What type of barriers will I encounter when I start using BIM

Adding one more thought...the aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, and consumer electronics products sectors have been employing sophisticated 3D modeling and simulation systems for design, manufacturing and assembly for years. Its long overdue for the architectural profession to become fluent in BIM technologies, pushing their use to the limits in pursuit of better design solutions and a better, far more efficient supply chain of raw materials and manufactured assemblies currently in the hands of contractors and developers.

In order to work, BIM is a full-bodied process. Every trade has to participate - first, they have to be committed to accurately placing their equipment into their drawings in 3D in order to do clash detection, then all parties need to have all the plug-ins to be able see and evaluate everyone else's work. Next, you will need to manage the process by having regular collaboration meetings (again, with all parties represented) to mediate and resolve clashes and implement the resolutions in the drawings. Lastly, all parties need to control their installation crews - the process will fail if the installers 'go rogue' and don't install as designed.

@neil. Good points re BIM. I'm a long time ArchiCAD user and enjoy it's work environment a great deal. I've also used Vectorworks which I also like. Way back in the late 1980s I use its original - MiniCAD. It was a fine product plus it had a neat programming language -MiniPascal. You are also right to point out that BIM does not equal REVIT!!!

From my experience, there were 3 main challenges when I switched to a BIM workflow:

1) Getting myself and others to understand that the design and documentation process is different when doing BIM. More thought and time is required early on to figure the project but the effort is WELL worth it.

2) Learning how to do BIM and sticking with it, when the urge may be to just switch back to 2D CAD because it seems faster.

3) Dispelling the myth that BIM = Revit. (Hint: BIM does NOT equal Revit.) This was mainly a challenge because some people and firms that I did contract work with did not understand/believe that BIM can in fact be done outside of Revit. Personally I use Vectorworks because it does BIM/3D/2D in pretty much any combination I want/need, and can do great renderings, all in one application. AND I enjoy use Vectorworks, which is not something you hear from users of other application.

If you'd like more info on the subject, follow me here on Modlar and we can chat.

During the construction phase, BIM models benefit contractors by giving them a virtual copy of the project to reference. It can be used to examine site conditions without going to site. It allows them to coordinate phasing of construction by assigning the components of a model to a timeline Example, you can see that there might be an issue getting the atrium glass in after you have sealed the exterior due to structural conditions. It also allows them to create "as-built" models of the exact conditions to, for example, quantify the materials on site. For in depth information refer this quora thread https://www.quora.com/What-is-building-information-modelling-and-what-are-its-advantages-and-disadvantages

People will be your main problem. Anyone can use BIM software by following procedures and good practice. Change and technology are not the problem, people are.
"Leaders are great at starting things, they are not great at finishing things." Change expert Donna Brighton

The transition from "doing drawings" to creating a full and accurate physical model of a project might for some be a steep learning curve. BIM is the Steinway in an orchestra. The profession needs to become highly proficient in the use of this amazing technological instrument. But it takes time and real talent to master it. This being said, more and more clients expect their architects to be fluent in this technology.