Buildling Information Modeling or “BIM” is a software and process methodology that has fundamentally shifted the way the AEC industry does business. At it’s heart, BIM emphasizes a collaborative environment centered around the use of a single coherent model to allow the efficient and coordinated information exchange between all stakeholders, which can be manifested in design, development and post-construction processes. In an ideal scenario, a 3D design model is continually collaborated and amended by the contractor, subcontractors, consultants, engineers and architects until the construction of the model and it’s handed to the facility management team.
The BIM model is not defined by any specific software product or process, but rather is an overarching concept that has been implemented to various degrees of success by numerous products and methodologies. Some popular examples from the software perspective are Autodesk Revit, Trimble SketchUp and GraphiSoft ArchiCAD.
BIM’s value to the Building Industry is undeniable: It promises a more efficient, greener, more cost-effective way of building and managing construction projects. Owners such as the GSA have made the use of BIM a requirement for all projects receiving design funding since 2007. Owners will continue to demand the utilization of BIM principles in the construction of their projects as the clear value proposition becomes more prominent to the bottom line, therefore encouraging the promotion and development of processes used by all of the stakeholders. This in turn will encourage the further development of the existing Software implementations and their adoption and collaboration with a single industry standard.