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BIM

BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a process that involves the digital representation and management of the physical and functional characteristics of buildings and other assets (Wikipedia).

That is:

  • process – not software or technology
  • structures – buildings, bridges, roads, assets, mechanical systems…
  • physical and functional – knowing everything about what it is, where it is, and what it’s for
  • digital representation and management – data-driven and more than just a plan

Table of contents

BIM is the next step in the digitalization of the construction industry, a highly efficient way of collaboratively creating and managing all the information on a construction project.

In BIM, we use information models as the basis for designing, constructing, managing, and operating projects. In these models, properties such as material type, performance data, costs, etc., can be assigned to individual elements alongside graphical information. The shared model contains all project information, which the entire project team can share and use throughout the building’s entire lifecycle.

Architectural, mechanical, and electrical models integrated into a single, shared model (for project details click here)

BIM vs traditional methodology

In a construction project, numerous professionals and teams work together, each with different methodologies and interests, leading to many conflicts and coordination efforts. The fundamental difference between the two methods lies in how they handle this.

Traditional methodology

In the traditional design method, each discipline creates its own plan, which only includes the elements they are responsible for. Coordination meetings, emails, and phone calls are used to align these plans, with each discipline trying to assert its own elements during conflicts. Initially, plans were made on tracing paper and later with CAD programs, but the method remained the same: if something needed to be changed, it had to be updated across all affected disciplines’ 2D drawings, plans, sections, etc.

This resulted in many errors, on-site modifications, and the generation of new problems, especially in more complex projects requiring the coordination of multiple disciplines. Changes made during construction were almost never documented, leaving a vast number of partially usable paper documents to gather dust in storage, effectively becoming obsolete.

BIM methodology

In BIM methodology, all disciplines work on a single, shared model in a virtual space. The information content of the model is continuously updated, resulting in significantly fewer conflicts and issues to coordinate. BIM interprets the plan as interconnected, parametric objects – if one connected object is modified, the related objects also change accordingly.

The digital model goes beyond the three spatial dimensions and handles numerous metadata, making it suitable for prefabrication, running simulations, supporting construction, and highly efficient operation.

☛ Scroll or click here to see how BIM data can be used in projects.

The BIM model can be queried in countless views since it is generated from data, eliminating the need for the designer to draw them. Communication (ideally) takes place in a closed data environment, in a regulated and clear manner, which facilitates change management. BIM modeling focuses not just on design but on the entire digital lifecycle of the facility; the model’s life does not end with the delivery of the design but also supports construction and operation.

Project participants access the virtual building model in a regulated manner using the Common Data Environment (CDE).
Project participants access the virtual building model in a regulated manner throughout the building’s entire lifecycle using a Common Data Environment (CDE).

Most construction projects today still follow the classical methodology, which inherently leads to waste, numerous errors, delays, and cost overruns. Some of these costs are planned as contingencies in the project, rather than being prevented. The result of classical projects is often an expensive and compromised building, significantly different from the original vision. It could have been of better quality, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly.

BIM, on the other hand, strives to ensure that the foundations are solid from the very beginning of the project, as later modifications are more expensive and less feasible.

BIM focuses on the initial phase, where it is easier and cheaper to have an effect on results. BIM also makes this process simpler and faster, resulting in a much better end product.

The initial costs of BIM may seem high, and many of the savings it brings — such as significantly better energy usage, on-time project completion, ESG-compliant solutions, avoided penalties, etc. — are only realized later. However, for large, complex projects, it is worth considering the BIM methodology, as it can potentially save the entire investment cost compared to the classical methodology over the building’s lifecycle. We have written in more detail about the return on investment here.

The sooner the “BIM-ification” of a classical project happens, the more benefits we can enjoy from BIM, as it starts supporting the building’s digital lifecycle earlier.

☛ If you already have an ongoing investment and are interested in how to transform a traditional construction project into a BIM project using plan to BIM and scan to BIM, click here!

BIM digital lifecycle

The essence of the digital lifecycle is that digital models and data accompany and support the design, construction, operation, and maintenance in every phase of a building’s existence. This lifecycle management (LCM) saves us a lot of money, time, energy, frustration, and problems.

The digital lifecycle accompanies the building with data from the design program to demolition.

Lifecycle management (LCM) has only recently become part of our lives, as the conditions for such a level of digitization, which also started the construction industry towards a new level, have only been available for a few years.

☛ If you are interested in how the construction industry is digitizing and how BIM was created, click here.

The Role of BIM in the Digital Lifecycle

Data stored in the BIM model is used to manage the building throughout its entire lifecycle, for activities such as:

Supporting BIM design

BIM is a brilliant, data-driven tool for accelerating design workflows, improving quality, and avoiding errors. It aids in building, processing, and checking the information model.

It makes processes transparent and inspections more efficient, saving costs for the various disciplines. It excels in spatial organization, visualizing with AR, VR, and MR tools, making spaces and more complex parts understandable, and is also used in interior design.

Részletrajz a gépészeti rendszerekkel - F1, F2, F3

BIM is indispensable
in complex projects

BIM enables real-time, parametric, highly automated, and collaborative design for various disciplines, saving time and effort. It facilitates spatial coordination, allowing engineers to resolve significantly fewer conflicts more efficiently and transparently by considering each other’s models.

BIM documentation

Technical design documentation is generated from the BIM model, with the plans clearly linked to the model elements, allowing for automatic updates. In addition to drawings, other data can also be queried, and this data is automatically updated as well. To understand 2D design documentation, 3D detail drawings, exploded views, quantity take-offs, and schedules can also be extracted.

Design review

With the BIM methodology, discipline-specific sub-models (architectural, structural, mechanical, etc.) from multiple sources appear in a common software environment and unified coordinate system. Their components can be compared based on their geometry and spatial position. Due to near real-time design, there are fewer conflicts between discipline-specific plans, and any issues can be corrected at an early stage.

Design versions, correction suggestions, changes, and elements to be built or modified can be easily and quickly displayed, analyzed, and delegated. Change management becomes faster and clearer, and the discrepancy between client expectations and the design program is minimized even before construction.

Recording actual and as-built conditions

The environment of the construction site (initial or current state) can be scanned, serving as the basis for the model, thereby representing reality. This accelerates design even in the concept phase, allows precise construction documentation, and enables timely correction of identified discrepancies.

Concealed elements will be accurately recorded in the model, aiding in renovation and maintenance work. The quantity of materials installed, their storage, and the extent and quality of the work performed can be monitored in near real-time.

A point cloud model of an existing tire manufacturing plant and a shared model built from it with LOD 400 detail (click here for project details).

At the end of construction, an as-built model reflecting 100% of the built condition can be created by incorporating changes detected from the point cloud survey. In addition to structural elements, the model can store all information about mechanical, electrical devices, furniture, equipment, IT assets, etc. This can be immensely helpful not only during operation and maintenance but also in future renovation and reconstruction processes.

☛ Read about the role and significance of model detail!

Site Survey

Using GIS systems, the location of the investment and the construction site itself can be selected objectively based on real calculations. The survey can optimize the amount of necessary demolition and utility construction work, increase energy efficiency, reduce risks posed by hazardous materials, and realize faster returns.

Simulations, analyses

BIM energy analysis can determine the energy factors of the planned building and optimize its energy use. It helps select the optimal site and orientation for the building. Later, based on the building’s material usage, mechanical systems, and energy load, further simulations and analyses can be conducted during the design phase.

The calculation parameters are dynamically adjustable, and many processes are automated, allowing for efficient generation of multiple variations even in the early design phase, saving additional time and costs.

Sunlight Study of the GIRO Office Building in the Concept Phase (GIRO Office Building Modernization Project)

By performing lighting and sunlight simulations, taking into account both natural and artificial lighting conditions, the optimal light flow can be calculated. This allows for comfortable lighting in all rooms of the building and reduces energy consumption. BIM can also be used for evacuation simulations, thermal and smoke extraction simulations, and noise load analyses.

Disaster Management Planning

Using the accurate, reality-reflecting static data from the BIM model and the dynamic data from the BAS system, rescue participants can obtain life-saving, up-to-date information in emergencies. During recovery, it can assist with damage assessment.

☛ Check out our scan to BIM series on how we used laser surveying for quality control during the construction of a supermarket.

BIM based scheduling (4D BIM)

By sequencing durations in the construction order, supplemented with other processes not assignable to BIM objects and the durations of technological breaks, the entire schedule can be generated and simulated in animated video form. This can filter out temporal and spatial overlaps, highlight critical processes, and enable the scheduling of material procurement.

This is how we modeled the Iconic Tüskecsarnok Renovation project in 4D (click here for a detailed project overview)

BIM based cost estimation, budgeting (5D BIM)

Using the quantity values derived from the BIM model, dynamic cost estimation can be created. This aids decision-making and budget adherence, allows for the comparison of cost implications of different design versions, and, combined with the schedule, provides up-to-date information on current or planned costs

Sustainability (6D BIM)

Considering certification requirements during the early stages of design can lead to the creation of sustainable buildings. The BIM models created this way can include all the geometric and attribute data necessary for a sustainability certification (BREEAM, LEED, WELL), which is increasingly important for large corporations with the advent of ESG. This approach reduces the negative environmental impact and significantly increases property value while involving an independent certifier reduces project risk.

Prefabrication

(Automated) prefabrication can make construction more precise, saving a lot of time compared to on-site production, thus greatly increasing project efficiency. On-site, only the assembly of prefabricated elements is required, reducing the need for improvised solutions and decreasing the amount of excess and waste material. (As depicted in this infographic, 30% of construction materials delivered to the site end up as waste.)

Organizational plan

Activities on the construction site can also be displayed from the BIM model. This makes it possible to visualize the time and space requirements of various construction and technological processes in a chronological order, even with hourly detail. The model includes temporary structures, construction systems, access roads, and storage areas, helping to filter out potential local labor bottlenecks, obstructions, and safety risks.

BIM-based construction coordination

A real-time connection can be established between the BIM model and on-site construction using a web-based project platform and a Common Data Environment. During digital construction coordination, the current version of the model can be accessed on-site using a tablet or even a smartphone, and AR can be used to check the status of built structures.

The platform facilitates communication, quality control, and change management. With GIS tools and markers, certain workflows (e.g., staking out, scanning) can be automated and performed by robots.

Digital construction coordination ensures that exactly what needs to be built, and how it should be built, is achieved (details of the GIRO office building modernization project, which won the Office Building of the Year award, can be seen by clicking here).

Maintenance support, asset management

Using a BIM workflow, the as-built model records the completed state, storing the building’s data according to the built reality. This model is suitable for accurately identifying surface quantities, structures, and service systems, as well as extracting operational and maintenance information. The model can form the basis of a digital twin, which not only includes the built state but also continuously updates with real-time data on the building’s operation, usage, and condition.

BIM-based CAFM (Computer Aided Facility Management), BAS (Building Automation System), and CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management) systems can optimize operations. Costs can be reduced, processes can be more predictable, performance can be enhanced, and information related to facility operations can be stored and transferred independently of the maintenance personnel. A dynamically maintainable furnishing model assists in asset management, inventory, optimal scheduling of developments, and procurement.

BIM definitions

The domestic construction industry cannot be left out of BIM, and while there will always be those who continue to work with traditional plans instead of an information-based workflow, one thing is certain: a sustainable and efficient future is inconceivable without Building Information Modeling.

It is not a currently hyped miracle weapon; it does not replace the architect and does not solve all the problems of the construction industry at once. However, it is a paradigm-shifting toolset that completely blurs what we previously thought we knew about architecture, design, and the built environment.

BIM is an extremely complex topic, raising many questions, which we address in the following continuously expanding article series:

Wiki glossary:

We work in BIM, but it was not easy

If you’re interested in seeing how we put BIM into practice, come to one of our meetups ☛ if you haven’t already, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll let you know when the next one is!