BIM, or Building Information Modelling, is a relatively new concept in Construction, the term having been agreed upon in 2002. Traditionally, the Construction and Facilities industries have persevered using ’unintelligent’ formats (for example, documents, e-mails, letters, drawings) to manage a project through it’s life span. At the same time, other industries such as Manufacturing and Aerospace have embraced ’smart’ technology (for example, databases and intelligent models) which allows maximum use of computer technology to help with control, revision, costing, validation, collaboration &checking of data and it’s subsequent re-use if applicable.
From a construction perspective, traditionally, everything revolved around Issued hard copies of information, typically at set points in time to a limited number of parties. BIM offers much more flexibility and following benefits:
· The availability and certainty of information lead to reduction of risk.
· Better performance optimisation.
· Reduction of waste,
· Tracking of materials use.
· Easier and better service life prediction
· Sustainability
These will be quantifiable as true added value obtained across the whole life of constructed assets and between participants in the process of design and construction.
BIMMeasure adopts a similar approach. Measurements are not created mechanically, that is, by physically selecting objects and digitising points but rather by recognising values embedded within an object, thereby minimising human error and allowing a much faster and absolute relationship between the drawing and the measurements.
This functionality is not exclusive to 3D models as many properties can still be found in 2D plans, sections and details.