Building Information Modelling – the cornerstone of urban planning

Building Information Modelling Concept

Building Information Modelling – the cornerstone of current urban planning

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is not a new concept, it is just an extension of previous concepts which involved many construction team working together. A new interpretation of methods and techniques of gathering information, using and spreading them among all the team members involved in building up a construction, on the entire chain from the owner up to building management. BIM allows you to collect information also after completing a project, so that everything to could be reintroduced and reused in future projects. Basically BIM is a digital representation of geometric and functional features of a building that works as a resource of information sharing for that project. The aim of BIM is to provide coherent information about the project throughout the entire lifetime of a building. BIM users are more than information recipients, but actually participants in conceving and processing information. In fact, all interested parties involved in the project can introduce, extract, modify or exchange data and information, depending on their tasks in the project.

All these activities are aimed at cost reduction an increased efficiency in sensitive areas such as design, execution and construction management. BIM concept takes care of the entire range of compexity for a project, from simple drawings to data sheets collected as interoperable sets ("interoperable data sets"). Conceived as a multi-level hierarchical system, the way of introducing BIM concept starts with elementary level of CAD projects, designed on paper, to advance untul the phases operated in 2-D, then in 3-D, using files and concluding with BIM services containing file libraries up to iBIM, which delivers web-integrated solutions. BIM level requests packages of information for each area involved in building construction: architecture, structure, facilities and building management services. The need for a unified communication of information resulted in standardisation.

Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) is an international standard for all info on managed assets, including spaces and equipment. It was incorporated into the software for planning, designing, execution, commissioning and building management facilities. For specific information packages there are several levels of detail, each of which is dedicated to a particular project phase and involving distinct creative costs. To provide full information BIM technology goes beyond 3 D drawings and introduces stages 4, 5 and 6-D. Level 4 – D introduces the "time" element, level 5-D attaches information on "costs" and 6-D refers to the analysis of "behavior and functioning" of different constructive elements and equipment associated with the project. In practice all levels are used but the information is attached from different stages of project development. The primary information is provided by manufacturers of materials and equipment and include: product presentation, technical characteristics and certificates, working and installation mode, security instructions, operating manual and maintenance. When data is introduced in the system, it will be available for any user and basically required as information on product description, performance characteristics, supplier and building management services. This information is used by all BIM users, from architect to owner and displays many degrees of detail, such as Excel file format or a format ready to be insert into a typical COBie file. All this information is refined according to project development and can be used both throughout construction phase and also operation, throughout the entire building lifetime.

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