The Potential, Requirements, and Limitations of BIM for Offsite Timber Construction

Patlakas, Panagiotis; Menendez, Jesus; Hairstans, Robert

Abstract

Offsite Timber Construction has the potential to deliver important benefits for the housing sector, but there are obstacles that prevent a more widespread adoption. The advent of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has the potential to address many of these, improving the process and enhancing the end product. The paper identifies the key aspects of offsite timber construction in which BIM can play a significant role, and describes the immediate benefits that can be derived from applying BIM to those, with an emphasis on the UK market. The respective limitations are identified and discussed. The issue of financial viability is addressed and suggestions are made about how research and government initiatives can provide support for those. Finally, the need for a mid-term paradigm shift in BIM is identified, moving towards a more open and extensible strategy for construction that can respond to the expanded needs of Offsite Timber Construction.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Deposit Date: Mar 19, 2015
• Print ISSN: 2156-1710
• Electronic ISSN: 2156-1702
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 54-70
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/ij3dim.2015010104
• Keywords: Offsite timber construction; Building Information Modelling (BIM); fabrication; pre-assembly
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/7679
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/IJ3DIM.2015010104