Building Information Modeling (BIM) Gaining Momentum

Whenever I see professional societies like AIA put their stamp on something, and big development investments by technology companies, I know my FM world is changing again. If you do not yet understand BIM then take a look at http://www.facilityinformationcouncil.org/bim/about.php and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_Information_Modeling. It’s here, it’s real, and I hope to goodness it doesn’t turn out to be a replay of the early days of HVAC interoperability, when we had multiple protocol standards competing for the marketplace. That does not seem to be the case with BIM, however, since the National Institute for Building Sciences is on point in developing the standards.

One caution, I have seen some information that seems to narrow the definition of BIM, referring to it as a 3D model of the building that can be used throughout the life cycle of the facility. That is true, but it is so much more as well. If you are anticipating a BIM project, then make sure your consultants and providers are up to speed and can deliver the real goods.

For a list white papers, a PDF of the Version 1 Standard, published articles and books on the subject, see http://www.facilityinformationcouncil.org/bim/publications.php .

Data Center Power & Cooling Demands Continue to Rise

If you support data centers then you are most likely scrambling to provide more power and cooling as consumption demands continue to trend up. Gartner studies project a 13% compounded annual growth rate, predicting continuing increases in power consumption. This dynamic is largely driven by the move to blade servers in data centers. Blades are smaller, but also more power hungry. Combine the increased power requirement per server with the ability to pack more servers into a data center by virtue of their smaller size, and you have a double whammy affect.

A couple of my colleagues attended the recent IDC conference in San Francisco and came away with insight on key industry trends. These highlights align with our own experiences as we, like most others, grapple with this issue.

Virtualization of servers (combining multiple applications on one server) is foundational to managing computer center energy consumption.

The new C Class server blades are more energy efficient and allow greater virtualization. Helpful, but marginally so as the efficiency improvements do not reach the levels needed to fully offset increased density. Still, it is a definite step in the right direction.

Greening of data centers is gaining momentum and becoming more important to data center operators and FM’s who support them. In part because of the “greening” of American business, but also because of the financial penalties of not being energy efficient. Users are no longer saying “get me more power at any cost.” Now they are saying, “get me the power I need in the most efficient manner possible.”

For more information on data center issues and trends see the IDC website at http://www.idc.com/ .

Three Maxims Fighter Pilots Swear By – And So Should You

“Check Six” No fighter pilot ever wants to be engaged in battle and not know what is in his or her six o’clock position, directly behind. Do you know what’s on your Six? What is the issue that you know is there but don’t have the time to deal with? How will you know when it moves from being a nuisance to a threat, and how are you going to deal with it?

“Speed Is Life” In airplanes, speed is energy. It is an asset. You can trade it for altitude, give it up for tactical position, use it to attack, or use it to escape. In business, speed is one of our most important assets. Develop it, sustain it, and use it wisely. It makes a difference.

“Keep the Sharp End Pointed Forward” Pretty basic isn’t it? Point the sharp end of an airplane in another direction and bad things can happen, fast. What is the sharp end of your business? Is it the knowledge of your team? Then make sure they remain pointed forward, maintain momentum, and continue to develop as new knowledge emerges.

Collect the Right Dots

We often speak of the importance of connecting the dots, drawing meaningful relationships between disparate pieces of information and using them to develop conclusions upon which we base strategy and tactics. But what if the dots aren’t the right dots?

Having data is one thing, having the right data is sometimes another. How long has it been since you built your metrics system? Is what you are measuring still relevant? Are you routinely looking at the information being collected, but neglecting to rethink what it is you really need to know? Have you gotten so accustomed to your balanced scorecard, dashboard, and checklists that they have become routine to you?

Metrics are an important tool, but so is your gut. Don’t forget to check them both.

A Few of My Favorite Quotes

A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world. - John Le Carre.
Get out of your office and go see what's really going on out there!

Facts are friendly. - J. Irwin Miller
'Nuff said.

Nothing endures but change. - Heraclitus
Want to argue this one?

Shoot the guy who shoots the messenger.
I don't know who said this, but bless 'em!