What is BIM coordination?
BIM coordination is the process that facilitates management and coordination of information created in a Building Information Modeling (BIM) project.
One of the main objectives of BIM coordination is to ensure that all information associated with a construction project is shared and coordinated across various disciplines. As such, any conflicts can be identified and resolved prior to the construction phase.
For the BIM coordination process to work efficiently, it's essential to ensure optimization of information and workflows for all team members involved in a given project. Using a BIM management system allows you to manage BIM projects online in different proprietary file formats (PDF, DWG, DXF, etc.), collaborate in real time on the same BIM model and relating documents and also avoid errors, budget overruns and delivery delays.
What is BIM coordination in an Open BIM® workflow?
BIM coordination is a key element of the openBIM® workflow. In general, a BIM coordination process involves the creation of a single BIM model that can be shared and used by all stakeholders involved in a construction project.
In an openBIM® workflow, models are created with standardised file formats ensuring that all members have free access to project information regardless of the software they are using. This also allows different professionals to easily align their projects, minimise errors and reduce delivery time and costs. In openBIM®, therefore, BIM coordination finds its fullest expression, providing valuable advantages for those working in the AEC industry.
Which software solutions are used when working in BIM?
BIM, or Building Information Modeling, is a process that involves the creation of a digital model of the asset and is crucial to ensure that planning, design, construction and management of buildings is highly efficient improving communication between all the different stakeholders involved.
There are different types of software used in BIM design workflows to achieve these objectives. The three main categories are:
- BIM authoring software to create the 3D model (architectural, structural, MEP, etc.);
- BIM tools to edit or add information to BIM models during the project's lifecycle;
- BIM collaboration platforms to allow all project information and data to be shared across a single platform facilitating collaboration and coordination.