BIM drawings are the plans, sections, elevations, details and schedules produced from a 3D building information model, rather than drawn line by line. Because every view comes from the same model, change a wall once and every drawing that shows it updates - which makes BIM drawings quicker to coordinate and much harder to get out of step.
BIM drawings, or Building Information Modelling drawings, are the 2D and 3D drawings produced from a BIM model in the architecture and construction space.
The term BIM has been around for over 20 years, and it's now standard practice on many projects - many countries require it on public work. 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, the software behind them and how to keep track of them!
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 views cut from the 3D model - plans, sections and elevations - then dimensioned and annotated, usually in the BIM tool itself. Some teams still export them to CAD software to finish them off.
- 3D BIM drawings are views of the model itself, created in a BIM tool like Revit or ArchiCAD, such as axonometrics and exploded views.
- Schedules - door, window, room and equipment schedules - are "drawings" too, generated straight from the model's data.
The benefits of using 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 visualise the progress of a building project.
- Operations and maintenance staff can even use BIM drawings to better understand how a building and its systems perform 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 editing mostly 2D designs. Whereas BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a process that uses 3D digital models loaded with information about a building project, which can be used throughout its lifecycle.
Other differences between CAD and BIM include:
- CAD software is typically focused on the design drawings, while BIM software includes tools for scheduling, costing and analysing 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 them to help work out when the building will be finished, how much it will cost and how much energy it will use.
Operations and maintenance staff can use the BIM to better understand 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, and the answer 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 (and cheaper) option.
Ultimately, both CAD and BIM have their strengths and weaknesses, and the best approach is often 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 coordinate the work of architects, engineers and construction professionals more accurately, because clashes are found in the model before they reach the drawings.
- Better visualisation: BIM drawings can be used to visualise the progress of a building project in 3D.
- Efficient operations and maintenance: BIM drawings help people understand 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 recalculate them quickly when the 3D model changes.
- Improved decision-making: BIM drawings can help identify potential problems that may need to be addressed during 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 is similar to how the aerospace and automotive industries were transformed in the '80s. Errors could 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 needed their suppliers, the suppliers had to adapt their business processes quickly: ERP systems, 3D CAD, electronic ordering and just-in-time deliveries. Part manufacturers had to learn new tools and processes too, so they could keep making money.
Over the next 30 years, the commercial building industry will undergo a similar transformation. Owners want a building that looks good and is easy to look after, which means thinking about how it will be used in the future. They're asking for specific things, like using less energy or being kinder to the environment - and the owners 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 signalled the need for many in the design and construction industry to adapt to the new technology. The industry does act slowly at times, but it is responding to the challenge. Slow and steady is sometimes the only way to go for an industry steeped in tradition and risk management.
7) BIM drawing software
BIM drawings come out of the same authoring tools that build the model. The most widely used are Autodesk Revit and Graphisoft Archicad, with Allplan, Vectorworks, BricsCAD BIM and Tekla Structures (for steel and concrete detailing) popular in their own markets. Each one keeps its drawings linked to the model, so you set up the views and title blocks once and the drawings update as the design changes. Here's my top 10 BIM software programs, with a video of each.
8) How to manage BIM drawings on a project
On a real project, the hard part isn't producing the drawings - it's knowing which drawings are due, from whom, by when, and which version is current. Under ISO 19650 each drawing is an information container with:
- a name that follows the project's ISO 19650 naming convention;
- a status code that says what it can be used for, from work in progress to published;
- a line in the task information delivery plan (TIDP) of the team that produces it, rolled up into the master information delivery plan (MIDP) - MIDP and TIDP explained.
Most drawing registers live in a spreadsheet that's out of date by week three. In Plannerly you paste the register you already have, each line becomes a named deliverable for a team and a milestone, and everyone can see what's delivered and what's late. The free lessons on defining information tasks and containers and creating the MIDP and TIDPs show how, and the MIDP slides (PDF) (opens in a new tab) are free to download. Or follow the step-by-step guide to running the MIDP without chasing task teams.
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're looking for a straightforward way to plan and manage future projects, Plannerly can be a huge help. Plannerly has BIM project management and collaboration tools that streamline everything from the BIM execution planning process and the delivery plan for every drawing, right through to automatically checking your models. You can start free.
I blog for the Five BIM Bloggers series, where every week we share different perspectives on important BIM topics. To hear our views first, join Plannerly free or browse the Plannerly BIM blog.
