The Development of BIM Application from the Perspective of Architects
“BIM—Building Information Modeling—works by using words to convey meaning. Behind this seemingly simple approach lies a powerful force driving the construction industry forward. Architects new to BIM often think of it as merely a process that integrates plans and construction drawings through three-dimensional models. They also recognize its ability to collect data, prepare investment budgets, organize construction plans, create virtual reality simulations, generate renderings, and produce animations. However, these are just the basic functions of BIM.
Some critics argue that BIM is inefficient and labor-intensive, while those with more experience claim it can boost architects’ productivity by 30%. In reality, BIM’s impact goes far beyond that. A well-implemented BIM system can save significant time and dramatically increase efficiency, far surpassing traditional methods. For example, a skilled BIM architect working on a large-scale project abroad can be 100 times more efficient than a typical architect in China, which is hardly surprising.”
“Beyond producing essential outputs such as plans, construction documents, renderings, animations, and virtual reality models, an advanced BIM system can embed building codes and regulations. It continuously integrates the knowledge and experience of thousands of architects, allowing even less experienced architects to benefit from expert guidance and verification throughout their work.
Early-stage and automated verification help minimize errors during construction. Even seasoned architects and chief engineers are prone to mistakes, which can lead to costly and tragic consequences once a project encounters issues. By incorporating the auditing expertise of thousands of chief engineers into the system, BIM can reduce these losses to a mere fraction.”
“One of BIM’s greatest advantages is undoubtedly its ability to facilitate design modifications. Revising a design scheme—especially once it has reached the stage of detailed construction drawings—while synchronizing these changes across all related documents is a challenging, time-consuming process for architects and design firms. The resources spent—time, mental effort, manpower, materials, and finances—are enormous.
A single minor change can require updates to hundreds of drawings across an entire project, making the impact substantial. The most stressful aspect is meeting submission deadlines, often leading to long overtime hours. Even after completing drawings, architects may face further last-minute modifications.
The BIM system effectively addresses these challenges by allowing a change in one concept or component to automatically update hundreds or thousands of related professional drawings. It then generates an electronic version (without modification marks) for client approval, streamlining the drawing release process and saving considerable time.
A robust and comprehensive BIM system can transform design modifications as effortlessly as Transformers, achieving what once took days or weeks in just a few hours. This capability is truly remarkable.”
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