What Does BIM Stand For

When you talk with anyone already associated with CAD and BIM and ask them what BIM stands for, you are going to get one of two correct answers :

• BIM Stands for Building Information Modelling
• BIM Stands for Building Information Management

I like both but they both demand a little more explanation and as I said both are correct

The first statement is correct because in my book it relates to the use of BIM within the 3D modelling process, both as a tool to define an object's place when drawing and as part of the embedded information that's built into any object to define what it is, size, material, colour, and manufactured by and performance data, mass, thermal data strength.

The second statement, also correct, refers to the use and management of the data built into the object, its use within the design team,, engineer, H&V engineer, Lighting engineer, QS, and how it's shared, and used outside of the design team, the contractor, and perhaps we can introduce the client here. And often as not outside the 3D cad program as data sheets in the form of specialist spreadsheets, or Cobie files, and the whole model as the IFC file. Their is also a whole realm of other uses for this data in the management of the completed building by maintenance people, and the client.

It's my aim in future blogs to expand on this, but for now I think this simplistic view allows for a little research on how different people view and use BIM from a historic view, as well as a futuristic stance as to how BIM can and will develop.

Will CAD and BIM stay as we see them now, will they evolve.

Todays photo is a sketch I made in my Moleskin to try and understand the way CAD can evolve, my guess is that Augmented Reality is the way, and Point Cloud will play a major part in the way CAD can evolve.