Digital Vision Automation

Change is the only Constant by John Stebbins, Assoc. AIA March 1 '10

Technorati Claim Token: HQEG68RPG83N The forces that will encourage the architectural profession to change in response to the opportunities BIM presents:

Leadership from within the Noble Craft. Get involved with your local AIA, join the buildingSMART Alliance, join the Association of General Contractors

Losing jobs to other architects that are more

Give up fear: of change and of releasing the digital model as part of the “new deliverables” (yes, make sure you get a signed waiver from whomever you release your intellectual property

Get trained and don’t look

Become change leaders within your own firms (realize that leaders often take people where they do not want to initially go, so expect

Realize that we have always been in the information business (drawings have always been information) and learn to leverage the “I” in

Never stop learning! “In times of change, learners inherit the earth.” - Erich

1. Plan your work, work your plan...

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Reinvent to Remain Relevant by John Stebbins, Assoc. AIA February 24 '10

As a 3D technology provider to the AEC industry for the past 22 years, I have been in a unique position to observe architect’s complaints and fears about their own profession being marginalized, especially now that contractors and owners are positioned to benefit from utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). Architects often wonder: “Why should I go along for the ride?”

The architectural profession in the US is at a crossroad. Architects could and should be leading the BIM revolution, but hesitate because of their fears, marginalizing themselves, net result, even more. Architects need to “go along for this ride” because nothing less than the future of the profession is at stake!

As my very enlightened architect client/colleague Kimon Onuma, FAIA (of BIMStorm fame) says: It’s time to “Evolve or Dissolve.” And, Tom Mayne FAIA of Morphosis (Pritzker Prize Winner) says: “Change or Perish.”

I personally believe that architects will win ONLY if they establish more...

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BIM: The Verb by John Stebbins, Assoc. AIA February 18 '10

BIM is a process, not a thing and not software, even though certain BIM software vendors would like you to think that their products ARE the only true way to BIM. The term is Building Information Modeling, not Building Information MODEL. It is a verb – Modeling for Building Information.

Therefore, if an architect uses the BIM process to derive faster, more accurate, complete and integrated CDs, than he is leveraging the BIM process by creating a “virtual building model” to deliver his part of the design/build/operate process – and in most cases that is paper drawings. But more and more owners and contractors want the virtual building model from which the CDs are derived. And yes, one day I believe we will be submitting BIMs to building departments to get approval; it will happen. The process of electronic code checking and BIM quality validation is already possible today, with software like Solibri. For now, we need paper….but my point is, architects can at least get to paper information better and...

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Characteristics of Leadership in BIM and VDC by Mark Sawyer February 17 '10

Characteristics that influence international leadership in Building Information Modeling and Virtual Construction (in no particular order):

The degree to which the competition is truly open vs. the winners of the competition being predetermined or heavily favored. Open competition fosters

1. Industry and Higher Education Partnerships
2. The customary role of the Architect
3. Societal litigiousness.
4. Culturally Programmed Problem

   There are many cultural differences in problem solving; for example, how planners vs. experimenters tend to approach something as new as BIM in construction

5. Ratio of Government-to-Private Sector Spending

   In most countries the government is the largest building owner. I’ll point to Singapore as an example – their government is the largest building owner. It’s a heavily regulated industry and they can mandate change overnight. If there is a very large private sector that pretty much defines the economy (as in, for example, U.S., U.K. and...

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Gratitude: Our Gift to You by Caitlin Leal December 29 '09

As a New Year approaches the horizon, we look forward to new endeavors, new challenges, and new successes.

We are deeply grateful to each of our clients, our fellow BIM evangelists, our readers, and yes, even our competition.

The gift of gratitude and thanks is a wonderful thing; it can be given so freely, yet, when it is received from an honest source, holds great value.

With that in mind, we give a gift to each of you this season: our heartfelt thanks.

Continue to spread the benefits of BIM, keeping open minds and open hearts, in the creation of great buildings. And let us toast together to a future of true collaboration.

We appreciate the opportunity to be of service this past year and we are looking forward to Digital Vision’s twenty-second year of service to the Design and Construction community in southern California.

Expect great things!

The Digital Vision Team

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