Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility.
A BIM model is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle;
Traditional building design was largely reliant upon two-dimensional drawings (plans, elevations, sections, etc.).
Building information modeling extends this beyond 3D, augmenting the three primary spatial dimensions with all the properties such as material, weight, time, costs and so on.
In this way all professionals involved in the same project may have access to all data and may share updated information in a very efficient way.
BIM software also defines objects parametrically; that is, the objects are defined as parameters and relations to other objects, so that if a related object is amended, dependent ones will automatically also change.
Each model element can carry attributes for selecting and ordering them automatically, providing cost estimates as well as material tracking and ordering.
For the professionals involved in a project, BIM enables a virtual information model to be handed from the design team (architects, surveyors, civil, structural and building services engineers, etc.) to the main contractor and subcontractors and then on to the owner/operator;
each professional adds discipline-specific data to the single shared model. This reduces information losses that traditionally occurred when a new team takes 'ownership' of the project, and provides more extensive information to owners of complex structures.
- More efficient design
- Unique model for all the design steps, from preliminary design to detailed design.
- Better quality of construction
- Fast and reliable access to data
- Possibility to avoid drawings and to build directly from the 3D model
- Reduction of mistakes on site
- More accurate cost estimation
- Higher competitiveness
