What is BIM?
Building Information Modelling
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a process where 3D digital models and other information are used to design and construct a building and then to operate and maintain it.
The BIM Advantage
- BIM Saves Time
- BIM Saves Money
- BIM Promotes Smart Collaboration
Design and construction teams can easily share this digital information to aid project coordination, to eliminate design errors and to speed up the construction process – all of which can lead to lower costs.
Building Information Modelling benefits explained:
- Any part of the design and construction process can be easily visualised.
- Accurate calculation of materials and quantities.
- Standardisation of information passing between different parties
- Variations in the design can be prototyped and tested.
- Temperature models can be created to check the building’s performance.
- Different parts of the design team can work on the same model e.g. a structural engineer can design steelwork straight into the architect’s design.
- The model can be cloud based so that different parts of the design team can be based in different offices. These could easily be in different parts of the world.
- Mechanical, electrical and plumbing service can be designed to fit exactly into the building layout. Pipe, duct and cable lengths can be accurately calculated from the model.
- Construction documents can be generated more easily. This then frees up the architects so that they can concentrate on design rather than documentation.
- Any clashing objects in the model can be automatically detected.
- The BIM is a complete representation of the building – any changes to the model will ripple through to all drawings and documentation.