BIM (Building Information Modeling) is an advanced process applied in the construction (AEC) industry, based on digital 3D models that are used throughout the lifecycle of a design, infrastructure, and construction project. These BIM models are much more sophisticated than simple 2D or 3D drawings; they are created with intelligent models that contain a lot of information, which are modified and updated throughout the project development process.
"Technology is changing the way buildings and infrastructure are designed, constructed, and operated. It helps improve workflows, design performance, and operations throughout the lifecycle of the projects. Essentially, it can be considered as a virtual 3D model of a building with all its components: bricks, mortar, roofing, lighting, interiors... all of which are specifically defined within the BIM model.
"All individuals and organizations involved in the design and construction of a project can use the data in the BIM model. Through this, they can analyze costs, energy, construction time, and construction and maintenance methods. The entire workflow will be based on this shared information, which is continuously updated and supplemented throughout the process, from the initial sketches to the completion of the project. For this reason, BIM can also be seen as 'Building Information Management".
Current 2D design processes have become outdated with the emergence of BIM. In the old approach, transferring information from the design team to the construction team was already a problem. Even small changes would affect many other drawings, and all of them had to be manually updated. All the data lacked cohesive and automatic links, making updates and additions very difficult, especially when it came to detecting conflicts within the project. This significantly increases the risk of errors and delays in project timelines.
The reason BIM is introduced at this moment is simple – it is due to the evolution of technology. From the era of architect drawings on paper, to the era of CAD (Computer Aided Design) with electronic drawings that are more precise and easier to edit. Then, with the growth of hardware and computer graphics power, it paved the way for the development of CAD-3D models. Software was able to simulate every smallest detail of a project with high accuracy in 3D graphics, combined with the BIM process to create complete information models that maximize support for all stages of developing a construction project.
With BIM, once the information is accurately set up, construction becomes faster, more precise, and cost-effective. That is why BIM is becoming a new trend and is almost a mandatory standard in the construction industry worldwide.
In Vietnam, according to the government's roadmap, BIM will gradually become a standard in construction projects. This is one of the key solutions to approach the upcoming Industrial Revolution 4.0 in the construction industry.
BIM is one of the major advancements in the construction (AEC) industry, bringing a revolutionary factor to project design, construction, and management. The model is gradually becoming one of the key factors driving the growth of contractors worldwide. The BIM model helps contractors create 3D models of projects with all the details and information of the smallest components, with continuous and synchronized updates. Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of BIM depends on the capability and the contractor's ability to apply BIM to their projects.
"BIM essentially revolves around 3D information models (three-dimensional, including length, width, and height) that are updated and used throughout the lifecycle of the project. The continuous development of technology has also driven the advancement of BIM, with many additional factors being integrated into this process, creating concepts like 4D, 5D, 6D, 7D..., with each factor being defined as a new dimension.
"And over time, with the rapid development of technology, new dimensions will continue to be developed. This is an overview of the BIM situation worldwide. Some organizations have successfully implemented 6D and 7D BIM models, but they had to go through many steps. They still had to start from BIM 3D – building a solid foundation for the other factors.
Currently in Vietnam, some organizations are "confused" by the complex BIM concepts, with 6D, 7D, and sometimes even 8D, making the application in real projects extremely challenging. We need to approach and apply BIM step by step to achieve the best results, implementing it practically in Vietnam and according to the capacity of each business.
"If you want to advance to 4D models and beyond, you must first master the 3D model."
"The BIM process will revolve around 3D digital models, and we need software (BIM tools) to build these models. A software for creating 3D models for BIM must meet the following criteria: building 3D models, inputting information for components, and real-time updates.
Autodesk is one of the pioneering companies and leaders in developing applications that support the BIM process. Among them, Autodesk Revit has emerged as an indispensable software when it comes to BIM, especially BIM 3D. Revit will support implementation in three main stages:
Although there are still some limitations, Revit software is continuously being updated and enhanced by Autodesk, along with its undeniable advantage of synchronization within a large ecosystem:
"Applying the BIM process will bring many benefits to the project, along with a massive amount of data. This leads to an urgent need to establish a Common Data Environment (CDE), which serves as the single source of data for all project participants to collect, manage, and distribute documents, including both geometric and non-geometric information of the project.
A single source of data helps enhance collaboration between parties in the project, avoiding errors, duplication, and reducing the time spent on managing complex documents..
