Chapter 22
In This Chapter
Keeping updated with current thinking
Sharing knowledge and experience
The Internet has provided a platform for instant access to information and a place in which everyone can come together and share best practice and knowledge. What’s more, often this information doesn’t cost a dime! However, to really harness its power, the transfer of information often involves a two-way process. A tweet, a post, an article, a presentation, or a good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation imparts to others your wisdom, knowledge, and experiences of hitting your head against a brick wall. As the saying goes, “You only get back what you put in.” So if you have something to say or advice for others, share it! Along with the sound investment you’ve made in the purchase of this book (thank you, by the way), this chapter lists ten great further resources to help get you on your way and how you can capitalize on them.
As society progresses in this digital age, communication and interaction via social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are on the increase. Through the power of tweets, status updates, and links to articles, you can tap into a world of online communities that have a real sense of passion and enthusiasm and an environment of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Individuals should be able to access this information easily and influence a team without having to focus on practice strategies or needing to force their ideas through differing levels of management.
Whether it’s a link to a document, a discussion on best practice, or a tweet, the online community provides a vast, untapped, free resource of information and comradeship. This ideology has been helped by various leading industry figures showcasing their knowledge and sharing it with those around them. Twitter and other social media outlets break down communication barriers between small and large organizations, regional or global organizations, and sole practitioners, academics, and journalists.
Twitter is largely self-regulated, and people are free to express their opinions and minds. Just be mindful, however, that you’re broadcasting to the world. A general rule: if you wouldn’t want your granny to hear it, don’t tweet it. Remember that anyone can join in on your conversation. If you tweet something controversial or incorrect, then you’re going to know about it.
You may be surprised by how much you can take away from a video. Whether it’s fixing a fence or figuring out how to sew a button onto your shirt, sites such as YouTube (www.youtube.com
) are great places to gather new skills. YouTube and similar sites are more useful than just for watching videos of cute animals or people falling off skateboards. They’re a fantastic resource full of instructional videos and tutorials by likeminded and enthusiastic individuals and companies. A simple search online can uncover many hours of content.
In addition to YouTube, we suggest that you try these sites:
http://therevitkid.blogspot.co.uk
, you can find tips, tricks, and product information created and maintained by the Revit Kid, also known as Jeff. The site was initially started to help his peers. With a limited amount of video-style tutorials available when Jeff was learning Revit, he decided to address the issue head on.www.theNBS.com/BIM
) that covers a broad range of programs, including case studies, technical guidance, and interviews with leading industry figures.www.theb1m.com/about.asp
) has lots of five-minute short videos, great when you don’t have a lot of time to spare and want to get straight to the point.For those people who stay steadfast in traditional means of communication, events and gatherings are a superb place to not only network with your peers but also come together and share ideas. Although online communication is great, you can’t beat good old face-to-face meetings to meet others involved in the field and share knowledge.
Networking at trade shows and events is hugely important, allowing those interested in BIM to meet regularly to discuss themes and the progression of BIM in the industry. Events are organized by professional institutions, software vendors, and like-minded people who want to share best practice. You can also listen to leading industry figures right through to BIM newbies wanting to share their experience through open-mic sessions.
Many great bloggers are out there spreading the word of the BIM gospel, and a quick Internet search can point you in the right direction. Some blogs are summaries of various BIM events and presentations attended, and others are full of opinion pieces, tips, tricks, and the occasional anecdotes.
Listing all blogs would be impossible, so we offer a few suggestions for you to start:
www.constructioncode.blogspot.co.uk
) is a useful resource for up-and-coming information relating to BIM, construction, and technology. He also provides great summaries and round-ups of the various conferences that he speaks at and attends. You can also follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/StephenHamilNBS
.www.practicalbim.blogspot.co.uk
) is about quality rather than quantity. Antony provides no-nonsense guidance, opinion pieces, and food for thought.http://caseyrutland.com
). Aside from having the greatest pun-named website, Casey is an architect and associate director at Arup Associates and one of the founding forefathers of the #UKBIMCrew and now the extended #GlobalBIMCrew. He also compiles the yearly #BIMTransferSeason, also known as “The List,” that’s published as an image on various social media platforms on New Year’s Eve. Generally, The List is interesting on a personal level, but it’s also the beginning of tracking the head-hunting trends of large companies over the recent years. The List isn’t exhaustive and is mainly limited to those who share BIM-related knowledge on Twitter, but it’s representative of the demand for BIM experience and expertise in the industry. You can also follow Casey on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CaseyRutland
.www.bimblog.bondbryan.com
) is run, written, and maintained by architect and associate director Rob Jackson. The site is full of opinion pieces, top tips, and all things OpenBIM. The site also features downloadable useful documents that cover BIM acronyms, a BIM dictionary, and the different file formats. This site is a great example of a small and medium enterprise (SME) company proving that size isn’t a barrier to BIM. You can also follow Rob on twitter at https://twitter.com/bondbryanBIM
.Magazines and trade journals are excellent sources of information. Many are now in both print and digital forms, and they also feature regularly updated websites. Although some carry a small subscription charge, many offer a free digital version. Here are two of our top choices:
http://aecmag.com
) has a UK emphasis and is a good source of news on software and hardware technologies and collaborative working practices.www.aecbytes.com
) has been going since 2003. Its main focus is on research and analyzing and reviewing technology products, and it’s full of articles including conferences and show coverage, product reviews, case studies, and the usual tips and tricks sections.A number of national governments have mandated or are intending to mandate BIM. Many include dedicated websites that feature resources and downloadable documentation. In the UK, the BIM Task Group (www.bimtaskgroup.org
) provides support, access to all BIM4 Groups, and lessons-learnt documents. It highlights the latest news and gives quick industry updates as well as links to the government projects. The US General Services Administration (www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21062
) features a number of downloadable guides as well as details of BIM Champions throughout the different regions.
Most software vendors support user groups both regionally and internationally. Although some groups are organized and arranged by the vendors themselves, others are established by enthusiastic individuals. Groups are usually free to attend and offer a good opportunity to network and share experiences, as well as a mechanism for feeding back issues directly to the software vendors.
Associations and forums are places where people come together (either physically or virtually) to share ideas, opinions, and views on particular issues often through subcommittees or specialist group interest areas. They include the following:
https://bimforum.org/
) is to facilitate and accelerate the adoption of BIM within the AEC industry. The BIM Forum shares user experiences and goals via online forums and practical industry conferences. Sub-forums look at particular issues and topics such as technology, insurance, and academic and legal issues.www.fiatech.org
) considers itself an international community of passionate stakeholders who work together. The group’s aim is to lead global development and adoption of innovative practices and technologies to realize the highest business value throughout the lifecycle of capital assets.www.ibc-bim.ca
.www.bimmepaus.com.au/home.html
) strives to address some of the barriers to the adoption of BIM in the Australian construction industry. The group looks to address issues such as standards, practices, guidelines, and work flows.Sometimes the out-of-the-box content just doesn’t cut it or simply isn’t available. BIM object libraries can save you time by providing you with pre-configured objects.
Although not cheap, many software providers and software user associations organize a summer school or the strangely named university. These schools usually consist of conference training, networking, and sometimes the opportunity for certification, and they often take place over a few days or a week. Although some of these schools go under the guise of a university, actual academic universities and colleges do also run a number of courses.
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