In October 2016, nearly 40 architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals from 19 companies gathered at EMJ’s Chattanooga office for the first-ever meeting of Grassroots BIM. Sponsored by EMJ Corporation and cultivated by Jonathan Deming, EMJ’s Director of BIM and Construction Technology, the group is self-described as a “network of like-minded professionals who are passionate about construction technology” and aim to foster community and collaboration within the industry.
“This group’s tech-focus aligns perfectly with Chattanooga’s emphasis on innovation, and it has the potential to really enhance the AEC community,” said Deming. “We are building great momentum and are excited to see the results.”
Deming, along with Applied Software’s AEC Building Specialist Mike Massey, and Mark Petrucci, Director of Construction Technology Group, led the inaugural meeting, discussing centralized cloud-based Building Information Modeling (BIM) data with those in attendance.
The group plans to meet quarterly at different companies’ offices around Chattanooga with the next gathering set for Wednesday, January 25th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Callahan Mechanical . Chris Callahan and Jason Bell from Callahan will present on “BIM to Fab” and discuss Callahan’s CAD/BIM capabilities and how design files are transferred to automated fabrication machines.
“It’s encouraging to see the Chattanooga community connecting and growing together with the end-goal of enhancing project experiences for everyone involved,” said James Tyson, Senior Vice President of Estimating at EMJ.
Topics for future meetings include newly-emerging BIM technology and its impact on design and construction. Membership is informal and open to all.
To learn more about Grassroots BIM or to join, connect with the group on LinkedIn here or email GRB@emjcorp.com. For more information about the January meeting, click here.
Here’s a look at EMJ’s construction technology in action. A 3D model of the Chattanooga Whiskey distillery was combined with an actual photo from the construction site to aid all project stakeholders in visualizing the end goal.