What is BIM Clash Detection?

Introduction

Clash Detection is a technology that provides the best collaboration and coordination in the construction industry than ever. It is one of the main tools used to help find and solve issues before starting a construction project. It’s led to a better quality of completed work and saves clients money.

What is Clash?

Designers and engineers consider that “clash” appear when two or more elements intersect or overlap each other. It can be the pipe that crosses the beam or just an element copied in the same place.

Types of Clashes

There are three types of clashes: hard, soft and workflow/4D clashes.

Hard Clashes

Hard Clash takes place when two or more elements cross each other or take up the same space. It is both an intersection within one discipline and in different disciplines. It is easy to find and highlight this type of clash because it is notable and logical.

There is a special type of hard clashes – duplicates. It is elements, that were copied in the same place. This may seem like a small problem, but it can greatly interfere with further calculations. 

Soft Clashes

This type of clash occurs in places that need access for support or some constant intervention. Each building element has its own buffer zone(or access zone) and when this zone is violated, a soft clash is detected. 

In MEP systems it can be heaters, grilles, pumps or other equipment that need some space for maintenance stable work. 

Workflow/4D Clashes

This clashes related to delivery materials or equipment to construction or not enough amount of needed resources for completing construction. 

This type of clash should not be underestimated, because one small mistake can not only delay the deadline but even stop all construction. For detection these clashes engineers use 4D BIM model including the information about time. This model allows users to check schedules of construction in animated form and resolve it. 

What is Clash Detection?

BIM Clash Detection is one of the main benefits of using BIM technology.

It is an automated process of detecting clashes or conflicts between several 3D models. This is an extremely important process for entire construction sphere, for Structural and MEP Engineers and Architects, since it combines all of them and makes their job even more effective and better.

How does Clash Detection work?

In the same BIM environment Architects, Structural Engineers, MEP Engineers and other professionals create independent 3D models that can be edited separately from each other, but changes can be seen by everyone in real-time. Next, all models are unloaded and merged into another program, then run the processes of determining intersections. These processes are pre-configured by defining the categories of models between which you want to look for clashes.

The Clash Detection program identifies where two independent models intersect, highlights and lists items that need to be reviewed and corrected if necessary. From this list, the Clash report for the customer is then formed.

Clash Detection Software

In modern construction exists a huge amount of clash detection software. For example, Revizto, Solibri, Trimble Connect, BIM Vision and others. All of them are different and have other qualities of work.

But the most popular software for reviewing model and clash detection is Autodesk Navisworks. Maybe this program acquired this popularity through Revit, or it has some benefits over others.

You can read a little about Navisworks there…

Karno Energy mostly uses Navisworks for Clash Detection and reviewing the model, as it has the best collaboration with Revit and similar simple design. Also, Navisworks gives a possibility to our engineers to do simple and fulfilled clash reports for our customers and partners. 

Importance of Clash Detection

The main advantage is the unification of all parts of the construction before the construction site. This allows you to identify a large number of errors before construction, and not directly on the construction or during operation of the building.

Which significantly reduces the cost of the whole process and makes it better.

BIM Clash Detection greatly improves teamwork not only on the team but also outside it. This process helps to respond quickly and accurately to changes in the project and just as quickly and accurately inform members of another structure or team.

Conclusion

By reviewing and delving into the BIM Clash Detection, you can understand the importance of this element in modern construction. This thing significantly speeds up and improves the quality of work of all designers who work diligently and hard on the detail and accuracy of the project. Also, this process significantly reduces the probability of correction on the construction site, and it is always a waste of additional materials and labour.

Clash Detection has become an integral part of construction in the 21st century, providing this area with even better and cheaper work.