in an industrial way and working with equipment in lieu of working with buildings, Miron has set a high standard that owners appreciate. Owners are increasingly savvy about technology, and as 3D modeling continues to expand and grow, the expectation that companies have virtual construction skills and experience will be solidified.

The future of BIM is difficult to predict because technology changes — and changes hands — so quickly. One area of evolving interest is photogrammetry. Photogrammetry is a method that captures the exact positions and motion pathways of designated reference points located on any moving object, including the components of the object and the environment in the object’s immediate vicinity. Essentially, the process converts photos to 3D models. This is not, strictly speaking, a "new" technology; its origins date back to the mid-19th century and it has been utilized in the scientific community. As the process of photogrammetry has been refined, it has been recognized as an excellent complement to existing BIM tools for imaging.

Another area of continued development is laser scanning. Like photogrammetry, laser scanning has been utilized in other fields for many years, in this case with geospatial and survey industries. Recent developments have shown that laser scanning is a valuable method for assessing existing structures, and software developers are working to make this technology more applicable for new projects as well. This would help to streamline integrated BIM workflow, enabling contractors to save time and money throughout the work cycle.

Through its impact on project design, visualization and simulation, BIM provides greater clarity for all construction team members across the lifecycle of a project. As we are able to better coordinate with partners such as architects, owners, engineers and subcontractors, the overall workflow and operating efficiency improves.

New virtual construction technology can be used to optimize the building construction process and reduce risk, cost and schedules. The learning curve can be daunting, but ultimately the rewards vastly outweigh the effort. By approaching new ideas and information with open minds and a strong desire to grow in skills as a company, the benefits abound for company, client and community.