Revit Family & AutoCad Detail
What is Building Information Modelling (BIM)?
Wikipedia: BIM is a process supported by various tools, technologies and contracts involving the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places. Building information models (BIMs) are computer files (often but not always in proprietary formats and containing proprietary data) which can be extracted, exchanged or networked to support decision-making regarding a built asset. BIM software is used by individuals, businesses and government agencies who plan, design, construct, operate and maintain buildings and diverse physical infrastructures, such as water, refuse, electricity, gas, communication utilities, roads, railways, bridges, ports and tunnels.
Too technical? BIM in a simple word is a different way of designing buildings, facilities, spaces and therefore, reading and interpreting it which eventually lead to construction and later maintenance by property manager.
This process of creating 3D shared data models has revolutionized the architectural, engineering consultation, and construction industry. The BIM concept started in 1970’s but it became popular in 2000’s and nowadays one of the most widely used BIM softwares in engineering construction industry is called Autodesk Revit with a new version coming out every year.
More on the History: In the 1900s, construction design gradually began to evolve from hand-drawn plans to computer-aided design (CAD). The computer became a standard tool, which streamlined drawing management and improved the visualization process. However, these drawings were still primarily visual representations, which made it difficult to collaborate and share construction project information. The inception and invention of BIM filled this void and propelled the construction industry into the Information Age. Working with BIM requires that all building elements are available in a digital format (so-called BIM content), which can easily be downloaded and used in software to generate the BIM model. Most BIM content currently consists of generic models of doors, windows, toilets, lamps, et cetera. However, these merely replace older two-dimensional drawings without generating any added value for the construction process. There is a growing need for what is referred to as manufacturer-specific BIM content, which not only represents the physical properties of the products but also includes other essential data such as product information, installation instructions, energy consumption, eco-labels, operating costs, and product lifetime. These models can also contain information related to the building’s life cycle and its expected maintenance requirements. Information such as time planning (4D), cost estimates (5D), and sustainability (6D) bring additional dimensions to BIM models.
We provide all our digital product information (families) to architects and engineers to use in their models.