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.

PAS 1192-2 --- Specification for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building information modelling

Its a long title, and Google might blow a fuse, but this time I am taking no notice, "PAS 1192-2 --- Specification for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building information modelling" is a document we should all have read, and if you have not, then do so, its the route the government has set for the introduction of BIM,

OK its a long document, and the content is very much gov speak, but the underlying tone is the foundation of BIM, and like it or not, its the future, and here I speak global, not just the UK, there will be no country constraints, building are going digital.

You might also want to read an excellent article on the CIOB web site, and cedrtainly watch the youtube interview with BIM Task Group chairman Mark Bew. The page itself might be behind a fire wall, but the interview is on youtube, see below.

I would also recommend downloading PAS 1192-2 its free and can be obtained via the BSI shop for free, mine is in Evernote and well read. The reading list once you have just made the first read is enormous, and mine needed refining a tad, I am lucky, being a Visiting Prof at Birmingham City Uni, I get to use the excellent library, and have access to gov docs for free. plus I can sit an talk with other Prof's who teach this subject. I am planning a CPD event in the near future, where I will try and explain the documents and some of my research, with if they will agree, some of the lecturers.

Birmingham City Uni have an excellent Masters course being planned for the new year 2016, and you can bet its going to take apart a lot of the PAS 1192 doc and more. As soon as I can I will post more on this.

The image I have used today is the one you will see on almost every BIM presentation and shows the BIM maturity levels you will here so much about. The goal of 2016 is level 2, but this is only part of a much larger graphic showing the different standards related to each level, so a much needed document and read.

The video for some reason is in 6 parts, but watch the first and look to the side bar in Youtube for the remaining.

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Big Data is best

Kenneth Cukier talking on Ted, Berlin 2014, outlines how Big Data can be better, but add some warning. This is a realy good overview of data, so often we used to her about data overflow, just to much data, now the complete reverce is relevant, we just can't get enought data.

Watch the Video in full.