Building Information Models are an incredibly useful tool for the assessment and management of threats. This includes both human threats such as terrorism and natural threats such as hurricanes. This blog will outline how BIM can be used to improve your ability to deal with a threat before, during and after an incident and provide case studies of real world applications.
The main applications of BIM for threat assessment and management are:
- Analysis of safety features before emergency
- Training through simulators before emergency
- Fast access to information during emergency
- Damage assessment resource after emergency
Before Emergency
Uses of BIM for threat assessment and management before an emergence include:
- Analyzing and quantifying the presence of safety features
- Quickly training staff in a class room setting on specific threats
- Easing departments coordination on proper approach
- Simulating disasters and the most effective response
Fire departments are embracing simulators as a safe and cost effective means of training staff in a range of scenarios that would previously not have been possible.
BIM is a fantastic tool for assessing potential threats before an emergency and developing strategies for either eliminating or managing these threats. One of the main uses of BIM for security is for training. It allows staff to be able to explore a space while physically remaining in one location. This means staff can easily train for emergency scenarios at multiple sites in the same day. It also decreases the cost of training.
Fire departments are actively embracing BIM combined with simulation software to train staff. Simulations allow firefighters to train safely at many locations and under different conditions. “Trainees utilize a real fire hose with branch pipe to practice opening and closing of the nozzle, control the rate of agent dispersion and choose between a jet stream and spray. Within the simulation, the trainees can explore their environment through wayfinding and can also practice ventilation tactics at both the firefighter and commander level” (http://www.trainingfordisastermanagement.com/products/adms-fire/).
During Emergency
Simulations of attacks increase likelihood of success and decrease chances of friendly fire.
Uses of BIM for threat assessment and management during an emergence include:
- Planning and coordination
- Line of site review
- Safe rooms and areas of refuge can be quickly identified
- Approach rehearsal
- Fast access to detailed information about objects in model
The simulator is useful in planning and coordination, line of site review, and approach rehearsal. By rehearsing the approach in the simulator as a team, officers and staff gain a special awareness. Soldiers describe the feeling they get from this process as “situational deja vu.” They are better prepared for what they will see, how to navigate complicated facilities, and where to expect to see other team members assisting with the event. This increases the chance for a successful outcome and reduces the opportunity for friendly fire.
After Emergency
Search and rescue can benefit from detailed information of pre-disaster conditions.
Uses of BIM for threat assessment and management after an emergence include:
- Damage assessment
- Compare before and after conditions
- Recreate damaged/destroyed property based on data from BIM model
- Recreate emergency scenario to assess performance and opportunities
A BIM of conditions before an emergency can serve as an organizational tool during recovery. Parts of the model that were destroyed can be tagged and based on this tables of total damage costs or new parts to order can easily be created.