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Image: lumaxart | Flickr
New technologies and tools are surfacing faster and faster these days, and one that has major impact and momentum is BIM, a digital media tool which allows architects to create a virtual building information model.
Such BIM design technologies are contributing to what some say will lead to major paradigm shifts for architecture firms — namely in the way architects engage in their own design process as well as the ability to foster greater collaboration between clients, contractors and consultants.
BIM design tools will allow for great detail in virtual building models, where an architectural design will will come together in more meaningful and cross-collaborative ways — beyond anything typical AutoCAD models have been able to do thus-far.
Such BIM visualization tools allow for much more, like the ability to model a building with everything from partitions, to plumbing and HVAC systems. Furthermore, BIM design will also allow architectural team members to study light and energy before the building is ever built. And yet, it does still more.
As the article entitled “BIM Me Up, Scotty” explains, this kind of Building Information Model can work with applications which allow you, as an architect, to run what is called “clash detection“. This can go a long way toward preventing design problems and conflicts, large and small, very early on in the design process. This works by allowing computer processes to check the model against certain rules like code regulations, accessibility requirements and even structural system issues. Wouldn’t you want to know about such problems early on in your design process, as opposed to finding out about them later on?…when they cost more money and are more difficult to fix.
What Does BIM Design Mean for Your Creative Process?
At present, many architects work with digital media tools like 3D Studio Max, AutoCAD, Revit and Rhino for computer visualizations and modeling. However, BIM has the potential and power to bring a new dimension to your world of architectural design, perhaps helping to further empower your firm.
By being able to model your building in such great detail early on in your design process, you will be able to reduce Read more
