BIM modeling software is essential for implementing BIM technology. The most commonly used core BIM modeling software today includes Autodesk’s Revit, Bentley’s Bentley Architecture/Structure, and Dassault’s CATIA.
Autodesk Revit is a BIM modeling software developed by Autodesk. Building upon the platform and loyal user base of AutoCAD, Revit is currently the most widely used BIM software in the market. It introduced the concept of “families,” providing the construction industry with numerous system families and standard metric model families. Users can independently design by controlling parameters through family parameters or dimension annotations. Revit excels in data management and offers high data transmission efficiency. It also supports seamless data interaction with other Autodesk BIM software such as Navisworks and Infraworks. However, due to its limited parametric rules, Revit struggles with complex surface designs and often requires the use of Dynamo plugins to create complex parametric model components.
Bentley Architecture/Structure offers multiple modules, including architecture, structure, and equipment. It is particularly strong in industrial design sectors such as petroleum and chemical industries, as well as infrastructure projects. Bentley uses MicroStation as its unified engineering content creation platform, ProjectWise as its collaborative work environment, and the i-model format for data transmission. While it boasts powerful parameterization features and numerous interfaces, Bentley’s software is challenging to apply, making complex structural modeling difficult. Additionally, the user experience is often considered less intuitive.
Dassault CATIA originally gained recognition in mechanical design for its advanced surface modeling capabilities and digital services. It is widely used in automotive, aerospace, and shipbuilding industries. CATIA offers a user-friendly interface and a high degree of modeling freedom. Its unique knowledge engineering system enables users to create models and integrate data through parameterization, rule editing, and knowledge management tools. In the CATIA V6 version, supported by Dassault Systemes’ 3D Experience platform, all modeling, data storage, and management operations are cloud-based, enabling strong collaboration. However, CATIA provides limited support for engineering fields, consists of numerous software modules, requires separate licensing for each, and generally involves high usage costs.
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