BIM (Building Information Modeling)

BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a way of working in which a building is modeled with objects that carry information rather than with lines. A wall in the model is not just a box; it knows its thickness, its layers, its material, its fire rating and the level it sits on. Plans, sections, elevations and schedules are all derived from the same model, so they stay consistent with each other.

What BIM changes

In traditional drafting, moving a window means fixing the plan, the elevation and the section separately. In BIM the change is made once and appears on every sheet. Door and window schedules, area tables and quantities come straight out of the model. Architectural, structural and MEP models can be overlaid to catch clashes before anyone is on site; a duct running through a beam shows up on screen. That is why BIM is less the name of a program than a way for teams to work together.

BIM in practice

Open formats such as IFC carry information between different programs. How detailed and reliable the model should be at each stage is set out with the LOD concept. After handover the model stays valuable for operation and maintenance, which is where the idea of a digital twin comes from. For visualization, a BIM model is a good starting point, though it usually needs extra work on materials and detail before rendering. Our overview of software architects use includes the main BIM tools.