Proceedings of the CIB W78-W102 2011: International Conference –Sophia Antipolis, France, 26-28 October DESIGN COORDINATION WITH BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING: A CASE STUDY Renata Heloisa Tonissi Buschinelli Goes, MSc / Architect, rhtbg@yahoo.com Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo (IPT), São Paulo, Brazil Eduardo Toledo Santos, PhD/ Assistant Professor, eduardo.toledo@poli.usp.br Construction Engineering Dept., Escola Politécnica of the University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil ABSTRACT Despite some isolated initiatives using 3D CAD or BIM (Building Information Modeling) tools, project processes in the Brazilian AEC industry are still essentially developed using 2D technology, especially in the design development phases. There is evidence in the literature that 2D representations are prone to difficult-to-detect design errors and representation mistakes. BIM is an emerging paradigm based on object oriented, parameterized 3D CAD tools that promises an even better performance in design coordination processes than standard 3D CAD. This work aims to identify the potential for using BIM tools in the design coordination process as a more effective alternative to two- dimensional methods (abstraction and overlaying of drawings for interference checks and clash detection among different design disciplines). The research was based on the execution of a case study involving a complex residential building. Its design was developed as usual, with 2D CAD, as was its coordination process, by professional firms hired by the owner. Afterwards, using the same documents provided to the coordination firm, the first author independently developed the architectural, structural, plumbing, and HVAC BIM models for the standard floor plan of the building, simulating both the Schematic Design (SD) and the Design Development (DD) phases. During and after this process, detected interferences and information errors or omissions were documented in order to be compared with those reported in the traditional process of design coordination. The comparative analysis of both reports in this case study showed that the methodology with BIM detected 75% more design interferences and inconsistencies than the 2D-CAD supported method. This was partly due to the easier visualization of the virtual model, and to the software features for automating interference checks. On the other hand, the analysis of the interferences found in both processes demonstrated that the modeling procedure alone can affect design perception and evaluation, allowing the detection of a greater number of incompatibilities during the process. Keywords: Design Coordination, BIM, Clash Detection, Case study 1. INTRODUCTION Considered one of the most important economic activities in Brazil, having responded for 9.2% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2009 (FIESP 2010), national AEC industry is also known for its low productivity when compared to that of other countries or even to other segments of the national industry (FIESP 2008). One reason for this situation is the high rate of wastage in construction (Peralta 2002), which is caused, among other reasons, by design flaws (Cambiaghi 1992). In the current landscape of high capital investments in the country, modernization of the sector aiming to improve design quality and productivity is urgent. Melhado (1993) argues that it is vital to have consistency, organization and technology integration in the communication and transmission of design information for execution. In this sense, design coordination is a subject of interest and relev-