WHAT IS BIM?
Building Information Modeling is an intelligent multi-dimensional model-
based process. It provides every detail to AEC professionals needed to plan,
design, construct, and manage buildings and Infrastructure. Also, it enables
better design decisions, improved building performance, and real-time
collaboration throughout the project life cycle.
Basically, BIM enables collaboration between specific trades involved in a
project. It allows them to detect and resolve the clash with effective
coordination before or during the construction. Ultimately, the trades
involved reach better accuracy than ever before through BIM only.
Building Information Modeling is a brand new
technology that has completely revolutionized the
construction industry. BIM allows professionals (in
the construction industry) to plan, design,
construct and manage the built form and
infrastructure in a more systematic way.
Professionals like architects, civil engineers,
structural engineers, MEP experts, and industrial
designers must learn how to use this
software. BIM is the future of the construction
industry. This technology is transforming the
construction industry by helping the professionals
to enhance decision making, building
performance, and efficiency. So, in this article, we
will talk about the benefits of using BIM
Importance of BIM in AEC Industry
Why BIM is needed in AEC Industry?
Will you consider it ‘a help’ if something makes you complete your work half the time
required? Do you also think saving time and cost is a significant help?
If yes, BIM consultancy services provide the same by allowing the project workers to
foresee the requirements and helping them make the procurement process efficient.
With BIM services, tradespeople stay free from physical clash issues, commonly a
significant concern during the conventional construction process. BIM, in this case, allows
for resolving things before any construction phase.
The AEC industry has been saving a lot of material, cost, time, and labor effort since BIM’s
involvement in the industry occurred. By safeguarding the entire sector from the possible
hustle and bustle in advance. Let us explore the wing of BIM benefits now and learn more
about BIM through it.
BIM Terminology
There are so many different technical terms relating to BIM that it can be
difficult to keep track. To make things easy for you, here is a list of some of
the most important terms as a guide to BIM.
BIM Terminology and abbreviations 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D, & 7D
In addition to 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) modelling, there is
also 4D, 5D, 6D and 7D. 3D refers to three-dimensional geometry. 4D refers
to construction sequencing information that includes the three spatial
dimensions and an additional dimension of time.
5D includes 4D plus “cost”. It integrates design with the estimating and
scheduling of costs including labour and productivity rates.
6D and 7D include aspects like sustainability and facility management and
other concepts like the Internet of Things (IoT).
BIM Dimensions – 2D to 7D
What are the BIM Dimensions?
BIM has itself come a long way since its start. There is an absolute demarcation between the two-
dimensional and three-dimensional models. Earlier there were only manual drawings into existence, and from
there on gradually 2D drawing as well as 3D modeling came into being.
With time more information requirements arrived and thus came the need for more dimensions in the
modeling. 4D modeling is known for scheduling the data as per the construction details and sequences. And
5D BIM defines the quantity take-off for cost estimation purposes. Whenever any new information is to be
put in a BIM model, a dimension can be set up. As of now, there are almost 6 types of dimensions in the
industry which are:
10 Dimensions of BIM
Specific dimensions help stakeholders analyze some peculiar aspects today, which were
conventionally difficult to manage. Those aspects are-
•BIM Modeling - 3D
•Time analysis - 4D
•Cost estimation & analysis - 5D
•Sustainability assessment - 6D
•Facility Management - 7D
Further three dimensions are pretty much only a subject of debate till now, but the industry is
leaving no opportunity to reach up to them.
•Health and Safety Analysis - 8D
•Lean construction - 9D
•Industrialization - 10D
All these dimensions are not geometrically confined as they seem, but they include crucial
aspects for construction only. Each dimension under BIM services has a specific goal defined
which provides convenient results to the project as far as achieving perfection is concerned.
It would be enlightening to discuss the most prevalent of these dimensions, i.e., Facility
management, which is also a benefit of BIM.
What Is BIM Execution Plan
A BIM Execution Plan is a document/resource that outlines how a project team will use BIM
workflows, tools, and techniques to achieve the desired project outcomes. It includes details such as
the roles and responsibilities of those involved, the timeline for the project, and the deliverables that
will be produced.
It can also include information on the BIM quality management system to be used and the software
and hardware that will be required.
Why Do We Need A BIM Execution Plan?
In short, a BIM execution plan is an essential tool for any BIM project because it helps us
to set clear goals and coordinate all aspects of the project.
It should answer critical questions such as “What BIM software will be used on the project?”
and “Who is responsible for what tasks?”.
It helps ensure that everyone on the project knows the BIM goals and objectives.
The sooner you start working on a design/construction project execution plan, the better.
Don’t be concerned; if you require some assistance, I’ll show you precisely what should go into
your BIM Execution Plan and where to get some of the best BIM Execution Planning templates.
Now that we know why we need one, let’s talk about what is included in one!
Types of BIM Execution Plans
There are two types of BIM execution plans: The pre-contract and the post-contract BIM plan.
Information they contain will vary based on type.
1. Pre-contract BIM Plan
Pre-contract implementation plans are the initial plans presented during the tendering stage.
The supplier will set out their proposed approach, capacity and other details. The exact
details contained in the pre-contract plan may be formulated by the supplier, or it may address
requirements set out by the employer in a document such as Employer's Information
Requirements (EIR).
2. Post-contract BIM Plan
Once the contract is given, a further BIM Implementation Plan will be drawn up (i.e. the “post-
contract BIM plan”) to confirm supply chain capabilities and to fix details moving forward. A
master plan can also be added. Individual Task Information Delivery Plans can be used to
further show who is responsible for each strand of information being delivered.
Level of Development (LOD) in BIM : Detailed Overview
The Level of Development (LOD) is an industry standard that defines the various stages of
development in construction projects within BIM. LOD enhances 3D models using a numerical
lexicon, fostering a shared understanding among stakeholders for clear and effective
communication across disciplines. Dedicated to offering BIM services, we cover LOD 100 to LOD
500, ensuring precision and clarity at every construction projects.
BIM Level of Development (LOD) resolves architectural and construction complexities with a
structured approach. At TrueCADD, we deploy LOD within projects to bridge the gap between
architects, engineers, contractors, and owners. Driven by collaboration, our LOD approach
reduces ambiguities, disputes, and streamlines decision-making to ensure project goals are met.
Level of Development vs Level of Detail (LOD)
At TrueCADD, we distinguish between the Level of Development and the Level of Detail,
although both are abbreviated as LOD.
The Level of Detail concerns the graphical details added to a model, while the Level of
Development measures the amount of information represented by a BIM element, as developed
by American Institute of Architects (AIA).
For contractors, details like manufacturer and model number are of utmost importance. LOD
models created in Revit signify the amount and type of information required by various project
stakeholders for specific purposes.
Adoption of BIM Levels of Development (LOD) as Defined by AIA
Professional BIM LOD services to ensure BIM model consistency and reliability throughout the
design, construction, and operation phases of a building.
What is LOD?
Referred to as a lifecycle BIM tool, Level of Development (LOD) is a set of industry standards
that provides the AEC industry the power to document, articulate, and specify the Building
Information Modeling (BIM) contents properly and clearly. It defines the content (i.e., the
geometric information, structured data, and linked documents) and the reliability of BIM elements
at different development stages of the construction project.
Level of Development vs Level of Details
Level of Development is often misunderstood as the Level of Details, but both are different from
each other. The level of Details signifies the proportion of details enclosed within the element of
the model. Whereas Level of Development is the degree to which the specification and geometry
of the elements and the information attached to it have been thought through, or it can be
referred to as the degree to which the team members involved may depend on the information
while using the model. It may be said that Level of Detail serves as an input to the element,
whereas Level of Development is the output.
LOD 100 – It is the pre-designing stage of LOD. The LOD 100 element is a conceptual model where
the parameters such as height, area, volume, orientation, and location are defined. The information in
this stage is considered as an approximation.
LOD 200 – It is the schematic designing stage of LOD. The LOD 200 element displays geometric
features such as shapes, dimensions, locations, etc. The level of complexity in LOD 200 is slightly more
than that of LOD 100. It may also include some non-geometric information. The information at this
stage is also considered as an approximation.
LOD 300 – It is the building design development stage of LOD. The graphical representations of LOD
300 may be the same as the graphical representation of LOD 200, but what makes it different from LOD
200 is that the geometry and features at this stage are considered accurate. The information at this
stage can be used in the construction stage.
LOD 350 – It is the construction documentation stage. The information obtained in LOD 350 is the
same as that obtained in LOD 300, but in this stage, the interfaces with other building components like
connections and support are also included. It indicates the way the component can be installed and the
way it interacts with the systems of other buildings.
LOD 400 – It is the construction stage of LOD. It includes details such as fabrication, assembly, and
installation of the components. These details are of great use to the suppliers for manufacturing the
components that are represented. It may also include non-visual information.
LOD 500 – It is the as-built stage of LOD. These are the fields that are verified in terms of shape, size,
quantity, orientation, and location, which are considered to be accurate representations of the building
elements post-construction. These elements can be used as references for operation and maintenance
by the facility managers.
Benefits of Level of Development (LOD)
The level of development is a vital element in the overall BIM process. Without it, the members
working on a construction project may face difficulties working on the same page leading to
inconsistencies that can damage the prospect of that project. LOD makes communication and
collaboration among the teams easier and faster. The LOD specification can be beneficial in the
design process in the following ways:
With standardized specifications and detailed information about all the elements, designers can
deliver guidelines and data for people working downstream to ensure that there are no lapses in
execution and maintenance. LOD makes defining a standard easier for contractors to take care of
BIM execution. Simultaneously, design managers can explain the necessities at various levels of the
design process to the teams with ease.
LOD helps in making accurate BIM models. Concurrently, all the teams including the owners can
specify accurately the level of detail they need from a BIM model and get clearance about the scope
of the final BIM.
If you desire to have accurate and clash-free 3D models with Levels of Development stages from
LOD 100 to 500 to enable the different construction teams involved in your construction project to
articulate component geometry and information evolution, Monarch Innovation can be the right
choice for you. It implements BIM projects for various construction tasks using Levels of
Development from LOD 100 to 500 as per the needs and requirements. Contact Monarch
Innovation to reduce your BIM risks with its LOD service.
