Building Information Modelling (BIM) is revolutionising how buildings are designed, constructed and maintained. This quick guide explores what BIM is, how it works and why it matters for manufacturers and designers alike.
The transition to Building Information Modelling (BIM) began to spread via “early adopters” more than ten years ago. Fast-forward to today and there are millions of active BIM users across the globe. But what drove us to discard our beloved drawings and embrace BIM technology?
In the 1900s, construction design gradually began to evolve from hand-drawn plans to computer-aided design (CAD). The computer became standard practice, which streamlined drawing management and improved the visualisation process.
Architects and construction engineers use BIM to create 3D models of a complete and furnished building – using software such as Revit (Autodesk), MicroStation (Benley) as well as Graphisoft Archicad, Allplan and Vectorworks (Nemetschek Group).
But BIM isn't a design or visualisation tool. It's a process that enables the creation of a shared data model. This model is available for all concerned; from the designers of the building to the construction company, and finally the property owners and managers.
These models can also contain information related to the building's life cycle and its expected maintenance requirements. Information such as time planning (4D), cost estimates (5D) and sustainability (7D) bring additional dimensions to BIM models.
