Firstly, BIM should be viewed not as a static outcome but as a dynamic process. Because it is dynamic, constant changes and “growth” occur throughout the entire lifecycle of a building. At various stages of this lifecycle, and among different stakeholders within the same stage, BIM requires bidirectional interaction. We need to foster the “growth” of BIM, which in turn benefits from this continuous development. In design, each discipline significantly influences BIM in a bidirectional manner at different phases. While time and space considerations are also important, they will not be discussed here in detail.
Secondly, the application of BIM can be categorized from multiple perspectives, but it can be broadly divided into two main areas: management and technical aspects. The management side relates to the operational methods of the project, which inherently depend on existing project management systems and mechanisms, such as those currently in place in China. These systems inevitably impact BIM’s implementation. On the technical side, BIM is relatively straightforward and focuses on addressing business requirements. As a technology, BIM efficiently solves specific technical challenges, such as pipeline integration in equipment engineering. However, BIM’s greatest value cannot be realized within any single isolated stage or discipline. Therefore, it is difficult to completely separate BIM’s technical applications from its management applications. Returning to the first point, the true value of BIM lies in its comprehensive integration throughout the entire process.
Lastly, let’s consider a specific issue related to design. Compared to CAD adoption, which began in the late 1980s and early 1990s, BIM implementation is more complex. To accelerate CAD adoption and improve design efficiency, construction supervisory authorities issued government mandates requiring design units with various qualifications to transition to computerized drawing within a specified timeframe. As a result, design institutes at all levels completed the task ahead of schedule. In contrast, the current use and application of BIM may not be as straightforward.
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