#BIMfor Electrical and Electronic Engineers

The #BIMfor series highlights how several disciplines can use Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools in efficiently providing information that will allow the structures to be built, operated and maintained.

In our first post, we will highlighted the benefits of BIM to Mechanical Engineers (no particular reason for picking it first).

Next, we focus on 7 benefits the electrical and electronics engineer will gain from BIM.

1. Coordination

With BIM, the electrical engineer coordinates with the architects, structural engineers and other members of the project team, the electrical part of the building, inputting the electrical information in the centralized model early in the life of the project.

2. Clash Detection

One of the most lauded benefits of BIM, it helps the electrical to deal with clashes that may arise. For example, the clash of the electrical wiring path with that for piping and plumbing works. This can be easily resolved early in the life of the project (during design), and therefore avoid costly revisions during the project execution.

3. Maintenance

Intelligent objects (which quickly adapt themselves to new information) of the parts that make up the electrical system can be stored in the model, complete with its features, capacities and manufacturer’s details , for easy traceability when the need arises for repairs to any part of the building’s electrical system.

4. Calculations

BIM platforms like Autodesk Revit MEP*, help in calculations such as breaker and wire sizing, feeder sizing, wire length calculations and load calculations can be carried out in the software. Also, the electrical engineer can create electrical circuits, group them in phases and specify the sequence in which power circuits are created.

BIM platforms can also be integrated with other electrical engineering calculation software with BIM compatibility, and results of calculations such as (voltage drop, outdoor point by point photometers, etc.) transferred from the engineering software to the BIM platform.

5. Quick Drafting and Annotation

Drawings are easily created from the models in the BIM software. Drawings such as the plan, elevation and section views of the system or element are easily created. Hence no extra time is spent on drafting and annotation of electrical drawings. Also, in case of revisions to the model, the intelligent objects in the model automatically update the drawings.

6. Immediate Visualisation Feedback

The BIM model helps in pinpointing the exact location of the electrical systems and elements in a 3D view of the central model building, including the height from the ground in the building and its position relative to other parts of the building. This kind of view aids in communicating the design intent of the electrical engineer (such as the positioning of electrical equipments like junction boxes and transformers) to other members of the design team and how it affects their work.

7. Internationalisation of Design

Through cloud computing, the electrical engineer is able to work with multidisciplinary teams around the world, remotely from his home country. This feature ensures that an electrical engineer based in Abuja, Nigeria, does all his calculations and feeds the data to a centralized BIM model, accessible to an Architect based in New York, US, and a Structural engineer based in London, UK, for a project to be constructed in Beijing, China.

*Use of a brand name does not intend or attempt to endorse one BIM software/package over another. This post is not affiliated to, or sponsored by any BIM software provider.

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