Throughout a building’s lifecycle, the Building Information Model (BIM) evolves, increasing in complexity and detail. Typically, the model is divided into four key stages:
The stages include:
- Concept Stage Model
- Design Stage Model (which includes architectural, structural, and MEP models)
- Construction Stage Model
- Operational Dimension Stage Model
As a project advances through these phases, the model’s accuracy and level of detail improve, fostering deeper collaboration among project members. Each team clearly understands their responsibilities at every stage.
During construction, project information and components accumulate, making it essential to know which data belongs to which stage. Early models often consist of basic blocks representing the structure’s initial form. As design details are incorporated, the model gains complexity, becoming more informative and detailed, ultimately reaching a “What You See Is What You Get” (WYSIWYG) level.
To standardize the content at each stage, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has developed a system called the Level of Development (LOD), defined as follows:
Definition of Model Detail Levels
LOD 100: Model elements are represented by symbols or other generic methods to graphically convey information related to components, such as area and volume estimates for cost calculations.
LOD 200: Model components are represented as generic objects with approximate size, shape, and position.
LOD 300: Model components are defined as specific objects with accurate size, shape, and position.
LOD 400: Model components include detailed dimensions, shapes, and positions, providing information suitable for fabrication and installation.
LOD 500: The model reflects as-built conditions, maintaining consistency with the actual dimensions, shapes, positions, quantities, and materials of the construction site.
By specifying the LOD, designers gain a clear understanding of the model’s level of detail at each stage and can accurately communicate the model’s precision when sharing it with other teams.
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