What is BIM technology? Its application in construction

The acronym BIM stands for Building Information Modeling and is translated from English as "building information modeling". Given the name, it's easy to guess that BIM technology is used in construction. However, each person differently perceives the given term.

What kind of technology is BIM?

Many people believe that the name of the software is hidden behind the letters BIM. Others think that the painted building is BIM. But such a simple definition can not be given. BIM's design technologies are based on building a three-dimensional building model, but in this case the model is not just a set of geometric elements and textures. In fact, such a model consists of virtual elements that are in reality and possess specific physical properties. BIM technology allows you to design a building and even before the construction starts, completely calculate and determine all the processes that will occur in it.

Today, this technology has received a boost in development, and if earlier it was necessary to install special complex and professional applications to work with it, today there are "stripped down" and simple applications for smartphones and tablets. This allows customers and developers to quickly and conveniently access the BIM-model. This brings technology to a new level.

Advantages of implementing BIM-technologies

The very first and obvious advantage is 3D visualization. It is visualization that is the most common way of using BIM technology. This not only allows you to beautifully submit the project to the customer, but also to find the best design solutions in return for the old ones.

The second advantage is the centralized storage of data in the model, which allows you to effectively and easily manage changes. When you make a specific change to a project, it is immediately displayed in all views: on floor plans, facade or sections. This also greatly increases the speed of creating project documentation and reduces the likelihood of an error.

Data management is another plus. After all, not all information that is in the BIM-model can be represented graphically. Therefore, the model also contains the catalogs of the specification, through which the labor costs for the creation of the project are determined. Financial indicators are also available in the model. So, the estimated cost of the project is determined immediately after making changes to it.

Well and about economy of means it is impossible to forget. The introduction of BIM-technology in the design will reduce financial costs and significantly reduce the time of entry of the object. For this reason, most construction companies are trying to use modern methods of information modeling in their practice.

What solutions work on the basis of BIM technology?

The most popular solution on its base is the program for architects ARCHICAD. Slightly less popular, but no less useful is the BIMcloud software, with which you can organize collaborative design online.

EcoDesigner - a solution for calculating the energy efficiency of buildings and energy simulation. Well, we can not forget about demonstrations and presentations - for this mobile application is implemented. However, programs created on the basis of BIM-technology, many, they can be listed for a long time.

Conclusion

BIM is a technology that allows creating a multidimensional model of a construction object that will contain all the information about it. In this case, this model is used not only for construction, but also for the operation of the facility. So it's completely wrong to think that BIM is just a 3D graphic projection. The range of technology possibilities is very wide. Information modeling assumes a completely new approach to building and managing a building in which everything is taken into account.

All this allows you to avoid possible alterations in the design, reduce construction costs, and most importantly - save time. The introduction of BIM allowed to make the right decisions at the stages of the life cycle - from investment to operation and even demolition.

However, this technology also requires financial costs. In particular, you need to buy special software and equipment for training. But these costs are compensated in the future by reducing the costs of designing and organizing the construction of the building.