What can BIM do? Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a computer graphics software that creates three-dimensional models of various work components at different stages of engineering, including design, planning, construction, and operation and maintenance. By inputting the properties of each object, BIM establishes a virtual 3D environment that closely resembles the physical object. Additional information, such as time and cost, can be integrated to form four-dimensional, five-dimensional, or even higher-dimensional models. These models are used for simulation and analysis of engineering processes—such as construction scheduling, cost estimation, and conflict detection—to help develop the most efficient and cost-effective project.
Traditional engineering projects typically rely on division of labor and collaboration among various project teams. Each team often uses software tools they are familiar with or prefer, resulting in inconsistent file formats and frequent issues with information transfer. This highlights the need for a unified information exchange standard. To improve interoperability between different software platforms, the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI) developed the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) as the construction industry’s information exchange standard. According to Eastman, C., Teicholz, P., Sacks, R., and Liston, K. (2008), such standards not only enhance data conversion and transmission efficiency but also leverage parameterized databases and object-oriented technology. This allows 3D objects to maintain interrelated relationships through parameter settings—meaning that when one object’s parameters change, related objects update automatically.
In domestic construction engineering practice, design, construction, operation, and maintenance stages are often handled separately, each using its own information systems. This separation leads to repeated data transformations, errors, and inconsistencies. BIM, however, connects information across all these stages, significantly reducing errors, design changes, and rework. From design through construction to operation and maintenance, incomplete handover of intermediate information often results in insufficient data for effective facility management. If comprehensive construction drawings and design documents are fully delivered to the operation and maintenance teams, many difficulties during facility management can be avoided.
Beyond 3D modeling, BIM assigns individual attributes, properties, quantities, and other data to each model element. Thanks to BIM’s parameterization and numerical features, the “Parametric Change Engine” enables immediate updates to project design, cost, and scheduling information while maintaining high quality and coordination. In addition to displaying detailed numerical data, BIM’s 3D models offer clear visualizations that help inexperienced owners or the general public better understand the engineering design. This also allows engineers to gain a deeper insight into the project content.
As BIM data is passed from designers to participating teams, each group can work directly with the information provided by the 3D model rather than relying on extensive drawing sets. This ensures a consistent understanding of the project among all teams and enables them to anticipate potential issues on the construction site, adapting construction methods and designs proactively. I hope this overview of what BIM can achieve helps everyone better understand its potential.
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