BIM Q&A: How to Create a Solid BIM Model and Follow Modeling Standards

There are two primary approaches to creating a BIM 3D model. The first involves the design institute providing only 2D blueprints. In this case, we reconstruct the model using BIM software, incorporating component properties, material parameters, elevation data, and other physical and geometric information to build the model quickly. Since 2D drawings often lack standardization, collision checks are necessary after completing the BIM 3D model to identify and correct design flaws, ensuring model accuracy.

The second approach is when the design institute directly delivers BIM 3D models created through forward design. Here, our task is simply to convert these models into the required file formats. Throughout the process of constructing various professional models, it is essential to maintain a unified engineering origin and structural elevation system, ensuring seamless integration of all models.

Model Building Standards

The BIM 5D cost control model effectively integrates various professional BIM entity models, cost plans, and scheduling plans. To ensure proper coordination, it is crucial to pre-select compatible modeling software, guarantee matching BIM data interfaces, and achieve seamless integration. This approach minimizes information loss during data transfer and standardizes BIM model specifications to reduce conflicts during model integration.

1. Software Selection

To enable fast and accurate data transmission and avoid redundant modeling, BIM 5D software must be compatible with BIM modeling, quantity calculation, and pricing software.

2. BIM Data Interface

Currently, Guanglian Da’s BIM 5D software supports multiple data formats, including the international BIM standard IFC, construction model format IGMS, and calculation model format GFC. The supported formats for each professional model include:

• Revit Series: Using Guanglian Da’s Revit plugin, models can be exported to Guanglian Da’s GFC format and 5D construction model IGMS format.
• Guanglian Da Calculation and Site Layout Software: These related products connect seamlessly through the IGMS data format. Guanglian Da’s BIM software also supports the internationally recognized IFC format.
• Tekla Design Software: Supports the international IFC standard, allowing models to be exported as IFC files for import.

3. BIM Model Specifications

Ensuring effective coordination between BIM 3D models across disciplines and BIM 5D models is fundamental for applying BIM 5D during construction. Therefore, establishing unified model specifications is necessary. These specifications detail requirements for physical parameters, geometric positions, attributes, and more.

Due to differences in pricing rules domestically and internationally, foreign design software and local pricing software often cannot communicate directly. Consequently, when using foreign modeling software, it’s essential to adhere to domestic modeling standards. These standards are generally divided into two categories: general standards and professional standards.

General Standards include:

1. Requirements for software types and specific versions used by each discipline.
2. Data format standards, specifying original data formats, interaction formats, and BIM export formats for each software.
3. Common modeling standards to unify origin points, units, measurements, elevation references, and other shared model information.
4. Naming conventions: Collaborative teams within the same discipline must follow unified naming rules. For example, a 200cm thick concrete C30 interior wall would be named C30-Interior Wall-200.
5. Color coding standards: Models of the same discipline and type should use consistent color labeling.

Professional Standards build on the general standards and include:

1. Clear definitions of model construction precision levels (LOD) for each discipline.
2. Standards for mechanical and electrical system divisions, including division principles and component listing tables. These can be specified at the discipline level, with detailed divisions determined by each modeling team.
3. Naming conventions for model components and requirements for entering critical attributes.
4. Standards for data exchange and interoperability between models.

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