Many students have asked about the value of BIM during the design phase, so today, the editor from BIM Building Training Network will share some insights with you.
Compared to traditional CAD methods, BIM addresses several challenges common in the design stage of construction projects—such as redundant drawings, high error rates, frequent changes, and difficulties in collaboration and communication. The benefits BIM brings are substantial.
During the design phase, BIM technology fundamentally transforms architectural design from two-dimensional representations to fully three-dimensional models. This shift marks a significant evolution in how buildings are designed. With BIM, architects no longer struggle to represent complex 3D forms using traditional 2D drawings, greatly expanding the possibilities for intricate designs. One key feature of BIM is its visualization capability, allowing designers to effectively communicate their ideas. What you see is truly what you get. Additionally, it helps clients overcome technical barriers and always have a clear understanding of the potential outcomes of their investments.
Here is an example of BIM applied in a subway station project in Beijing. The station spans two levels—the platform and concourse—and includes four entrances and exits. Two of these are connected to the station via underground passages. The underground building area covers approximately 2.5 times 104 square meters. Due to a tight schedule, the project owner adopted a parallel contracting approach, involving dozens of teams from civil engineering to mechanical and electrical disciplines.
The construction site is located in a busy area, bordered by a primary school to the east, high-rise residential buildings to the north and south, and a shopping mall under construction on the east side. The site itself is narrow. Early demolition work was still underway at the beginning of construction, and only one access road was available. These conditions demanded high standards in construction technology and management. Given the schedule constraints, the owner emphasized minimizing major changes during construction.
To enhance decision-making accuracy and efficiency, the owner chose to implement BIM from the early design stages. The aim was to reduce design changes and guide construction using BIM models. At the project’s outset, the owner set clear targets for the BIM team: reduce design changes by over 50% compared to traditional methods and shorten the construction timeline by one month. BIM’s main applications in this project included creating a comprehensive model of the subway station and performing clash detection across different disciplines, as well as conducting virtual and 4D construction simulations.
Thanks to BIM, 875 clash points were identified within the local rail project. After thorough review by experienced site managers, 297 critical design issues were resolved before construction began. This proactive approach prevented construction-phase errors and reduced the need for major changes later on. Additionally, 4D construction simulations revolutionized traditional project management and construction workflows. They enabled precise calculation of material demands throughout the subway station’s construction, addressing challenges related to excessive material storage on site.
Upon completion, final statistics demonstrated that BIM helped reduce design changes by 86% compared to conventional design methods and shortened the construction period by 34 days. This outcome clearly highlights the application value of BIM during the design phase of construction projects.
In summary, the value of BIM in the design stage is immense. With BIM becoming more widespread in China, its full potential is only beginning to be realized and will continue to grow.
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