Lets be honest, anything that demands an acronym is often hard to understand, annoying and exclusive in nature. BIM (Building Information Modeling) is no different. Im not going to lie to you in the very first paragraph- BIM, if youre not using or trained in it, is initially a hard concept to grasp. And I can tell you now that after reading this post you may still not have any idea of what it is (worst possible scenario).
Perseverance is key when it comes to BIM. I know youre wanting to know the answer already and youre probably already thinking youve persevered long enough (past the first paragraph) so you better be getting it soon. Youre not. The answer to this question is not easily given, or even effectively answered half the time for that matter (especially to those whom dont understand the need/needs this way of thinking/ modeling/ monitoring tool/software/mindset fulfills for so many professionals across the AEC industry). There lies no singular correct answer (Im sure many will argue with me on this) as it seems everyone has a slightly different opinion and understanding when it comes to What is BIM?.
It takes only a few seconds to google the phrase What is BIM. Bringing back around 13,100,000 search results it seems everyone has an opinion, and Im no exception. The problem is how do you know where to look? After sifting through screeds of information and onto the 6th page of google results youre feeling overwhelmed, under-educated and in need of an early lunch break no doubt. Youre not alone. As BIM adoption increases, so to do the levels of anxiety of those who are left on googles 6th search page still scratching their heads.
The fact is (and if youve done any reading at all, you will already know) that BIM is in (and I say it will be for some time) a period of growth and increased adoption industry wide. With reports from McGraw Hill stating that usage and adoption has risen from 28% of companies using BIM in 2007, to 49% in 2009 and finally last year (2012) saw a staggering 71% adoption industry wide. Not to mention there was a shift in the balance of BIM, as contractors become the main drivers of the technology in 2012.
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Previously seen as a tool for Architects and designers, more and more contractors are demanding BIM usage on projects to ensure smooth management of the construction process. Virtual models allow for clash detection and accurate cost and time planning before ground breaks meaning a smoother process for all involved.
Firstly I want to outline why in fact there are so many different ideas, theories and understandings of the term BIM. I feel that if we cover this it will give you a solid basis to assess any future information you receive on the topic. Im not wanting to equip you with a one off answer here, I want to get you thinking critically about BIM in a holistic sense, and in order to do that I need to draw light on the different functions it plays to the different professionals who use it.
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http://bim.psu.edu/Uses/" target="_blank">Chart courtesy of CIC Research program and Penn State
As you can see, as pictured in the chart, BIM has many uses across various stages of the design/build process- some rely highly on BIM technologies or processes and form the primary uses, where as other tasks are secondary in nature. This chart shows the large scope that BIM maintains across the AEC industry, as it performs numerous, varied tasks for a broad spectrum of AEC professionals. This is why there are so many opinions as to what BIM actually means. I think the most important concept to grasp is that BIM is a flexible, broad way of doing and thinking centered around modeling software that increases control and minimizes risk; yet all that use it will have a personalized definition of what it is to them. This is due to its flexible nature and ability to fulfill a broad range of tasks.
So I guess this leaves us all wondering, what is BIM? And rightly so. BIM is generically speaking, centered and weighted on a technology. Without which its existence would be impossible. Yet (and as we have heard many a time Im sure) its more than just a technology. What does that even mean?!
Well, to me BIM (Building Information Modeling) is just that. Firstly, Building; you can build virtual models
