BIM technology, also known as Building Information Modeling, is the digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a construction project throughout its entire lifecycle. It encompasses the processes and outcomes of engineering design, construction, and operation. The series of building information models generated through BIM cover the entire lifecycle of a project—from design and construction to operation and demolition—providing a theoretical foundation and technical support for decision-making by owners, designers, and contractors.
Currently, BIM development can be divided into five main stages:
BIM 1.0: Around 2008 in China, design institutes began promoting BIM. At this stage, the focus was mainly on understanding its concepts and value, primarily addressing quality issues in design. Typical applications included 3D design, pipeline integration, clash detection, and optimization design.
BIM 2.0: Around 2011, construction units took the lead in applying BIM, gaining deeper insights into its practical benefits. BIM was used to solve technical and management challenges during construction. Key uses included detailed design, embedding and reservation, detailed drawings, construction simulation, and process management.
BIM 3.0: Starting around 2013, owner units began promoting BIM adoption. They developed a quantitative understanding of BIM’s value, investing accordingly to control costs. This stage emphasized BIM-based cost estimation, cost control, decision analysis, virtual model rooms, and collaborative project management.
BIM 4.0: Management consulting firms and government agencies promoted BIM at this stage. There was widespread consensus on BIM’s value, supported by clear policies and regulations to guide industry standards. BIM became essential in bidding, drawing review, project acceptance, and auditing processes.
BIM 5.0: Currently, property and urban management departments are driving BIM application focused on building operation and maintenance, urban design, and city management.
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