BIM: From Theory to Practice

By historical standards, a little time has passed since the first computer was created – only several decades. Today we can hardly name any field free from the influence of information technology, which opens up incredible opportunities for people. This general rule makes no exception for architecture and construction. The turn of the century became the time when a revolutionary approach to the architectural and civil engineering is born. It is called BIM, Building Information Modeling. This approach consists in the generation of a complex building or facility information model comprising a lot of information required at all stages of the object creation and its further upkeep.

Despite the apparent clarity, it is quite difficult to define the Building Information Model clearly, and we may come across views on understanding this concept that differ greatly from each other. It is mainly connected with misunderstanding of terms. Thus, some identify modeling with drawing though they are completely different processes. Drawing is an applied engineering discipline consisting in learning rules and techniques of making graphs, drawings, diagrams, maps and other graphic displays required for practical activities. The purpose of learning drawing in civil engineering and architecture educational institutions is to develop spatial perception, constructive and geometrical imagination, ability to analyze and synthesize spatial outlines and relations.

Students learn how to obtain graphic space models based on orthogonal projection, and acquire fundamental knowledge and skills needed for making different- purpose drawings and solving engineering problems in a graphical way. When working, drafters prepare sheets of documentation reflecting an engineer’s idea. On the contrary, facility modeling is a generation of its digital prototype filled with attributive elements for further information acquisition that mutually associated in one or more models. In a word, the BIM technology firstly involves model building which is followed by making specifications and drawings.

Certainly, BIM is not a computer program. Today we have hundreds of programs that use information modeling principles. “BIM is rather a process or technology than something else,” Mr. Osipov says. “I would define it as follows: BIM is a technology of construction facility creation using modern design tools. Such tools may include all versions of Autodesk Revit for all specialties.”

Many potential BIM technology users consider it only a way to automate the process of getting design documentation and specifications. However, BIM potential goes far beyond this. Information modeling, if properly organized, gives the opportunity to bring the process of construction facility creation to a completely new level.

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Authors: A.N.Osipov, Director General, Academy BIM, LLC;
A.V.Zuev, BIM Process Engineer in KP;
V.I.Lukyanenkov, BIM Process Engineer in MEP