Using BIM to Support Habitat for Humanity: A Case Study

Stan Guidera

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Conference: 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Seattle, Washington
Publication Date: June 14, 2015
Start Date: June 14, 2015
End Date: June 17, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-692-50180-1
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: BIM in Architectural Engineering
Tagged Division: Architectural
Page Count: 17
Page Numbers: 26.1660.1 - 26.1660.17
DOI: 10.18260/p.24996
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/24996
Download Count: 759

Paper Authors

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Stan Guidera Bowling Green State University

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Stan Guidera is an architect and a Professor in the Department of Architecture and Environmental Design at Bowling Green State University. He teaches design studios and computer modeling courses related to digital applications in design, design visualization, and computer animation. He has conducted workshops, published, and presented papers at national and international conferences on a variety of digital design topics including design visualization, building information modeling, parametric modeling, and integrating digital applications into the design process. He is skilled with a variety of digital modeling tools including Revit, Rhino 3D, Grasshopper, 3DS Max Design, and AutoCAD Architecture. In addition to university teaching he is an Autodesk Certified Revit Professional and provides training and consulting services.

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Abstract

Using BIM to support Habitat for Humanity: A case study Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital, parametric, model-centric approach toproject delivery in the AEC industry. Among the many advantages of BIM is the ability toaccurately model real-world construction as well as to embed information in the components ofthe computer model. These can include attributes such as the physical properties of buildingcomponents and the cost of components and materials. This information can be extracted fromthe model for analysis. Additionally, any changes to the geometry of the BIM model canautomatically update information queries such as schedules and cost estimates. This paper documents a graduate level research project developed to investigatestrategies to enable a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, often referred to as Habitat, tooptimize project estimating and scheduling by utilizing BIM. Habitat is an international non-profit organization that builds and repairs housing for low income families by utilizing the laborof volunteers and partner families, efficient building methods, modest house sizes and no-profitloans. While the project is based on a standardized housing prototype, there are typicallyvariables related to labor and material expenses on each individual house that is constructed. Forthe local Habitat associated with this project, each project varied in terms of material and labordonations, particularly in regards to project components that required skills beyond that ofvolunteers such as foundation work and mechanical system installation. The project goal was to utilize BIM in a manner which could assist Habitat in twoprimary ways. The first was to develop a method to document the cost variances and the use theBIM model to generate estimates for each individual project using the prototype. The second wasto use the BIM model to assist in helping volunteer laborers to better visualize the constructionsequence. This required the development of atypical modeling and cost estimating approaches.The paper documents the evolution of the project, modeling strategies that were employed, andthe final project outcomes. It also identifies further refinements that can be made to scale theproject to adapt to a wider range of Habitat projects.

Citation
Format

Guidera, S. (2015, June), Using BIM to Support Habitat for Humanity: A Case Study Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/p.24996

TY - CPAPER
AB - Using BIM to support Habitat for Humanity: A case study Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital, parametric, model-centric approach toproject delivery in the AEC industry. Among the many advantages of BIM is the ability toaccurately model real-world construction as well as to embed information in the components ofthe computer model. These can include attributes such as the physical properties of buildingcomponents and the cost of components and materials. This information can be extracted fromthe model for analysis. Additionally, any changes to the geometry of the BIM model canautomatically update information queries such as schedules and cost estimates. This paper documents a graduate level research project developed to investigatestrategies to enable a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, often referred to as Habitat, tooptimize project estimating and scheduling by utilizing BIM. Habitat is an international non-profit organization that builds and repairs housing for low income families by utilizing the laborof volunteers and partner families, efficient building methods, modest house sizes and no-profitloans. While the project is based on a standardized housing prototype, there are typicallyvariables related to labor and material expenses on each individual house that is constructed. Forthe local Habitat associated with this project, each project varied in terms of material and labordonations, particularly in regards to project components that required skills beyond that ofvolunteers such as foundation work and mechanical system installation. The project goal was to utilize BIM in a manner which could assist Habitat in twoprimary ways. The first was to develop a method to document the cost variances and the use theBIM model to generate estimates for each individual project using the prototype. The second wasto use the BIM model to assist in helping volunteer laborers to better visualize the constructionsequence. This required the development of atypical modeling and cost estimating approaches.The paper documents the evolution of the project, modeling strategies that were employed, andthe final project outcomes. It also identifies further refinements that can be made to scale theproject to adapt to a wider range of Habitat projects.
AU - Stan Guidera
CY - Seattle, Washington
DA - 2015/06/14
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Using BIM to Support Habitat for Humanity: A Case Study
UR - https://peer.asee.org/24996
DO - 10.18260/p.24996
ER -