Pierre-Jean Guerin, BIM consultant and manager of GBIM, talks about his experience with AxeoBIM on the ISAE Learning Centre project.
Hello, could you introduce us your structure?
Hello, I run the company G BIM, created in 2015 and based in Toulouse. This company has several activities around BIM: BIM Management services, creation of families and objects (more specifically on HVAC, as it is also my initial specialty). We also do BIM training and "project" in the sense of production, design and execution, rather on the HVAC but also in high and low voltage.
Could you give us an overview of this project?
It is an e-learning building of about 2300 m², it is a kind of media library and cultural center, with presentation rooms for receptions, reading rooms as well as an archiving service. The project is supported by the army (ESID of Bordeaux) and is located on the campus of ISAE SUPAREO which is made up of prestigious aeronautical schools.
As far as the team is concerned, the main contractor is LCR architecte, a Toulouse-based agency associated with OTCE MP, a design office for the structure and fluids. As for G BIM, we are in charge of BIM management on the project.
Initially the project was supposed to be completed in June, but there was a delay. Finally, it should be completed in February 2022. This delay is mainly related to the COVID crisis, which has caused us difficulties in the supply of certain materials. We have also had some delays due to construction hazards.
What were your needs in terms of collaboration tools?
To begin with, ISAE had requested in its initial specifications that the project be conducted in BIM. Now nothing is done without an exchange medium. When we make a BIM requirement for a project, we can imagine that this data will not be sent by email, on Google Drive, or even less by USB keys. We want it to be organized and we naturally turn to suppliers of collaborative solutions that can respond to this.
In my career, I had participated in the creation of an EDM (Electronic Document Management) solution. We worked on a very large site covering several hectares and I know how strategic it is to have an efficient platform. At the time, it was very much linked to graphic production on AutoCAD, so the platform had to facilitate work on AutoCAD. It also had to facilitate the indexing of documents in the filesheets and to be able to create links between the different documents. All this had to be done directly from the platform, so that users would not have to download, rename or break links. For this project, I was looking for a tool that was necessarily up to date for this on BIM. That this tool be a database and not just a Google Drive.
The project requirements were mainly on the "EDM" aspect but without giving more details. The project was big enough for everyone to realize how necessary it was to use this type of solution.
Why did you choose the AxeoBIM solution?
Initially, it started with a recommendation. The contact I had with the company was positive and the solution perfectly met my expectations from a functional point of view. The same was true for the price.
The fact that the servers and data were hosted in France was an essential point, especially when working with the army for whom it was a guarantee, even if it was not a "sensitive" project. I also appreciated the "unlimited users" model.
What is your assessment of the solution? :
Concerning the handling of the platform, globally I had no difficulties with the teams, it went well. The support was very responsive and still is, which is what is important.
I am quite happy with this platform and I have used it for another project(Groupe scolaire la Restanque in Montpellier).
Thank you Mr Guerin for this exchange
