The BIM Evaluation Study Report, the Economics of Cloud Computing, and a Viewpoint on the Future of BIM

AECbytes has launched a new Research Reports section! Its inaugural offering is a comprehensive research report that captures the results of the BIM evaluation study authored by its founder and editor, Lachmi Khemlani, Ph.D. The study was commissioned by the AIA Large Firm Round Table (LFRT) CEO Committee to provide the LFRT firms with an in-depth comparative evaluation of the main architectural BIM applications that are available. The study was conducted over a one-year period starting from June 2009 and ending in June 2010. The results are captured in a 163 page report that the AIA LFRT CEO Committee is now making available for purchase. Click here for more information about the report and how to purchase it.

Following up on his widely read article, "BIM and the Cloud," published in AECbytes last year, Chris France returns with a new article that takes a closer look at "The Economics of Private Cloud Computing." This article addresses firm owners, principals, or “C”-level executives that are responsible for providing a robust technology infrastructure to keep their firm competitive, which not only includes BIM applications but also many other design, project, and business applications. The economics of traditional IT are contrasted with the economics of private cloud computing, showing how the IT spend for the latter approach is significantly smaller. The article also provides information about private cloud providers serving the AEC industry and answers several key questions related to cloud computing in AEC.

Also on the agenda for this month is a Viewpoint article by Robert Amor, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and Robert Owen, University of Salford, UK, that describes an international research effort on understanding the steps beyond BIM, coordinated by the Integrated Design and Delivery Solutions (IDDS) initiative of the CIB (International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction).

The Tips and Tricks contributions this month include an overview of seven keys to best practices for ArchiCAD, and a follow-up article to last month's tutorial on Scia Engineer which looks at the advanced optimization capablities of the application for structural design.

Thank you!

Lachmi Khemlani

Editorials > January 2011