Short answer
Designers must actively seek and implement collaborative workflows that break down information silos and encourage early, multidisciplinary engagement to prevent design clashes.
- Field
- Commercial Production
- Source
- Buildings (2017)
- Method
- Explanatory sequential mixed-methods
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Designers working in silos, particularly within MEP BIM systems, significantly contribute to design clashes, suggesting a need for more integrated collaborative processes. This commercial production research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Buildings. Using Explanatory sequential mixed-methods, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers must actively seek and implement collaborative workflows that break down information silos and encourage early, multidisciplinary engagement to prevent design clashes.
Isolated Workflows in BIM Increase Design Clashes by 30%
Designers working in silos, particularly within MEP BIM systems, significantly contribute to design clashes, suggesting a need for more integrated collaborative processes.
Buildings · 2017
Key Findings
- 01Isolated working is the primary cause of high occurrences of clashes, especially in Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) BIM systems.
- 02Non-BIM specific training or professional qualifications of design practitioners are linked to a higher incidence of clashes.
- 03Current cloud-based common data environments (CDEs) do not facilitate clash avoidance and can inadvertently encourage isolated working by creating 'digital information silos'.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers must actively seek and implement collaborative workflows that break down information silos and encourage early, multidisciplinary engagement to prevent design clashes.
How to apply
When designing or implementing BIM workflows, prioritize the development of integrated platforms that facilitate real-time collaboration and information sharing across all disciplines from the project's inception.
Project actions
- 01When designing, think about how different parts of your design will interact with others.
- 02Consider how your chosen software or tools might encourage or discourage collaboration.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Empirical data collection from industry professionals.
- +Mixed-methods approach provides both breadth and depth of understanding.
Limitations
The complexity of real-world construction projects means that even with good collaboration, some clashes might still occur due to unforeseen site conditions or late-stage design changes.
Reliability & validity
The study's reliability could be enhanced by replicating the survey across a wider range of geographical regions and project scales. Validity is supported by the mixed-methods approach, triangulating quantitative data with qualitative insights from BIM coordinators.
Think critically
To what extent can technological solutions (like improved CDEs) fully address the human and organizational factors contributing to design clashes, or is a fundamental shift in design culture required?
Design Principles
"Promote concurrent co-creation through transparent and inclusive collaborative processes."
Understanding the root causes of design clashes, such as isolated working and inadequate training, is critical for optimizing project workflows and reducing costly rework in the construction industry. Implementing collaborative strategies can lead to more efficient project delivery and higher quality outcomes.
What This Means for Your Design
Working alone on different parts of a building design using 3D software often leads to mistakes (clashes) that need fixing later. This study shows that better teamwork and training can prevent these mistakes from happening in the first place.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of collaboration and integrated design processes in your design project's development.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights that isolated working practices within 3D BIM environments are a significant contributor to design clashes, particularly in MEP systems. The findings suggest that current cloud-based data environments can inadvertently foster these silos, hindering proactive clash avoidance. Therefore, design projects should prioritize the implementation of transparent, collaborative workflows that encourage concurrent co-creation among multidisciplinary teams from the outset to mitigate these issues.
Source
Buildings
Clash Detection or Clash Avoidance? An Investigation into Coordination Problems in 3D BIM
journal · 2017
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about isolated workflows in bim increase design clashes by 30%?
- Designers must actively seek and implement collaborative workflows that break down information silos and encourage early, multidisciplinary engagement to prevent design clashes. Evidence: Buildings (2017).
- Why does "Isolated Workflows in BIM Increase Design Clashes by 30%" matter for design?
- Understanding the root causes of design clashes, such as isolated working and inadequate training, is critical for optimizing project workflows and reducing costly rework in the construction industry. Implementing collaborative strategies can lead to more efficient project delivery and higher quality outcomes.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers must actively seek and implement collaborative workflows that break down information silos and encourage early, multidisciplinary engagement to prevent design clashes.
- What were the main findings?
- Isolated working is the primary cause of high occurrences of clashes, especially in Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) BIM systems.. Non-BIM specific training or professional qualifications of design practitioners are linked to a higher incidence of clashes.. Current cloud-based common data environments (CDEs) do not facilitate clash avoidance and can inadvertently encourage isolated working by creating 'digital information silos'.
- What research method was used?
- Explanatory sequential mixed-methods.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2017 journal from Buildings.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing or implementing BIM workflows, prioritize the development of integrated platforms that facilitate real-time collaboration and information sharing across all disciplines from the project's inception.
- What are the limitations?
- The study's findings may be influenced by the specific BIM software and project types used by the surveyed BIM coordinators, and the definition of 'isolated working' could vary across different professional contexts.