BIM: An Introduction

As discussed in the video, there are many different definitions for BIM, along with some related terms and acronyms. For our purposes, we will leverage definitions of BIM that span the facility lifecycle and encompass more than specific 3D modeled content in a single model.

The advanced benefits of BIM can only be achieved when data and information are developed and shared between the various parties and processes within the delivery and operation of a project. The following video provides a very simple view of BIM, and while not always 100% accurate, it is a simple approach to defining the core concept of BIM to a broad audience.

video attribution: Filipe Ferreira

This video, while simple, highlights the importance of information sharing, which is a core aspect of BIM.  There have been some interesting previous papers that have focused on the ‘sharing’ or ‘collaboration’ aspect of BIM.  One of the first popular books related to BIM was ‘BIG BIM, little bim‘ by Finith Jernigan.  This book discussed the value of BIM, and the value of information sharing.  The concept, as proposed by Finith, was that little bim was one organization (or person) using BIM tools to achieve their own goal.  Big BIM occurs when organizations within a project share their information with each other, and really leverage the value of digital information for many purposes.  Obviously, many more project benefits can occur with Big BIM than with little BIM. There have been other papers talking about the same concept using different terms including a paper focused on BIM 1.0 vs. BIM 2.0 with BIM 1.0 focused on using BIM for your own purposes, while BIM 2.0 is sharing information (although some people have used the term BIM 2.0 to mean several different items).

Additional Definitions of BIM

There are a number of people who have put significant time into the development of more comprehensive definitions of BIM.

The US National BIM Standard

The US National BIM Standard (NBIMS-US) defines BIM in multiple ways — as a product (a digital model), a process, and a management approach. NBIMS-US takes a very broad perspective on BIM, as you will see in the definition below.

“BIM” is a term which represents three separate but linked functions:

Building Information Modeling: Is a BUSINESS PROCESS for generating and leveraging building data to design, construct and operate the building during its lifecycle. BIM allows all stakeholders to have access to the same information at the same time through interoperability between technology platforms.

Building Information Model:  Is the DIGITAL REPRESENTATION of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. As such it serves as a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility, forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life cycle from inception onward.

Building Information Management:  Is the ORGANIZATION & CONTROL of the business process by utilizing the information in the digital prototype to effect the sharing of information over the entire lifecycle of an asset. The benefits include centralized and visual communication, early exploration of options, sustainability, efficient design, integration of disciplines, site control, as built documentation, etc.– effectively developing an asset lifecycle process and model from conception to final retirement.”

Source:  NBIMS-US Version 3 – Terms and Definitions (2015)

BIM Handbook

The BIM Handbook defines Building Information Modeling (BIM) ‘as a modeling technology and associated set of processes to produce, communicate, and analyze building models.  BIM is the acronym of “Building Information Modeling,” reflecting and emphasizing the process aspects, and not of “Building Information Model.”  The object of BIM processes are building models, or BIM models.

Building models are characterized by “

Building components that are represented with digital representations (objects) that carry computable graphic and data attributes that identify them to software applications, as well as parametric rules that allow them to be manipulated in an intelligent fashion.

Components that include data that describe how they behave, as needed for analyses and work processes, such as quantity takeoff, specification, and energy analysis.

Consistent and non-redundant data such that changes to component data are represented in all views of the component and the assemblies of which it is a part.”

Penn State Office of Physical Plant

The Penn State Office of Physical Plant (OPP) defines Building Information Modeling as “a process focused on the development, use and transfer of facility attribute data of a building project to improve the design, construction and operations of a project in order to achieve project-specific goals” (Penn State BIM Addendum available from their BIM Standards webpage).  Note that Penn State OPP is the arm of Penn State that oversees the development and operations of all Penn State buildings and infrastructure, and they have been one of the leading institutional owners in the use of BIM for delivering and operating their facilities.

U.S. Government Services Administration (GSA)

The US Government Services Administration (GSA) defines Building Information Modeling as “… the development and use of a multi-faceted computer software data model to not only document a building design, but to simulate the construction and operation of a new capital facility or a recapitalized (modernized) facility. The resulting Building Information Model is a data-rich, object-based, intelligent and parametric digital representation of the facility, from which views appropriate to various users’ needs can be extracted and analyzed to generate feedback and improvement of the facility design.”  (GSA BIM Guide 01 – Overview).  GSA is a very large government agency that oversees a significant amount of real estate that is owned and managed by the US government, and they have also been a leader in the adoption of BIM within their practices.

United Kingdom BIM Standards

Within the United Kingdom BIM Standards, Building Information Modeling is defined as a ‘process of designing, constructing or operating a building or infrastructure asset using electronic object-oriented information’ (BSI PAS 1192-2-1013 – Information Management for Construction).  The UK has an aggressive governmental mandate for BIM.

BIM vs. Virtual Design and Construction (VDC)

It is important to note that different people have different definitions of BIM, and there are multiple views regarding what is BIM, and what is not BIM.  One additional term that is frequently used to represent digital information regarding the design and delivery of facilities is Virtual Design and Construction (VDC).

Virtual Design and Construction (VDC): CIFE defines Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) as “the use of multi-disciplinary performance models of design-construction projects, including the Product (i.e., facilities), Work Processes and Organization of the design – construction – operation team in order to support business objectives”( Fischer and Kunz, 2004)

Exploring the Breadth of Definitions

One interesting research paper looked at the breadth of definitions, along with some inconsistencies in scope and definitions.  Please read the Ontology of BIM in a Construction Project Life Cycle by Petr Matějkaa and Aleš Tomeka. I certainly do not agree with all of the acronyms presented within the paper, but it does help us consider the breadth of potential terms and potential scopes of models.

Additional Related Terms

There are other related terms and concepts that you may encounter throughout your discussions related to BIM.  I must admit that I am not a big fan of the continued development of new acronyms that aim to be very similar to BIM, but within a specific sub-set of the market, but I mention these acronyms so that you are familiar with them.  I hope that our industry settles on a term for the overall concept of BIM, and then there could be further defining information, for example, instead of using BrIM (see below), we could state, BIM for Bridges.

BrIM:  Bridge Information Modeling (National Institute of Building Sciences)

CIM:  Civil Information Modeling – Typically focused on a data model for elements on a project site that are outside of buildings or facilities.  Steve Hutsell of the US Army Corps of Engineers defines CIM as “a 3-dimensional (3D), fully attributed, digital representation of natural features, man-made features and functional characteristics of a project site.” (Bringing CIM to the Surface).

TIM:  Transportation Information Modeling – A concept of using object-oriented data modeling to support all transportation content.  This is not a common acronym, but I wanted to mention it in case you encounter the term.