How AI is Shaping Our Office's BIM Adventures
Bulding Information Modeling (BIM) has
revolutionized the construction industry, enabling improved project design,
management, and collaboration. At our office, we wanted to see if Artificial
Intelligence (AI) could do more than just complement BIM—we wanted to see if it
could challenge us, surprise us, maybe even outshine us. This article pulls
back the curtain on what we discovered
Experimenting
with AI-Driven Decision Making
Our journey with AI started with
We fed project datasets into GPT Agents and
watched as AI offered predictive insights—sometimes eerily accurate ones. There
was that one time AI pointed out an error in a product data submittal,
something we wouldn't have considered
Exploring
Skema.ai and Hypar for Generative Unit Layouts and Text-to-BIM Building
Generation
Recently, we've been diving into Skema.ai
and Hypar to see how generative design could revolutionize our workflow.
Skema.ai allows us to experiment with generative unit layouts,
Then there’s Hypar, which lets us explore
text-to-BIM building generation. It's still pretty primitive, but there's
something undeniably fun about typing out a few requirements and watching it
spin up a building concept. Sure, it’s not quite ready for prime time
These tools are not just automating what we already do; they're reshaping how we think about design itself. They invite us to play, experiment, and push beyond the conventional limits—whether it's refining unit layouts with Skema.ai or having some fun with early-stage concepts using Hypar.
Exploring Autodesk Forma's New Sustainability Features
We've recently been exploring Autodesk Forma's new sustainability features. Forma provides an intuitive platform for running very early sustainability analyses that would have previously taken us weeks to achieve, involving a number of consultants.
Using Forma, we can instantly compare different building locations and their environmental impacts. The AI capabilities do not just suggest the most suitable location; they help us visualize the impact material choices would have on the carbon emissions of the project over time. It’s a look at sustainability not as a separate checklist item but as an integrated part of the design process, and we’re excited about the direction this is taking us.
The Road Ahead for Our BIM-AI Integration
Of course, not everything was smooth
sailing. There were moments where AI suggested solutions that felt like they
were out of a glitch-topian sci-fi—like when the Veras rendering engine kept
misunderstanding 'green walls' and gave us something that looked more like the
'Green Wall of China' in the background. These tools have a mind of their own.
But that’s part of the experiment. The missteps are just as valuable as the
victories.
The journey isn’t over, and it’s not
perfect. Data privacy is still a concern, and there’s always that tiny bit of
fear—will AI replace us one day? But honestly, as long as it keeps making our
lives easier, giving us back our evenings, and occasionally dazzling us with a
solution we hadn't thought of, we’re excited to keep going.
Conclusion
Building Information Modeling has already changed the construction industry by enhancing collaboration and information flow across teams. For us, integrating Artificial Intelligence with BIM isn’t just about making things a little better—it’s about seeing if we can change the game completely.
The AI-BIM intersection is full of
surprises—from predictive insights to solving issues before they even become
problems. Sure, AI isn’t perfect (yet), and there are challenges, but the
potential benefits are worth the ride. We’re just at the beginning of this
adventure, and the future of construction is looking pretty exciting.
*Images generated by OpenAI’s DALL-E
through ChatGPT
Short Biography of Author: Sonja Flint is an architect and a Co-Chair of AIA Chicago’s Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) Knowledge Community, tinkering with the possible integrations of AI in architecture, interior design and construction, through research and practical implementation. |
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