WHAT IS BIM
February 6, 2023
BIM (Building Information Modeling) most known as Construction Information Modeling is already present in the daily lives of many construction professionals.
But do you really know what it's about?
Much more than a software, BIM establishes a new way to organize and share the information that is generated during the development of a work, going from its conception to the building operation stage.
If you don't really know what BIM is about or have no idea what BIM is don't worry!, because this post was made to answer all your doubts! Follow up!
BIM is a response to the constant technological evolution present in the civil construction sector, which directly impacts the project development process.
There are several definitions of what BIM is, but to summarize we can say that:
"BIM is A collaborative work process, through a shared digital simulation, integrating information and teams involved throughout the building lifecycle."
At first it may sound like something complex, but the purpose of BIM is precisely to make life easier for everyone involved with the project, making all the information generated accessible and organized.
All phases of a project can be developed within the BIM process, with the advantage that the process can be collaborative, that is, several professionals working on the same project simultaneously.
BIM offers a workflow that permeates the entire project lifecycle, where we can analyze some of its main points:
The BIM workflow goes through all stages of the development of a project, but we still have other advantages that can be obtained by using the BIM process, as you can see below.
The BIM process is not limited to the workflow for the development of a project, it also includes the possibility to carry out analyses, simulations or even detections of interferences; minimizing the possibility of any errors occurring during the execution of the work.
Here are some benefits that can be obtained through the use of BIM:
Given all these benefits, we need to move on to a very important step, which is choosing the BIM software that will be used.
BIM ends up being very associated with software or 3D models, when in fact BIM is a work process that involves people, software and information.
So we cannot say that BIM is limited to software, but it is a fundamental tool for the development of projects within the BIM process.
To meet the entire workflow of the BIM process you will not find a software that solves absolutely everything, but different software where each one is responsible for a certain stage of the process.
Among the most used software on the market we have two that we can highlight, ArchiCAD and Revit.
Let's learn a little more about each of them:
ArchiCAD is a BIM software created by the Graphisoft company.
With ArchiCAD you can develop architectural projects and, starting with version 24, installation projects (mechanical, electrical and hydraulic), offering 2D and 3D visualization.
It has been in the market for 35 years, it is widely used in Europe and Japan but it has a version translated into Portuguese with a template aimed at the Brazilian market.
Provides a 3D modeling environment for parametric modeling, with features to:
In addition to a large library of ready-to-use templates.
Due to the variety of tools and resources, ArchiCAD is an excellent option for the development of projects within the BIM process.
Revit is a BIM software created by Revit Technology Corporation (formerly Charles River Software) and was acquired by Autodesk in the year 2002.
It has been on the market for 20 years, being widely used in the world and is very popular here in Brazil, allowing the development of architectural, structural and complementary projects (mechanical, electrical and hydraulic).
The entire modeling process is performed in a 3D environment, with parametric features for modeling, documentation, quantitative, extracting quantitative, among other possibilities.
The model library present in Revit is not fully aligned with the national market, but you can find several websites with models for your project.
If you want to use high quality models in your project, subscribe to Club Blocks and get the best Revit blocks collections now to further optimize your portfolio!
When we develop a project with the BIM process, we have different professionals involved, ranging from architects and engineers, to specialists in complementary projects (electrical, hydraulic, air conditioning, etc.), managers, etc.
To give you an overview here is a list of activities with their corresponding softwares:
Cost control: used to control costs, scheduling and project management in an integrated way. Allows focusing the work flow between project, time or cost.
Planning and management: software aimed at planning and monitoring the execution of the work, offering a refined control of all stages of the project.
Representation and Calculation for Mechanical, Electrical or Hydraulic Systems (MEP): software aimed at building installations and their dimensioning.
Energy efficiency - energy consumption analysis software, enabling more efficient solutions and reduced consumption.
Collaborative work management - allows to connect multiple work teams in the same project, sharing data and information, and assisting in decision making.
This already gives us an idea about BIM and the volume of software and applications available on the market, including the functionalities of architecture, analysis and energy performance, construction management, general modeling, structure, complementary projects, file visualization, among others.
The best way to understand the benefits of BIM is to analyze a project developed within this process, so let's check out some examples.
Source: HUB Arquitetura
Located in the historic center of Porto Alegre, the Guaspari Building has a total area of 4,077.60 m², and was designed by the Spanish architect Fernando Corona in 1936.
The Integrated Architecture HUB was responsible for the construction of a digital model of the existing building and for the modeling of a new proposal, which had to be fully compatible through this 3D model.
Source: HUB Arquitetura
As it is a central region, the only space available for the construction site was the area corresponding to the ground floor.
All control of the project was carried out through a BIM model, making the construction site space not a limitation and allowing the execution of the project to be carried out within the established deadlines.
Source: HUB Arquitetura
Staoil is a Norwegian oil company whose main activity is the extraction of natural gas and oil. The design of its regional and international office was developed by A-Lab.
Source: A-Lab
Thanks to meticulous planning, advanced BIM modeling and fruitful solution-oriented dialogue, the team of architects, client and owner, construction companies and all subcontractors were able to complete the complex project on time.
Source: A-Lab
The result is a sophisticated building where all information was transmitted quickly and efficiently, in which everyone involved expressed great satisfaction with the project.
Source: A-Lab
Designed by DC Alliance + Snøhetta, Haier's Global Creative Research Center covers an area of 35,500 square meters, which includes a Co-working center, a library, a business institute and an auditorium for 750 people.
Author: Kai Wang
To carry out a project with strict design control, the BIM process was essential to ensure the quality of work and alignment between all disciplines.
Author: Kai Wang
This care ensured that the project won the Leed-NC Gold seal, which is a certification given to sustainable buildings.
Author: Kai Wang
BIM is already a reality in many offices and companies, and it is essential to understand how this process impacts the daily lives of any professional.
The use of BIM in your projects allows full control of your work's life cycle, with accurate data, significant cost reduction and total team integration, facilitating the communication and validation of all information generated during the project.
If you didn't know what BIM is now you know how this process can impact your project. In addition, it is very important to use quality families. You can find a huge BIM library with weekly updates at Blocks!
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