AN INTRO TO BIM AND ITS BENEFITS

Building Information Modeling, (BIM), is a digital representation that captures the physical and functional characteristics of a building or infrastructure project. Architects, engineers, and construction professionals can use BIM technology to create, manage, and share information throughout the entire lifecycle of a project.

• Computer-aided design (CAD) and building modeling software, which began to emerge in the 1960s, are the roots of BIM. The shape of BIM as we know it today began to emerge in the 1990s, when 3D modeling was introduced and object-oriented programming was used in software development.

• G.A. van Neder Veen and F.P.Tolman introduced the term Building Information Modeling in a paper in1992.   The construction industry started adopting BIM in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a more efficient method for designing, constructing, and operating buildings and infrastructure projects.

• An initiative was launched by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States in 2002 to promote the development and adoption of BIM.   The use of BIM was made mandatory on all new construction and major renovation projects by the United States General Services Administration (GSA) in 2007. BIM has become increasingly popular worldwide and is now used in many countries for designing, constructing, and managing buildings and infrastructure projects since then.   In addition to its basic functions, BIM has become an essential tool for the construction industry thanks to its advanced features, including simulation, visualization, and collaboration tools.

        BENEFITS OF BIM TECHNOLOGY:

• A digital representation of a building or infrastructure project can be created using Building Information Modeling (BIM), a technology utilized in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. This technology enables designers and builders to create a 3D model of a building, including all of its physical and functional characteristics, such as the walls, windows, doors, electrical and plumbing systems, and more.   Before actual construction, this virtual model of the building can be utilized for visualization, simulation, and analysis purposes.


• Working collaboratively and in a coordinated manner, all stakeholders can use BIM to design, construct, and manage buildings more efficiently. Before construction begins, it becomes easier to identify and resolve any conflicts or issues when architects, engineers, and contractors work together on the same digital model.

• The construction industry considers BIM technology an essential tool due to its evolved features, including clash detection, cost estimation, and construction sequencing.   Many governments around the world have adopted BIM to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of public infrastructure projects.