The real estate industry is the second largest in the country after agriculture with the construction labor force estimated at about 30 million. Comprising four sub-sectors of housing, retail, hospitality and commercial, the Indian real estate market size is expected to reach US$ 180 billion by 2020. In such an upbeat scenario, the Building Information Modeling (BIM) or digitalizing building models could spell vantage for the masonry industry as well and not just construction industry. The BIM software creates 3D models of exterior and interior of the building and can be used for determining quantities of materials too albeit with a difference. This difference lies in the accuracy factor which translates to fewer guesstimates and saving of time, money and labor through shared information right from conception to completion of the building process. For the masonry industry in particular, the information aspect like scheduling and planning for equipment could be advantageous as opposed to the rough estimates.
For instance, if an architect quizzes about a material or how the finished product would look, with BIM’s incorporation in masonry replete with flowcharts and graphics, it is possible and competitive. After all, what is masonry if not the building of structures from individual units? It is ultimately the combined endeavor of engineers, architects, masons, contractors and vendors that sees the end product through.
India is the world’s second largest producer of cement and in the next decade could be the main exporter of clinker and gray cement to Middle East and other developing nations. In such a scenario, the digitalization of masonry material and systems along with weight, cost, availability and other aspects could prove beneficial in the long run. Better communication flow and fewer errors are some of the plus points that dictate inclusive functions of BIM into masonry as a concerted and not sporadic need of the hour.
A few tools that help ease the complexity are listed below:
- AECOsim Building Designer
- ArchiCAD
- MagiCAD,
- Tekla Structures
- Autodesk Revit
- Synchro PRO
- VectorWorks
- Trimble
- SketchUp