15 key concepts that a BIM user must know

16 / 5 / 2018

One of the main characteristics of BIM (Building Information Modeling) language is the increasingly widespread use of acronyms. This often means that their use is often overlooked, leading many professionals working with the BIM methodology to end up using them without knowing exactly what they mean. Discover the 15 key concepts that every BIMer must master.

BIM Protocol:

A legal agreement that enables the smooth development of a BIM project. This document establishes the role of the information manager and the incorporated standards to be followed by all team members. It also requires suppliers to provide BIM data at the specified levels of detail and provides the necessary protection to information producers through specific BIM licenses.

In the words of Simon Rawlinson , Head of Strategic Research at Arcadis UK and a member of the Construction Industry Council and the BIM Task Group, “ A BIM protocol helps establish a chain of responsibility, so if there is an error in the data, it would be possible to trace the person who originally made the mistake. “

It’s important to note that this protocol has different requirements depending on the jurisdiction. For example, according to Bentley Systems in the United States, the BIM protocol serves the same purpose in the United States as it does in the United Kingdom, but it is not considered a legal agreement.

EIR (Employers’ Information Requirements)

This document should be one of the first to be issued when starting to work with BIM technology. It defines the client’s modeling needs for each stage of the construction process. Under current English regulations, this document is essential for writing the BEP. Generally, the EIR is made up of three different areas:

Technical Requirements: These may include aspects such as software platforms, data exchange format, levels of detail and training that may be required.
Management Requirements: These may include stakeholder roles and responsibilities, security, collaboration processes, and delivery strategies.
Business Requirements: These include data synchronization, results presentation, and a competency assessment.

BEP (BIM Execution Plan)

is a document shared and approved by all parties involved in the BIM process, which establishes how the various stakeholders will work together to achieve the EIR standards. All stakeholders involved in a BIM project should be familiar with it and have it readily available.

The BEP includes the agents involved in the process and their roles, the deliverables and the delivery time associated with each of them, the exchange processes, the authoring and coordination of the models, and the model element table (MET), which must capture the graphic level of detail at which the BIM objects will be modeled.

MET (Model Element Table)

The modeled element table is a table typically found in the BEP and precisely and visually defines the LOD, or level of detail, at which the elements for the different modeling categories will be modeled.

MIDP (Master Information Delivery Plan)

Think of this document as the task list for a BIM project. It will tell you exactly who is doing what and when.

This plan is a necessary part of the EIR. It comes into play after contracts have been awarded to vendors and the list of what project information will be delivered, when it will be delivered, and what protocols will be used for each stage has been defined.

CDE (Common Data Environment)

As the name suggests, the CDE is a digital collaboration area (either in the cloud or on a local server) where all project information is stored. All team members have access and can make changes when necessary, reducing the risk of duplication and miscommunication.

It’s important that this space is clearly structured and subdivided into distinct areas by information category. Design teams will typically work on an area called WIP (work in progress).

The CDE is maintained and monitored by the information manager (indicated in the BIM protocol). Information managers, usually appointed by the client, are responsible for ensuring that protocols are followed and that data is properly secured. Data Classification Data classification is probably a familiar topic, but BIM takes it to another level. In many cases, individual firms and organizations have proprietary ways of classifying data, which undermines the entire purpose of BIM. There are several data classification systems out there, including those like MasterFormat , the OmniClass Classification System   , and Uniclass . Whichever system the team chooses, it demonstrates that it takes into account the  classification of the data and that it is shared by all involved stakeholders. This doesn’t just apply to the design team: it also includes manufacturing, construction, and even international operators. PIM (Project Information Model)


This model, commonly referred to as a digital engineering model, drives the entire project. “It’s a virtualization of the design for visualization, detailed engineering analysis, and optimization of building systems,” is how  Andy Smith of Bentley Systems understands this concept. “All design disciplines contribute to the model, which is used from design conceptualization through to the production of contract documents.”

This is what a BIM project is called during the process stage and right up until the moment before it is handed over to the client. Once completed and delivered, this project is called an AIM ( Asset Information Model ).

AIM (Asset Information Model)

This information model is generated from the PIM and is used to manage, maintain, and operate the entire project as it unfolds. It’s important to note, however, that the project can be developed without a PIM if an existing asset information system is in place. AIMs are typically used during the operations stage of a BIM project.
IFC (Industry Foundation Class) IFC is an international standard developed and maintained by buildingSMART . It is designed to describe building and construction industry data and to facilitate the exchange of information between various contributors and software types .  It is an open and neutral specification that is not controlled by a single vendor or group of vendors.  IFC is an official standard recognized under ISO 16739. The standard is continually under development, so make sure you have the latest version.  More information about IFC and standards can be found on the buildingSMART website:  www.buildingsmart-tech.org/implementation/faq/fag-general-ifc-spec LOD (Level of Development/Definition) This is a classification scale for the level of detail that BIM objects will have depending on the stage of project development. According to AIA international standards, LOD levels range from LOD 100 to LOD 500. LOD 100 corresponds to the earliest design stage, LOD 300 represents a graphic level of detail corresponding to an execution project, and LOD 500 represents an “as built” version, which would be used for managing buildings already in use. Note that the British have their own standards, ranging from LOD 1 to 7, which they name: LOD 1 brief (concise), LOD 2 concept (concept), LOD 3 design development (design development), LOD 4 Production.

(production), LOD 5 Installation (describes the construction), LOD 6 As built (as built) and LOD 7 Asset Information Model (asset information). To put it simply, an AIA LOD 100 would correspond to the British LOD 2 and LOD 500 would correspond to the British LOD 6.

LOI  (Level of Information) This is the amount of non-modeled information that a BIM object has. For example, a family has its types and within these types it can have a huge amount of parameters that can be something as simple as height and width to more complex elements such as a mathematical formula that changes the separation of the elements depending on the occupancy of the room they are in. The LOI can be tables, specifications and parametric information. COBie (Construction into Operation of Building Information Exchange) Cobie is a structured data format that focuses on the asset data of a BIM project rather than geometric data. Officially,  it is facility information for the commissioning, operation and maintenance of a project, often in a neutral spreadsheet format, used to supply data to the employer or operator to populate decision-making tools, facilities management and asset management systems (as defined in PAS 1192-2:2013).  PAS 1192 is a publicly available specification sponsored by the Construction Industry Council . Its primary function is to serve as a framework to support BIM objectives in the UK.  To this end, PAS 1192 specifies the requirements for achieving BIM standards and lays down the foundation for collaboration on BIM projects, including available information standards and data exchange processes. API (Application Program Interface) is a programming program for making small applications or macros that streamline work in BIM programs. The Revit API is open source and available to users under the “manage” tab, “macro manage”. Thanks to it, you can streamline and schedule tasks that would otherwise be extremely repetitive. Marry Mattison, one of the API masters, shares her code at the following link:  www.boostyourbim.com