Classroom conjecture has its place in the learning process but at the end of the day, real-world application is what really matters. That’s when the budget goes from hypothetical play money to hard-earned dollars. BIM may sound like a good idea around the conference room table, but what about on the jobsite? Can it really improve processes and cut down on clashes? John Jurewicz says yes. He interviewed three contractors and found out that BIM really is worth its weight in gold.

Guest columnist Rodney Taylor presents a different side of BIM—the risk management side. Looking at BIM from the perspective of an insurer and attorney, Taylor asks the tough questions that the industry needs to answer before it can realize full industry integration.

BIM doesn’t fulfill every need on the construction site. The AEC industry still needs project controls that extend beyond technology. Cost tracking and impacts are just two of the topics that every AEC professional should know. Larry True and Gordon Aronson provide the heads-up on those subjects to help you plan ahead for potential job disputes and claims.

If you haven’t yet signed up, don’t miss the National BIM Conference at the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center May 19 to 22. The event, titled “Where Ecology Meets Technology” and held in tandem with Ecobuild America, is packed with information on technology and sustainable processes. For more information, visit www.ecobuildamerica.com. Mark your calendar now for Ecobuild’s fall show, Dec. 8 to 11 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.