Currently, both in China and internationally, it is widely recognized that BIM offers significant advantages. However, most users treat BIM merely as a 3D CAD tool, failing to harness its true core value. The essence of BIM lies in its collaborative capabilities, yet this collaborative aspect remains rare in China’s current development landscape. To fully realize BIM’s potential, extensive research and development efforts are still needed in China.
In China today, BIM is primarily applied within the design phase, with limited use in other areas. In real-world construction projects, once the design institute delivers the drawings, the construction team begins work. These drawings, however, are two-dimensional—plans, elevations, sections, and so forth—which lack intuitive clarity. Since these 2D representations break down a three-dimensional object and often repeat information without spatial context, 3D models have emerged as a solution.
A 3D model can visually represent a building’s spatial form from any angle or viewpoint, simulating a real-world experience. But BIM extends far beyond just 3D geometry. It also captures geometric properties such as length, width, and height, along with detailed attributes like material type, weight, density, cost, construction schedule (time), and manufacturer information. This comprehensive data integration makes BIM an incredibly powerful concept, capable of encompassing virtually every aspect of a building’s lifecycle.
The most ideal BIM workflow currently achievable is illustrated in the diagram above.
The process involves the project owner commissioning the design team to create the BIM model. This model is then placed on a shared platform accessible to the construction team. Any design changes or feedback from the construction side are updated on this platform in real time. This approach maximizes information reuse and ensures seamless data exchange among all stakeholders—a process known as “collaboration.” Collaboration is, in fact, the very soul of BIM.
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up