“"Modular construction is making civil construction compatible with the 21st century, increasing the efficiency, speed, flexibility, and sustainability of buildings" (DEGANI, 2019). The use of new construction technologies such as modular building is gradually gaining ground in the building construction industry and, combined with the technological innovation of Building Information Modelling (BIM), provides greater simplification, transparency, and agility, assisting in the executive assembly process, both in off-site manufacturing and on-site assembly.
Modular constructions are units (individual modules) that are prefabricated on standardized assembly lines and assembled on-site. Under controlled conditions and with advanced logistics practices and specialized labor, these constructions undergo rigorous schedule control, directly impacting costs. According to Renê Ruggeri (2018:8), "BIM – Building Information Modeling is currently a mandatory topic in civil construction. The entire market is mobilizing around this innovation with serious efforts in professional, business, and even governmental areas.".
For the installation standards of systems such as electrical, plumbing, sanitary, and others to function correctly, high precision is required, using tools that meticulously measure the components and provide all the necessary data for project managers to achieve the desired results.
Detailing the manufacturing demand, in this context the application of BIM technology in these construction projects provides the support that the new construction technology needs.
It is important to emphasize that containers, for example, cannot be cut randomly due to their self-supporting nature; they are supported by four points on the ground. If their structure is significantly altered, it will affect their characteristics, thus requiring more foundation support. Cutting in the wrong place and using welding for repairs can also cause water infiltration and affect aesthetics. Detailed data provision through the use of BIM tools facilitates the precision and efficiency of the process. "Modular construction is directly linked to BIM (Building Information Modeling), as it is a concept for modeling, managing projects, and their activities at all stages" (Bárbara, 2021).
Companies that use BIM tools not only gain more agility in their processes, but also experience a significant reduction in costs. It can be concluded that the use of this tool contributes to the benefits of the modular construction method, bringing more precision and efficiency to the execution of the work with the acquisition of all the necessary data. Furthermore, this construction method favors a reduction in time, since it allows for the prefabrication of an entire plant in modules.
Technical content by Naiana Agra – Civil Engineer.