Types of BIM Tools

your work. Knowing what you need from your software is one facet of choosing a software program. Another often overlooked benefit is learning what features the software includes that you might not have thought you needed. For example, many CAD programs now have add-ons that automate sun studies or energy analysis, providing in-house automated solutions to typical design process deliverables.

Good preparation prior to starting your search for new software will help you make better choices of solutions that meet or exceed your goals.

10.4 Types of BIM Tools

There are several categories of BIM tools: The first are BIM CAD programs in which the designers create their virtual models from planning through design. The data in these models in the big BIM view is carried throughout the project’s life cycle. A second category of tools is rules-based analysis and checking programs.

These automate many of the compliance and coordination steps typical of the de-sign process. The third type of program is Web-based middleware that consolidates project data from many programs and operating systems.

Supplementing the BIM tools are programs that are one-directional, at least at this time. They are an integral part of the BIM process, but are not always strictly BIM tools, since data for some flows only in one direction, either into the data-base or out of it as for documentation. After using BIM and becoming used to the bidirectional flow of information, it can be frustrating to suddenly be limited by a program’s inability to either export or import data. These include PDF, Google Earth, spreadsheets, and rendering software.

Here we discuss the virtual building BIM tools for the design and construction sectors.

10.4.1 BIM CAD Programs

BIM CAD programs can become the core of the collaborative data sharing and analysis process. In this context, the virtual models are just one representation of the data. Here are some of the better known BIM programs:

Allplan by Nemetschek (www.nemetscheck.com);

ArchiCAD by Graphisoft (www.graphisoft.com);

Microstation by Bentley Systems (www.bentley.com);

Revit by Autodesk (usa.autodesk.com);

Vectorworks by Nemetchek (www.vectorworks.net);

This chapter will not evaluate the merits of each program. All are recognized for providing BIM solutions. Instead we discuss how to make the best choice for your firm’s needs. The above programs represent two approaches to the software.

The Autodesk and Bentley systems both provide a suite of software solutions for the building industry. They provide versions of their core BIM virtual modeling programs customized for the architect and engineering disciplines including MEP and structural and civil programs. An advantage to this approach is that programs

106 BIM ToolsBIM Tools are easily able to exchange data due to having the same programming core. This can be beneficial for firms that provide AEC services. These programs operate on a PC platform (though there is talk of a Mac version of Revit.) IFC compliance al-lows users to work with other types of programs.

Allplan, ArchiCAD, and Vectorworks focus their efforts on producing a so-lution for just one discipline, the architect. Their users have had the ability to exchange data with other programs from the earliest versions of the software. As a result they have well-developed translators for IFC and other common file for-mats, including the still-used DWG. Allplan works on the Windows platform. Both ArchiCAD and Vectorworks are multiplatform.

Ideally, each firm and discipline should choose what they consider to be the best solution for their work. The question to ask when considering an all-in-one solution for multiple disciplines is, would each of these disciplines choose that soft-ware individually? When firms choose programs from different companies, they need to find out if the added maintenance, including technical support and data-exchange glitches, are time- and cost-effective. Most architectural firms are not multidisciplinary, so they are making their choice based on a single CAD program.

Digital data exchange between project teams is routine. When testing a pro-gram for suitability, it is important to check how easily you are able to export the information you share with your consultants. Also consider deliverables. Govern-ing agencies are beginnGovern-ing to require or accept BIM models as deliverables and building departments for automated code-compliance checking. In interviewing firms for this book, many said that they are limited in BIM use by consultants not using BIM for their work. As the BIM adoption rate increases, architectural firms, engineers, owners, and contractors are beginning to require that everyone use BIM.

10.4.2 Rules-Based Analysis and Checking Applications

This is the fastest growing area of new programs developed for BIM. Some, like clash detection, is well known. Solibri and Navisworks are two of the most promi-nent solutions. Navisworks was originally developed for model-checking and clashes, which find 3-D elements that occupy the same space (see Color Plates 6 and 7 for screenshots from Navisworks). The following is a list of some of the types of checking available and a sample program:

Clash analysis: Navisworks and Solibri;

Energy analysis: Ecotect;

Code compliance: Solibri offers a customizable version;

Cost estimating: Vico systems for construction industry solutions;

Structural analysis: Tekla;

Construction scheduling: Vico Systems;

Deficiency detection: Solibri;

In addition, many checking and analysis capabilities are being offered within programs and as add-ons to software.

10.5 Summary 107 This type of program has tremendous impact on the BIM process by quickly and accurately providing feedback. Results can be avalable in minutes, not days or weeks. This kind of analysis is obviously cost-effective to use throughout design and can be used interactively as part of the design process.

Solibri has developed an automated checking program that can verify [4]: “the relationship between the 3-D model and the information that it is supposed to include.” As we saw in the planning and design phases, rules-based checking pro-grams such as Solbiri have developed many automated tasks that are part of the construction phase. By using them, quality control can be maintained. The rules check for objects in the model that do not meet specifications, inconsistencies in a group of like objects (e.g., one column in a row is a different size than another), unassigned spaces, continuous envelopes, and incomplete structural systems. Not every instance found may be a problem, for example, a missing column may be by design—the overall structure may be designed to have one column omitted. Dur-ing review a potential problem such as the missDur-ing column is determined to be by design and not an omission. Reviews of this nature will save time and money by ensuring accurate structural member counts for ordering.

10.4.3 Middleware BIM Tools

Middleware programs facilitate the BIM ideal of a single project database. They synthesize data from multiple programs and operating systems. The data can be imported and exported from middleware programs, transformed into different rep-resentations to suit each user. An example of this type of program is the Onuma System, profiled in Chapter 21. Color Plate 8 illustrates the flow of data and the many types of programs that can import and/or export data using the Onuma Sys-tem. The Onuma System is a Web-based model server facilitating communication between project teams in single or multiple locations. Project data can be edited on the Web. Design data can be exported in multiple formats. Reports can be prepared in COBIE format, or checked for LEED compliance. These and other functions all happen in real time. As one person is working on the model, others can be observ-ing and commentobserv-ing or take over the role of the presenter.

Middleware solutions like this can facilitate data management throughout the life cycle of a project. The Onuma system relies on open standards, IFC, to ex-change data. The advantage to using IFC-compliant software is that the data in IFC format will continue to be usable years later in a building’s life cycle, long after the programs we now work with have become obsolete.

10.5 Summary

When evaluating your current software while considering its replacement, it is im-portant to keep questioning what you are doing, why you are doing it, and what you are trying to achieve by making the change. The ongoing need to find better ways to produce your product in shorter time, increase quality, and achieve this for less cost helps business remain competitive.

The evaluation of how you work, both the process and the tools used, should be approached as though it were a new project. State your goals, research what

108 BIM ToolsBIM Tools tools are available, consider how new tools might help, and set up a test to experi-ence how the new tools will actually work and how you might have to adapt the tools to your specific needs.

Test how the new applications will help with the both internal and external project teams. If you change to the latest applications, will your consultants be able to keep up with what they use? Conversely, are you missing opportunities because you use outdated applications? Or are you missing opportunities because you have not mastered the tools you use?

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