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Building
information modeling covers geometry, spatial relationships, geographic information, quantities and properties of building
components. BIM can be used to demonstrate the entire building life cycle including the processes of schematic design and
construction documents. Schedules, quantities and shared parameters such as material takeoffs can easily be extracted. Phases
and design options within the project can be isolated and easily defined. Systems, assemblies, and sequences are able to be
shown in a relative scale with the entire facility or group of facilities.
BIM is a process which
goes far beyond switching to new software. It requires changes to the standards of traditional architectural processes and
requires more data sharing than most architects and engineers are used to. BIM is able to achieve such improvements by modeling
representations of the actual parts and pieces being used to build a building. This is a substantial shift from the traditional
computer aided drafting method of drawing with vector file based lines that combine to represent objects.
The interoperability requirements of construction documents include the drawings, procurement details, environmental
conditions, submittal processes and other specifications for building quality. BIM can be utilized to bridge the information
gap associated with handing a project from design team, to construction team and to building owner/operator, by allowing each
group to add to and reference back to all information they acquire during their period of contribution to the BIM model.
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