My Crystal Ball

Its here, its now, so who here is using it?

It's also the foundation for our future...

Design vs. Construction Models

Quantites are a natural byproduct of BIM

Using these is no different than using drawings, napkin skethces, etc...

Nothing more than coordinating using current technology.

Not sophisticated anymore.

Prefab is the key to capturing value.

Expanding scopes.

4D Scheduling is just associating the tasks and their time spans with 3D opjects.

Communication

Schedule Analysis and Optimization

The last place BIM doesn't tread heavily.

The concepts are there today, but the hardware and software isn't

Changes over the next two years will make BIM accessible to anyone, anywhere, at any time, on any device.

Tools and workflows will follow

This is how a vast majority of the things we use get made.

AEC is behind the curve, but catching up.

Subs have been doing this for years, and we only now have a process to support them.

Nothing is stopping us from taking control and leading this process to get better results.

Prefabrication is already the norm for many project types or scopes.

It has some serious benefits to cost, schedule, quality, etc...

The only real downside is that it requires more planning.

A great Design tool

A great sales tool

Really, just a toy for AEC

Bridging the gap between our virtual buildings, and the real ones.

Already cheaper than most alternatives in the long run

If you aren't using them, it's time to start.

Not just for your grocery store anymore.

For any manufactured/installed item, it is a way to link BIM with Reality

Somewhat limited built in data, dependent on links

Not a lot of "Killer Apps" yet.

Being pushed into the hands of designers

Not just for engineers anymore

Graphics-centric tools for communication

Accuracy is highly questionable

The technology is here, for other industries (low poly counts).

Opens up a whole new world for designers.

Communication with clients, etc...

Very expensive software, very expensive hardware

http://render.otoy.com/

http://lumion3d.com/

http://unity3d.com/

Cloud computing becomes monetized (not just Beta anymore).

Software as a service for emerging technologies, learn to subscribe.

Unlimited Computing* brings some computations down to earth, at a cost.

Collaboration is changing, as is ownership of information.

Sub-metering is no longer enough detail

Think thousands of sensors in a single building

Micro-metering provides individual level feedback on building performance

Or object level information on system performance

Supplementing or replacing laser scanning

Allows ubiquitous and real time data capture

Can truly bring the virtual and physical worlds into parity

Just another type of sensor

Hardware and software advances

Supports a fundamental merger between the virtual and phyisical "existence" of objects.

Massive data flows requiring advanced compression and storage tools.

Construction monitoring, etc...

Why scan something when you can just know?

On demand reporting

Live tracking with jobsite sensors

Can call up a wealth of information

Chairs, VAVs, and even toilet paper rolls will eventually become networked.

IPv6

Mimic the progress of BIM from self-awareness to social-awareness.

Tools already exist in manufacturing to 3D print finished goods.

This will expand to AEC allowing custom fabrications with complexity / detail not previously affordable.

Will this usher in a new era of ornamentation?

http://www.prometal-rct.com/eng/index.html

Mass Customization is easier for our industry than for manufacturing

We already make one-off custom products

For us, this is a way to lower the cost and time required to deliver what we already deliver

Some trades will have their work replaced by machines out on the jobsite

Union pressures, decreasing talented labor pools, increasing cost of labor, etc...

Decreasing cost of robotics and other mechanized production tools

Software is rapidly developing to help machines "learn" techniques and processes

Wherever possible, processes that can be melded will be

If you can fabricate in 3D, and Install robotically, why not fabricate on site in the final installtion location?

More will be done virtually up front, and actual construction will occur more rapidly on the back end after all the details are worked out

Discrete Analysis will give way to holistic environment simulations.

Provides multiple levels of simulation feedback

Visualization of compounding decisions

Design in Analysis environments

Drawings will be orphaned as a means for Fabrication

Not needed for installation

Already orphaned for coordination and design.

And will be orphaned for code review / permiting

So, why waste time making them anyway?

The problem is accuracy

Required for automated robotic installation or in-situ fabrication

Supports VR or VA interfaces

Fancy way of saying your glasses or contacts have displays integrated.

Superimposition of useful information in your FOV.

Let's you see what isn't there yet.

Will allow us to influence people's perception of our work

Data aggregation across industries, disciplines, etc...

Usually cited and known for "surprising" results

The size of these data sets is hard to understand

Most important thing is how the data can be used

In three weeks, with no human coding, this car taught itself to drive

This hits home as I watch my daughter learn to walk

Compare that to hundreds of man-years that went into programming DARPA challenge cars 10 years ago

Designing good space isn't what aerospace engineers are good at

So, who wants "first building on mars" on their resume?

Technology = Tool

Technology is just a tool, it is only as cool as it is useful

Only in the last few decades has "technology" taken on the "geek" image

It just so happens that the most exciting new developments involve computing...

Integration

Enterprise vs. Collaboration

Vertical vs. Horizontal

Risk/Reward

Risk will continue to migrate downstream to contractors and subcontractors.

With risk goes reward, so to make money, you have to take on risk, not place it on others.

With less money for design, drawings will continue to have less information, and less coordination.

Incentives for Innovation

New contract structures MUST encourge innovation

Change will not occur unless it is rewarded

This is where DB / IPD can really add value

Or we can just wait for outside disruption

What is the cloud REALLY about?

Unlimited processing power

Collaboration

Proliferation of Software

Technical skills have a short life span

I am proficcient in about 15 different professional software tools

In ten years, I'll need to know about 50

And the 15 I know will be gone

Much greater need for continue education

Demands a different model for software in the future

The Digital Divide

There is a gap between the digital and real world

That gap is narrowing rapidly

The next Bill Gates of the world will close that gap