BIM drawings, or Building Information Modelling drawings, are a type of 3D drawing used in the architecture and construction space.
BIM has been around for over 20 years, but it has only recently become popular. There are many benefits to using BIM drawings in your business, including cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved communication.
In this blog post, I will discuss the benefits of BIM drawings and how they can help your business!
1) What Are BIM Drawings?
Although we don’t usually call them “BIM Drawings”, drawings from a BIM model are another digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building 🏢
A BIM drawing can be either 2D or 3D.
2D BIM drawings are usually created from a slice of the 3D model and finished in CAD software.
3D BIM drawings are created in a BIM tool like Revit or ArchiCAD.
The benefits of using 3D BIM drawings include improved communication between architects, engineers, and construction professionals, as well as…
- BIM drawings can be used to generate schedules, costing estimates, and energy analyses.
- BIM drawings can be used throughout the entire building lifecycle, from design and construction to operations and maintenance.
- BIM drawings can help architects, engineers, and construction professionals coordinate their work more effectively.
- BIM drawings can also be used to visualize the progress of a building project.
- Operations and maintenance personnel can even use BIM drawings to understand better the operational performance of a building and its systems. over time!
Good Read: What Is A BIM project? My Guide Also Includes Tips About 4 Critical Types Of BIM Project
2) CAD and BIM Difference
CAD (Computer-Aided Design) is a technology usually for creating and manipulating mostly 2D designs.
Whereas BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a process that uses 3D digital models loaded with information about a building project, that can be used throughout its lifecycle.
Other differences between CAD and BIM include:
- CAD software is typically focused on the design aspects of a project, while BIM software includes tools for scheduling, costing, and analyzing data.
- CAD files are often created by individual designers working in isolation, while BIM models are typically created by teams of architects, engineers, and other construction professionals.
- CAD software is typically used by architects and engineers, while BIM software is used by a wider range of professionals, including project managers, estimators, and facilities managers.
3) Why BIM Drawings Are Important
BIM drawings are important because they help people understand what a building will look like and how it will work.
You can also use BIM drawings to help determine when the building will be finished, how much it will cost, and how much energy it will use.
Operations and maintenance personnel can use the BIM to understand better the physical characteristics of a building and its systems – this leads on to the use of Digital Twins for building maintenance too! BIM drawings can also help identify potential problems that may need to be addressed during operations and maintenance.
See also this blog by Bryan: MY TOP 5 USES OF DIGITAL TWINS WITH BIM FOR AECO
4) BIM VS CAD — Which Is Better?
This is a common question however to answer this question it depends on the specific needs of a project.
If coordination and collaboration are important, then BIM is always the better choice.
If, however, the design is straightforward and something that has already been built hundreds of times, then some quick CAD drawings may be the better/cheaper option.
Ultimately, both CAD and BIM have their strengths and weaknesses, and the best approach is to use both technologies to complement each other.
Good Read: My Top 10 Uses for BIM in Construction Management – Plus Three Bonus BIM Resources!
5) Benefits of creating drawings from the BIM
There are many benefits to using BIM drawings, including:
- Improved coordination and collaboration: BIM drawings can more accurately coordinate the work of architects, engineers, and construction professionals.
- Better visualization: BIM drawings can be used to visualize the progress of a building project in 3D.
- Efficient operations and maintenance: BIM drawings can be used to understand better the physical characteristics of a building and its systems.
- Reduced costs: BIM drawings can be used to quickly generate schedules, costing estimates, and energy analyses – and also recalculate quickly when the 3D model changes.
- Improved decision-making: BIM drawings can help identify potential problems that may need to be addressed during the course of operations and maintenance.
Good Read: 10 Example BIM Goals + My Guidelines for Successful BIM Projects
6) CAD and BIM Key Industry Changes I Have Seen
Using integrated, 3D BIM design and analysis tools are similar to how the aerospace and automotive industries were transformed in the ’80s. Errors can be spotted early in the design process, allowing for a more efficient manufacturing process. Part manufacturers in the supply chain faced a variety of challenges as a result of this massive shift.
Because the Tier 1 aerospace and automotive manufacturers need suppliers, they had to adapt their business processes quickly. This caused problems for suppliers because of things like ERP systems, 3C CAD, electronic ordering, and just-in-time deliveries. Part manufacturers had to learn new tools and processes too so they could keep making money.
In the next 30 years, the Commercial Building industry will undergo a similar transformation. They want a building that will look good and be easy to take care of. This means they need to think about how the building will be used in the future.
People who own buildings are asking for specific things, like using less energy or being more friendly to the environment. The people who own buildings are the ones who pay for projects. This means that BIM is now a top priority instead of just a tool to help with productivity.
BIM’s arrival has signaled the need for many in the design and construction industry to adapt to the new technology.
The design and construction industry does act slowly at times, but they are responding to this challenge. Slow and steady is sometimes the only way to go for an industry steeped in tradition and risk mitigation.
Conclusion
BIM can help people see the progress of a project, make decisions, and save money.
More and more people are using BIM to create their drawings, so businesses must provide information that is ready to be used with BIM.
As this shift to BIM occurs, you might need new tools.
If you looking for a straightforward way to plan and manage future projects Plannerly can be a huge help.
Plannerly has powerful BIM-based project management and collaboration tools that can streamline everything from the BIM Execution Planning process right through to automatically checking your models.
Did you know that Plannerly (The BIM Management Platform) is also free to join? 😃
Did you sign up yet?:
My Three Bonus Resources 😃
1. Other Interesting Reads ⤵
- MY TOP 10 BEST BIM SOFTWARE PROGRAMS
- 10 EXAMPLE BIM GOALS + MY GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL BIM PROJECTS
- MY TOP 5 USES OF DIGITAL TWINS WITH BIM FOR AECO
2. The Complete BIM Management Workflow [VIDEO] 🎥
Here’s a video that I think you’ll find valuable 👍 – it covers the complete BIM management workflow:
3. Answers to some fun related BIM questions that I often get asked 😃
I’ve also tried to summarize below some answers to the most common questions that I get asked about this subject – I hope you can use them too:
What is a BIM drawing?
BIM drawing – short for Building Information Modeling drawing – is a type of digital construction document that helps people communicate about building a house or managing a building. It shows things like measurements, material types, and costs. It is helpful for teams from different disciplines to work together on global projects in real time. BIM drawings have changed the way we understand complex modern design-build processes. They provide proof of how smarter building solutions can reduce risks and improve safety outcomes during construction.
What are the benefits of using BIM drawings?
BIM drawings are changing the way we design and engineer buildings. BIM technology allows us to model the entire construction process, which enables us to make more efficient decisions, reduce waste, and save both time and money. BIM drawings provide a consistent platform for architects, engineers, designers and contractors to interact on one project. BIM helps people work together better and produce designs that are higher quality. Everyone involved in the project can view 3D models during each stage of the project, which is not possible with 2D drawings. BIM drawings have already saved resources, improved productivity across industries, and made every aspect of building construction projects more accurate.
How do I create a BIM drawing?
BIM drawings are made using BIM software like Revit or ArchiCAD. BIM professionals use this technology to make 3D models of buildings, including how the buildings fit together, how they work with other systems, and what they look like. BIM drawings help architects do their job more efficiently and accurately, and they can see the effects of their decisions more clearly throughout the design process.
I blog for the Five BIM Bloggers series.
Every week we share different perspectives on important BIM topics!
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