Currently, there are various types of BIM software available in China. Below is a summary provided by the editor of BIM Building Training Network for your reference.
(1) CATIA by Dassault, France: Originating from aircraft design, CATIA is a powerful 3D CAD software renowned for its unique surface modeling capabilities. It excels in handling the most complex and irregular 3D architectural designs.
(2) SketchUp by Google, USA: Known as a master of sketching, SketchUp is the simplest and easiest-to-use software, offering extremely fast modeling. It is particularly suitable for early architectural concept development, refinement, and modification. However, due to its reliance on physical modeling, it is less effective for detailed design and construction drawing stages.
(3) Rhino by Robert McNeel: Widely used in industrial design, Rhino is simple, fast, and practical. It provides unconstrained free-form 3D modeling and high-order surface modeling tools, making it an excellent choice for building surface modeling.
(4) ArchiCAD by Graphisoft, Hungary: Popular across Europe, ArchiCAD integrates 3D modeling visualization, concept design, and construction drawing generation. However, it faces challenges in aligning with Chinese design standards and drafting specifications, particularly in structural calculations and detailed construction drawings.
(5) Revit by Autodesk, USA: Revit is a comprehensive 3D architectural design software that combines 3D modeling visualization, concept design, and construction drawing production. It is user-friendly but has limited capabilities for complex modeling. Additionally, integration with Chinese design standards requires further improvement.
(6) Bentley Architecture: This long-established series of 3D architectural design software offers robust features, integrating 3D modeling, concept design, and construction drawing production. However, it is relatively complex to use and faces compatibility issues with Chinese design standards and drafting specifications.
(7) 3ds Max by Autodesk, USA: Known for its powerful animation rendering and production capabilities, 3ds Max integrates 3D modeling, rendering, and animation display. However, it is not a true design software and is primarily used for conceptual visualization.
(8) Mainstream architectural design software in China: Software such as Tianzheng Architecture, Swell, and Lizheng Architecture are all developed on the AutoCAD platform. They fully comply with Chinese engineering standards, specifications, and architectural designer habits, making them essential tools for architectural construction drawing design. They also support 3D custom entities, suitable for modeling more regular buildings.
(9) Domestic water supply and drainage design software: Popular programs include Lizheng Water Supply and Drainage, Tianzheng Water Supply and Drainage, and Haochen Water Supply and Drainage. Built on the AutoCAD platform, they adhere strictly to Chinese engineering standards and the practices of water supply and drainage engineers. These tools combine construction drawing design with automatic generation of calculation sheets and are widely used.
(10) HVAC design software for domestic buildings: Software such as Hongye HVAC, Tianzheng HVAC, and Haochen HVAC are developed on the AutoCAD platform. They follow Chinese engineering standards and HVAC engineer habits, integrating construction drawing design with automatic calculation sheet generation, and enjoy widespread use.
(11) Architectural electrical design software in China: Examples include Bochao Electric, Tianzheng Electric, and Haochen Electric. All are developed on the AutoCAD platform and conform to Chinese engineering standards and electrical engineer practices. These programs integrate construction drawing design with automatic calculation sheet generation and are commonly used.
(12) Structural design software used domestically: The PKPM structural system is developed by the national standard-setting body on an independent platform. Guangsha Structure and Explorer Structure are based on the AutoCAD platform, with Explorer primarily used for post-processing structural analysis to generate construction drawings. All comply fully with Chinese engineering standards, specifications, and structural engineer practices, enjoying widespread adoption.
(13) Energy-saving design software for domestic buildings: Popular options include PKPM Energy-saving, Swell Energy-saving, and Tianzheng Energy-saving. These programs verify designs according to local meteorological data and standard specifications, directly producing analysis reports and review forms that meet regulatory requirements. They fall under the category of specification verification software.
(14) Architectural sunlight design software in China: Software such as Tianzheng Rizhao, Zhongzhi Rizhao, and Swell Rizhao verify sunlight designs against local meteorological data and standards. They can generate analysis reports suitable for review and approval, and are classified as specification verification software.
(15) Advanced structural analysis and design software: SAP is suitable for multi-model calculations, offering strong scalability, openness, and flexible settings, tending towards a “general” finite element analysis approach that requires familiarity with design specifications. Etabs, which aligns well with Chinese design standards, is better suited for users less familiar with the standards, though neither software offers post-processing capabilities.
(16) Powerful environmental energy integration analysis software: Represented by IES <Virtual Environment>, this software precisely simulates and analyzes factors such as thermal and light environments, equipment, sunlight, airflow, cost, and evacuation processes in buildings. It boasts comprehensive features but involves complex concepts that require significant expertise to master.
(17) Mainstream domestic construction cost software: This category includes Guanglian Da (independent platform), Luban (AutoCAD platform), Sver (AutoCAD platform), Shenji Miaohua (independent platform), and Pinming. These programs strictly comply with domestic quota standards, limiting competition from foreign software.
In summary, these are the primary types and names of BIM software currently used in China. We hope this overview provides useful guidance.
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