Services | BIM and LOD
What’s BIM?
Building Information Modeling (BIM) are becoming more popular every day and may even be a requirement in your contract. So, what is BIM about?
BIM is planning, designing the construction of a building in a 3D model. It involves the collaboration between architects, engineers, contractors and other professionals related to the construction of this project. Projects that require BIM usually provide you with an Architectural and Structural model.
Contractors then add their trades to the model. A coordination leader will verify the alignment points of all the MEPF trades and the clash-detection / coordination process can begin.
Why choose BIM?
While your project may not required BIM on the contract, we see BIM as a long term cost savings for our clients. Here are a few benefits:
- Ease of coordination by visualizing all trades, improve accuracy of coordination;
- Improve collaboration and communication of issues with all parties.
- Visualization of complex areas, such as mechanical rooms which can be quite busy areas.
- Save on the cost of materials by making sure all the trades fit it and can be pre-fabricated without the need to change fittings.
- Improve of productivity. Save on the crew cost and time, by having everything already figured out and simply ready for installing, instead of spending time fixing issues in the field.
- Simplify the design whenever possible to lower the fabrication cost;
LOD
They are different levels for BIM levels of development (LOD):
- LOD 0: No BIM requirement, everything to be generated in 2D;
- LOD 100: Simplest form of BIM, conceptual;
- LOD 200: Approximate geometry. Items are shown in approximate ;
- LOD 300: Precise geometry. Items show proper quantity, size, shape, location and orientation.
- LOD 350: Precise geometry with proper connections shown.
- LOD 400: Fabrication-ready geometry. Detailed fabrication information, ready for material lists and spool list.
- LOD 500: All elements are verified in the field and the 3D models are updated to represent any changes done, As-Built .
Our modeling process
Our minimum BIM LOD starts at 300, while most our models requested are at LOD 350. We can also provide up to LOD 500 and produce material / spools lists.
When available, we work with the Architect and Engineer team 3D native files for the Architecture and Structure of the building. If they are no BIM files available, we generate our own Architectural and Structural model based off our study of the contract drawings.
Once the layout of the building is done, we start drafting our trades. We then start the coordination of the mains and finish up with the branches.