BIM Software

BIM software as a solution to improve the architecture, engineering and construction sectors (AEC)

To understand what BIM software actually are, the first thing to ask is: what is BIM?

BIM is an acronym for Building Information Modeling, i.e. the digital information system of a building consisting of the 3D digital model integrated with the data.

BIM software are the most appropriate software tools to address "Building Information Modeling".

There are three different types of BIM software necessary to create a correct BIM model:

• BIM authoring to create the 3D model (architectural, structural, MEP, etc.)
• BIM tools to aggregate data to connect to the 3D BIM model (4D BIM, 5D BIM, 6D BIM for time scheduling and planning, project cost estimates, energy performance, etc.)
• BIM collaboration platforms to federate BIM models and data in a single collaborative cloud environment that allow architects, engineers, surveyors, builders, maintenance operators, and owners to collaborate and work together.

5D BIM: construction cost estimates from the BIM model

5D BIM represents the fifth dimension of BIM: the cost of the 3D BIM model.

The cost for the Building Information Model is just another view of the model in addition to 2D drawings and 3D models.

When the BIM estimating tool is integrated with the BIM modeling software, it’s easy to enrich the 3D BIM model with further cost information for each object and quickly get a construction cost estimate of the entire project.

A 5D BIM software isn’t just program for quantity surveyors, but a tool to optimize the design process with dynamic cost estimating data.

Before the BIM revolution, Quantity Take Off software was used to extract dimensions from 2D drawing entities and bring them into the cost estimate document.

Today with the 5D BIM software, PL items and dimensions are extracted from the model, the cost estimate is therefore automatic and is dynamically updated at every change of the BIM model.

Structural analysis

The BIM and 3D modeling software for structural analysis in civil engineering offers extraordinary advantages compared to other programs that are not updated with BIM technology:

• easy input of concrete, steel, wood, masonry structures, etc.
• safety, speed and precision of calculation
• fewer interference errors
• also get automatic and dynamically integrated documentation linked to the BIM structural model.

BIM and 3D modeling software for civil and structural engineers offer many other advantages during design, structural analysis and construction execution:

• integrate BIM modeling and FEM solvers for static and dynamic or seismic simulations
• integrate structural analysis and design into the BIM process
• import the architectural BIM or MEP model
• manage conflicts, interferences and overlaps (Clash Detection) with the architectural or plant engineering model
• increase the LODs of the structural model with BIM data, documents and reinforcement produced by the structural calculation integrated with the BIM modeling
• use the structural BIM model and the automatically produced documents for a better execution of the work on-site

7D to manage the operation and maintenance of the building and infrastructure

7D BIM "follows" the life-cycle of the entire construction during its operational, management and maintenance phases.

Asset and facility management software with BIM technology offers contractors, owners and real estate managers, the most valuable and innovative tools for:

• asset management and maintenance aspects using a 3D model or digital twin representation of the building and its furnishings
• ensuring efficiency, safety and compliance with building standards throughout their entire lifecycle
• implementing monitoring systems to optimize resources and maintenance costs

7D BIM asset and facility management software, integrate construction maintenance and operational data with all other BIM model related data.

In 7D BIM program, the 3D digital twin becomes the data storage, access and control system for cost control, resources, performance levels, needs and maintenance interventions of each individual object of the model.

In addition to 7D BIM software for asset management and maintenance during its use, there are also various BIM Tools for studying maintenance issues too.

BIM Tools allow you to integrate the BIM model with scheduled maintenance plans and automatically have all the maintenance intervention schedules that need to be carried out during the management phase.

BIM coordination and collaboration

Activities coordination and collaboration has always been a primary objective for whoever needs to operate within a team. Older planning and activity scheduling software create time schedules that are completely separate from the model and the program you work with.

The latest BIM coordination software are cloud-based platforms that allow you to synchronize the whole work team in real-time. Planning, control and teamwork support are functions of the BIM collaboration platform.

The project team can manage and upload multidisciplinary documentation (architectural, structural, MEP systems, etc.) on the platform with online or offline functions for integrating BIM models from different design disciplines, clash detection, code checking and with the support of workflows that allow stakeholders to follow any work process.

The BIM Management platform supports real time comparisons between team members in all phases of the construction lifecycle (design, execution and management) and its digital twin:

• share and work simultaneously on the BIM model
• work simultaneously online on documents, reports and calculations
• manage conflicts and problem solving online
• assign, authorize, record and check activities of all team members

The adoption of a single data-sharing environment (CDE) as a cloud platform for collaboration and BIM coordination guarantees indisputable efficiency and productivity advantages throughout the entire construction life cycle and allows you to create an advanced building intelligence system that exponentially increases the value of a given property.