We have often heard about BIM (Building Information Modeling) and the wide range of opportunities it brings to the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. But how are these BIM models structured? This article explains the components of these models and their characteristics based on a BIM Standard, while addressing the importance of BIM Catalogs and BIM Libraries.
First, let's define what a BIM model is. Simply put, it is the virtual construction of an infrastructure project, composed of geometry, metadata, and documentation. It is built within a collaborative environment by the various stakeholders involved throughout its life cycle, from the initial design phase to operation and maintenance. Ultimately, these models are composed of BIM Objects.
Autodesk's Revit modeling software refers to these objects as “families” and defines them as “a group of elements with a common set of properties (called parameters) and a related graphical representation.”
