THE READINGS 7

BIM

With the shocking article title BIM's Seven Deadly Sins, Dominik Holzer runs through the numerous "prevailing problems that have emerged in the uptake of BIM in design practice" (Holzer. 2011. pg. 464). These seven sins are:

• Technocentricity
• Holzer explains how the use of BIM is a different process to using CAD, where CAD replicates an already produced design and produces faster, more accurate digital versions of drawings; BIM involves the conception of designs from the beginning and changing the workflow, which provokes change within workplaces. Holzer explains how this change can create a better or worse environment on individuals, depending on how literate they are with the technology. This case is backed up with the 'Law of Disruption' which displays how technology undergoes the most drastic of changes over time.
• Ambiguity
• Discussed under the "sin" of ambiguity is the lack of "specific definitions of distinct BIM services as they are emerging in practice". Providing a diagram, Holzer explains how BIM has an "overarching capacity to inform the way we conceive, construct, and manage buildings" which can lead to a misunderstanding that BIM is associated "with everything interesting one could achieve in architecture with the help of computational design", generalising computer process involved with building design.
• Elision
• The Effort/Effect over time graph, popularly used to promote the positive of BIM is analysed by Holzer, claiming that that there is misrepresentation because of thelack of scrutiny of content that the graph presents, calling it "overly simplistic" and with missing information, also criticising whether the graph is based of quantitative data or informal observation.
• Hypocrisy
• The hypocrisy of BIM occurs during the collaboration process. Criticism of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) that BIM offers, where in theory, functions well, but "hits substantial roadblocks in practice". Organisation within the team is essential and needs to be prioritised over immediate interests of their own.
• Delusion
• Delusion occurs when clients ask for certain deliverables that contradict each other or are misleading. The example used is when clients ask only for 2D documents but also request BIM to be implemented for coordination of information, meaning they are really asking for more than 2D documents without realising. 3D models also make it difficult to communicate to builders who still use the traditional 2D drawings for construction drawings.
• Diffidence
• The initial implementation of BIM into an established business will cause disruption in multiple ways. The initial costs upfront can potentially be a deterrent due to the software licences and required computer hardware to run BIM. Staffing can be an issue when implementing the new practices as there is a need for staff training and hiring of new staff. 
• Monodisciplinarity
• brb

Reading:

Holzer, D. (2011). "BIM's Seven Deadly Sins." International Journal of Architectural Computing 9(4): 463-480.