Building Information Modeling (B.I.M.)
In contemporary commercial construction, buildings designs are no longer produced with a series of lines being drawn to represent walls, windows, roofs, etc. Instead they are constructed virtually using Building Information Modeling (BIM) software such as Autodesk Revit, which goes above and beyond traditional 3D modeling programs by building in smart information that recognizes walls, windows, and a roofs each have different characteristics in terms of material composition, structural function, aesthetics and cost. The advantage of using Revit and other BIM programs for building design is that it allows for single-source production of construction drawings, renderings, walk-throughs, cost estimates, energy models, etc., and single source coordination for the architectural, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and various other trades involved in a construction project. While BIM is now commonplace in commercial building design and construction, I have found very few residential builders and architects who have the knowledge and experience required to use and take full advantage of what the software has to offer. That said, the Starter Home 2.0 to capitalize on the many benefits of BIM, which will be shared in greater detail in upcoming blog posts.
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(Above) Section perspective showing architectural, mechanical and structural components |
