3D BIM Modeling: Key is to Interpret Client’s ‘Real’ Needs

The concept of building information modelling (BIM) has received universal acceptance from the building services, structural engineering and architectural fraternity mainly due to its need for lean construction and also its cross-disciplinary usability. 3D BIM modeling has existed for a number of years now and the industry is aggressively adapting itself to embrace the new workflows of the BIM process; however, there is still a lack of clarity amongst the owners (the clients) as to what exactly they can achieve from these models, what they need to achieve and how they can make optimum use of this concept.

3D BIM Modeling

This article seeks to explore some beliefs related to the use of BIM and sheds light on when it should be used and to what extent. For the sake of clarity, it is important to know the difference between non-BIM 3D CAD models and a parametric BIM models.

3D CAD models are virtual representations of a facility that provide only visual details. Applications such as AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD MEP are used to create 3D CAD models that can be used for design, development, construction and pre-fabrication. On the other hand, BIM models are intelligent models embedded with parametric details that are extremely important for design, development, construction, pre-fabrication, assembly, analysing energy performance and facility management of the built environment. For BIM projects, the details can be effectively shared between different project stakeholders: facility owners, designers/architects, MEP (M&E) engineers, fabricators, consultants and contractors. Revit Architecture and Revit MEP are applications used for BIM modelling whilst Navisworks is employed to detect clashes between different system models.

One of the most crucial aspects that helps decide whether BIM is actually required or not is gaining an in-depth understanding of the model’s purpose. More often than not, there is so much difference between client’s ‘stated’ needs and his/her ‘real’ needs.  In a lot of cases, clients state that they require a BIM model but actually what they require is a smart clash-free 3D model which can be used to extract respective construction drawings. In such scenarios, AutoCAD MEP or AutoCAD Architecture could easily be used to provide a 3D model that meets this need. Alternatively, a BIM software tool could be used to provide a 3D model without providing additional elements such as data rich 'information'.

In other cases, a BIM model may actually be the basis to plan, design, construct, and manage a particular facility. These scenarios require multidisciplinary project stakeholders to access the BIM model at different stages in the project lifecycle. As a result, the most important factor that dictates the success of any project employing BIM is the richness of ‘information’ embedded into the models. So, depending on the project’s scope, a full-fledged BIM model may contain valuable information, such as dimensions of building elements, quantity take-off data, material requirements, time scheduling, costing, prefabrication data, activity simulation, and energy performance. Other important factors that contribute to success of BIM include the data-sharing and interoperability standards to allow smooth multidisciplinary collaboration between key disciplines.

Irrespective of whether the client actually requires BIM or non-BIM CAD model, the BIM wave that has spread across the AEC industry has forced the agenda to adopt a more progressive approach to planning, designing and coordinating models and drawings. The industry continues to transition from non-BIM 2D approaches to collaborative BIM workflows and 3D CAD workflows and even that is a huge shift for the industry. This change is more often than not influenced by the demand side i.e. the clients.

Nevertheless, the current wave of change in favour of adopting BIM applications and processes has helped the entire AEC supply chain embrace intelligent virtual planning and development techniques for architectural and building services design, spatial coordination and collaboration.

Kuldeep Bwail is a Director at XS CAD Limited, one of the leading BIM outsourcing providers offering BIM Services to architects, engineers, MEP (M&E) consultants, and contractors across the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Europe, India and the Middle East.

BIM Drives Cost-Efficiencies for Plumbing Design

Since our construction industry is grappled with severe productivity issues and tight margins, the AEC industry is striving hard to come up with new ways of improving productivity, reducing construction costs and delivering a better-built building. Building Information Modeling, a new technological advancement in the AEC industry after CAD seems to have the potential to address these issues.

As per the definition of BIM by The National Building Information Model Standard (NBIMS), “BIM is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility and it serves as a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life cycle from inception onward”. BIM has evolved from being just a buzzword to the centrepiece of AEC technology and it has significant benefits for plumbing design.

BIM enables a 3d virtual representation of the plumbing systems thus helping to better understand the final outcome, make more informed decisions and detect collisions. One of the major benefits BIM technology serves for plumbing is interference-checking. Using BIM to detect early collisions helps to prevent costly design changes during the actual construction process whilst also reducing guesswork and errors.

Since the underground plumbing lines are located in reference to the foundations; BIM enables a plumbing designer with actual building footings marked by the structural engineer to preserve the structural integrity of the building. With the help of the building footings, a plumbing designer can easily coordinate the underground routing without compromising the structural design of the building. 

Building Information Modeling is an ‘information’ rich model.  In addition to building shape, costs, design, construction time, physical performance, costs and logistics, BIM also provides information about two additional parameters in the case of plumbing fixtures – information about the required gpm flow of the standard fixture and the reduced gpm flow. 

With an aim to conserve energy and natural resources, there has been an increased focus on green building projects. BIM facilitates easier identification of systems in LEED Plumbing Design by creating different colour systems. Since there is a variation in colour, identifying grey water routing becomes easier and hence helps to prevent cross contamination with other waste systems.

BIM creates a unified working environment with multiple disciplines working together on a single file. A plumbing engineer can create a design for hot and cold water and simultaneously check the HVAC design worksheet for conflicts.

BIM serves a plethora of benefits for plumbing design such as increased efficiency, accuracy and coordination of the system as well as reducing the time and cost involved in it.

Green Buildings using BIM

With environmental concerns such as global warming, climate change and energy dependency increasing, promoting sustainability is the need of the hour. Everyone is trying to combat with these environmental concerns by going green and building sector is no exception. Building Information Modeling and Green building are the two new transformations seen by the construction industry that are fundamentally changing the approach towards design and construction. These two rising trends that have remarkable synergies could be merged together and wonders could be designed and constructed.        

The very term ‘Green Building’ means building that is environmentally considerate utilizing less water, efficient energy, generates less waste and conserves natural resources. Coming up with a green building would definitely increase the cost initially but in the long run, it will save money through lower operating costs over the life of the building.

Building Information Modelling is another new revolution in the construction industry that is gaining momentum. The main highlight of building information modelling services is the high-quality design information it provides. It can be used as a vital green design tool as this intelligent model also conveys information relating to thermal data, geographical position surface area and orientation. It helps to analyse various design options with its corresponding impacts on green building performances. Implementation of BIM helps to harness the characteristics and performance of design concepts, thus allowing sustainable alternatives to combat with conventional resources.

The potential of BIM in making green buildings has not yet been fully realised. In the coming years, the adoption of BIM in making green building would be substantially increased.

Building Information Modeling Services (BIM Services)

Building Information Modeling Services (or BIM Services as they are commonly known) are becoming increasingly significant for modern construction projects. It has revolutionized the construction industry with its ability to make a digital representation of a building project. A wide array of elements such as geometry, quantity information, graphical information, spatial relationship and product/ material information are covered by BIM technology.

Along with the architects and design engineers, Building Information Modeling technology is also beneficial for the manufacturing and construction team, project management and cost management. Building Information Modeling enables the builders with the virtual model of the building and its components to avoid or correct any potential problems, before the construction begins.

XS CAD has emerged as a pioneer in creating BIM models using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD. We provide BIM Services such as BIM Drafting, BIM Modeling and BIM Co-ordination in the UK, Canada, US, India, Australia and the Middle East.Through BIM models, XS CAD provides the designers, cost consultants and installers with a blueprint of the actual elements within a construction project. The vital role played by BIM technology has changed the way architectural and construction projects are handled, with more emphasis on construction pre-planning and project management.

At XS CAD, we make use of the entire family of Autodesk software such as Autodesk Architecture, Autodesk MEP and Autodesk Structures to design data for an individual construction project. With our Integrated Project Delivery approach and a team of experts, we are able to provide our clients with high quality, accurate BIM models resulting in time and cost savings.

The Importance of BIM Coordination

BIM Coordination involves coordination between different disciplines for the smooth functioning of the system without any clashes or collision.In the initial stage, a modeler creates a model using Autodesk Revit or AutoCAD.  The model which is the amalgamation of different disciplines needs to be integrated during the construction and installation stage.  At this stage, BIM Coordination plays a vital role for the systematic functioning with clashes serving as no hurdles.

Homebuilders want a proper BIM coordinated model as they have paid for a coordinated building and want to see the benefits of clash detection in a faster schedule. A BIM coordinated model is the model that is a combination of drawings from different disciplines such as Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Structural.  The software used for building information modeling checks for the coordination between different services and then takes care of its installation at the suited locations.

BIM Coordination serves numerous advantages such as detection of clashes at early stage to provide a clash-free final model, cost and time benefits with impeccable accuracy, platform for multi-disciplinary disciplines for discussion resulting in high-quality service etc. For coordinating a model inclusive of all services without any clashes, different software such as Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks and ArchiCAD are used.

The Challenges in Adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM)

BIM (Building Information Modeling) represents a wave of technological changes that have allowed the AEC industry to plan and manage projects much more effectively.  With its ability to create a digital representation of a building with accurate geometry and relevant data, BIM technology has brought about a paradigm shift to the AEC industry.  It serves up a plethora of benefits such as improving interoperability between teams, utilization of a single software tool, scheduling, and allowing more effective co-ordination of construction projects.


While BIM, the new buzzword for the construction industry, is seen as a catalyst to revolutionize the future of the AEC industry, there are several reasons why it is also presenting an unparalleled challenge to the industry.  This is affecting the method and also speed in which it is embraced by the industry.  A few such challenges include:
1)    Challenges in Coordinating with Multi-Disciplinary Teams –Though BIM's ability of sharing a model is one of its biggest advantages over an AutoCAD file, one cannot ignore the permission required for adequate sharing of model information posing as a challenge. As multidisciplinary team would work on the same model, collaboration issues may cause delay in project and other problems.


2)    Challenges related to Ownership and Authority- The accountability, ownership and copyright issues of the model are ambiguous.  Exactly who will be the owner of the model or responsible for the accuracy of the information fed into the model poses a challenge in BIM adoption.

3)    Challenges while Replacing 2D or 3D AutoCAD System with BIM Technology- Adopting Building Information Modeling means redefining the approach and the practice of the company along with the requirements of training and upgraded software, not to mention the cost of the new software to start with. One should ensure compatibility between the internal departments of the company and its outside clients after the adoption of BIM technology.

Technology is always a double-edge sword, Building Information Modeling is no exception.  With the help of a proper methodology and thorough understanding of the potential of BIM, the challenges faced while implementing BIM could be minimized.  BIM has the potential to change the face of the construction industry by minimizing issues like over-budget and declining productivity pervading the AEC industry.  The question whether BIM would be able to reshape the industry has changed to when would BIM reshape the industry? By overcoming the challenges faced in adopting BIM, BIM can do wonders.

BIM 3D Modeling Services

Building Information Modeling Services (or BIM Services as they are commonly known) are becoming increasingly significant for modern construction projects.  It has revolutionized the construction industry with its ability to make a digital representation of a building project.  A wide array of elements such as geometry, quantity information, graphical information, spatial relationship and product/ material information are covered by BIM technology.
Along with the architects and design engineers, Building Information Modeling technology is also beneficial for the manufacturing and construction team, project management and cost management. Building Information Modeling enables the builders with the virtual model of the building and its components to avoid or correct any potential problems, before the construction begins.
XS CAD has emerged as a pioneer in creating BIM models using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD. We provide BIM services such as BIM Drafting, BIM Modeling and BIM Co-ordination in the UK, Canada, US, India, Australia and the Middle East. Through BIM models, XS CAD provides the designers, cost consultants and installers with a blueprint of the actual elements within a construction project. The vital role played by BIM technology has changed the way architectural and construction projects are handled, with more emphasis on construction pre-planning and project management.
At XS CAD, we make use of the entire family of Autodesk software such as Autodesk Architecture, Autodesk MEP and Autodesk Structures to design data for an individual construction project.  With our Integrated Project Delivery approach and a team of experts, we are able to provide our clients with high quality, accurate BIM models resulting in time and cost savings.
Please contact us for a quote or for more information.
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