Will BIM models replace CAD graphics? This question has been debated for a long time. Many BIM professionals firmly believe that models will eventually replace graphics, and that graphics will soon disappear in various BIM communication scenarios.
When addressing this question, the first step is to clarify whether it concerns models and graphics as working methods or as final deliverables.
Does the former refer to design, construction, and operations teams using model-based approaches throughout the project lifecycle to complete their tasks, or does it refer to using graphic-based methods? Does the latter mean submitting models as official deliverables by all project participants, or providing graphics as statutory outputs?
Only by distinguishing these two fundamental concepts can we hope to answer the question effectively. Without this clarity, any answer would be premature.
Experts generally understand the issue as follows:
1. Model-based working methods are gradually replacing graphic-based methods, with the extent and scope of this shift expanding significantly.
2. As deliverables, models cannot and will not replace graphics in the foreseeable future. Beyond legal requirements, there are technical reasons: humans cannot directly interpret models without computer assistance, meaning models exist solely as soft copies and cannot yet function as hard copies.
From the experts’ perspective, doubts and debates about replacing CAD graphics with BIM models remain. The focus should be on discovering better solutions through practical experience rather than blindly following assumptions.
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up