BIM maturity levels
What are the BIM levels?
The BIM maturity model describes levels of maturity with regards to the ability of the construction supply chain to collaborate and exchange information as well as the level of sophistication of the tools. Those are known as BIM maturity levels, a series of different stages in a journey that began with 2D computer-aided design and it is bringing the building industry into the digital era. As we proceed through the levels, the collaboration between the various sides is increasing. The “BIM levels” concept has been created by the UK Government Task Group, and it has lately become a widely adopted definition of the criteria for a project to be deemed BIM-compliant.
At the time being, there are four distinct BIM maturity levels:
- BIM Level 0 does not imply any kind of collaboration. This level is defined as the “Unmanaged Computer Aided Design (CAD) in 2D”. In fact, the information generation process takes place by using the traditional tools and methodology: CAD, uneditable documents, paper drawings or in a digital format such as PDF from the different operators of the construction project.
- BIM level 1 implies a mixture of 3D CAD for the concept development models and 2D CAD for the technical documentation. In this phase, the cloud-based electronic sharing of data is carried out from a common data environment (CDE), often managed by the contractor, although the models are not shared between the project members. This is why this level is known as the “lonely BIM”.
- BIM level 2 is described as collaborative BIM. It involves the generation of information in a collaborative 3D environment with data attached but created in separate discipline models. All parties use their own 3D CAD models, but they don’t work on the shared model. It is the way information is exchanged that makes a difference from the previous stages. All the actors involved in the building project share the information through a common file format, such as IFC (Industry Foundation Class) or COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange). The separate models are afterward assembled to form to a federated model whose information is shared within a common data environment.
- BIM level 3 is also known as Open BIM, as it allows all the parties of the building project to work on a single and shared project model (hosted in the CDE) in real time. The benefits are improved risk management, lower construction costs, better-integrated design, and more reliable information, quality enhancement and a better understanding of the asset.
What is BIM?
Traditionally, the building industry has been dependent on communication using 2D drawing, which implied many errors, omissions, costs, and eventual lawsuits. For a long time, architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries have sought out to increase productivity and quality, while at the same time decrease costs as well as project delivery time, hence using BIM gives the best potential in reaching these goals.
BIM is the acronym of Building Information Modeling and it refers to a collaborative method of working which is based on the generation and exchange of data between various project parties on the same project. Based on this information, the full life-cycle of a building, from initial conception to project completion, can be managed effectively. In that sense, it’s an indispensable part of the decision-making process.
elec calc™ BIM
elec calc™ BIM is the unique Open BIM solution that integrates electrical calculation with the BIM processes level 2 and 3. This state-of-the-art software allows information to be shared by different participants along the different stages of design, construction, and operation. From the aspect of cable routing, you have the ability for the calculation of cable lengths, and of the added cables as objects in the layout.
Model checking could be described as the detailed process of examining a system model on if it is meeting certain criteria. It’s understandable that model checking has tremendous importance for BIM. Model checking is a central element in computer science and by extension in BIM. With elec calc™ BIM, 3D model updates are available, it is possible to import a review of IFC and receive a notification of the changes in the installation one-line diagram and export both IFC and BCF. Within the installation, the software can also build the one-line diagram from the explorer and also build the one-line diagram from the 3D mock-up.
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