Why use BIM? Currently, most drawings in the construction industry still rely on 2D computer-aided drafting to convey designers’ ideas and concepts. While this method is more efficient than manual drawing, the limited visual scope and descriptive capacity of 2D drawings often lead to errors or misinterpretations due to guesswork. Additionally, non-professionals in architecture frequently find it difficult to fully understand the information and intent behind 2D floor plans. BIM technology appears to have emerged as a solution to these challenges.
In traditional construction projects, it takes considerable time for personnel from various engineering disciplines to thoroughly interpret numerous drawing instructions. Differences in professional backgrounds, skill levels, and work habits often result in varying interpretations among teams. The three main building systems—architecture, structure, and electromechanical—are typically designed independently. When extensive building information is passed on to participants at different project stages, it requires them to reinterpret the data. During this process, important details can be overlooked or conflicting information may arise, causing distortion or even backflow of information. (As illustrated in the image)
The National Association for Science Standards in the United States released a research report on construction projects, highlighting that most additional costs incurred by owners stem from insufficient communication and coordination. This results in an extra $6.12 per square foot cost for new construction and an additional $0.23 per square foot during the operation phase. In total, these inefficiencies contribute to an estimated $15.8 billion in extra expenses. Causes of this waste include excessive use of raw materials and the fact that architects, engineers, and contractors often worked on disconnected drawings and specifications. These discrepancies frequently led to supply shortages and mistakes discovered during construction, which in turn caused further costs, wasted resources, and sometimes internal conflicts. Therefore, the BIM concept was developed to effectively address these issues.
From this perspective, BIM’s collaborative design, visual communication, automatic and precise quantity calculations, construction simulation, and virtual construction capabilities can significantly improve the challenges mentioned above. BIM applications integrate building data from various stages and disciplines throughout the building lifecycle into a unified platform. This enables all project participants to communicate using a shared 3D visualization model or data platform, greatly enhancing communication efficiency, improving the work environment, and elevating project quality.
That concludes our discussion on why BIM is used. We hope this article has been helpful to everyone interested in understanding the benefits of BIM technology.
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