How BIM, digital mock-up and software are transforming the building industry

The added value of BIM for the building sector translates into numerous advantages at every stage of the project lifecycle: the design phase, the site phase, the operational phase and the management phase. Correct use of Building Information Modeling helps to reduce costs, improve the quality of work by encouraging collaborative working between construction companies and other trades involved in construction, and minimise errors. Under the impetus of the PTNB (Plan de Transition Numérique dans le Bâtiment created in 2015), all players are invited to adopt BIM technology and its solutions. Ready to exploit the full potential of building data modelling within the digital mock-up, using recommended software? Let's build your ascent on solid information and foundations.

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Contents of our guide to BIM for buildings :

What is BIM for the building industry?

• BIM, a collaborative working process to manage the life of a building
• The digital mock-up and its wealth of information
• Data modelling integrated with 3D objects
• The IFC format for interoperability between software... and players!

The digital mock-up as seen by the construction industry:

• The Digital Transition Plan survey (March 2017)
• Benefits perceived by the building and civil engineering professions
• The perceived need for BIM technology

The best software recommended in France:

• 3D modelling software for architects, design offices and construction companies - [Comparison table]
• Digitisation software for surveyors, design offices and auditors of existing buildings - [Comparative table]
• Visualisation software for all construction professionals - [Comparative table]
• CAD software for architects and multi-actors - [Comparative table]

6 precautions to take before choosing your software :

• Precaution no. 1: make sure you can work with others
• Precaution no. 2: make sure you can exchange data without altering it
• Precaution no. 3: examine the software's functionalities from a business point of view
• Precaution no. 4: demand a well-stocked library of BIM objects
• Precaution no. 5: assess the balance between ergonomics and long-term benefits
• Precaution no. 6: put the software's reputation to the test

What is BIM for the construction industry?

BIM, a collaborative working process for managing the life of a building

Building Information Modeling translates into French the desire to design, build and manage a building, thanks to information modelling:

• the players involved use a common BIM model to work together,
• The collaborative working process offers a number of advantages,
• The shared digital model brings together all the information relating to the construction,
• The shared computer file means that data can be updated in real time,
• The aim is to optimise the management of all phases in the life of a building,
• The model enables a BIM manager to manage the project.

The digital mock-up and its wealth of information

The digital mock-up contains everything that professionals need:

• an identical representation of the building and all its component parts,
• the list of stages, including all the technical data and constraints,
• the professionals involved in the project and the scope of their work,
• the ability to simulate points of view, costs, coordination aspects, etc.
• the ability to anticipate incidents and react accordingly.

This digital mock-up represents a digital database that centralises all the information, and updates it in real time, from the design stage, through all the construction phases, right up to the management of the building during its use or operation phase.

Data modelling integrated into 3D objects

3D modelling is an interactive working tool that brings out all the intelligence of the building sector through the visual representation of objects:

• each element is modelled as a 3D object (door, wall, lift, beam, mechanisms, etc.),
• all the information (technical characteristics, materials, etc.) is entered for each object,
• the use of the object can be simulated, such as its energy consumption and strength,
• interaction with other objects is indicated to prevent defects,
• An object corresponds to a specific class, enabling prefabrication off-site.

The IFC format for interoperability between software... and players!

The recommended computer file format for digital mock-ups is the IFC format, for a number of reasons:

• It is standardised so that it can be read and modified by any BIM software, which is what we call interoperability,
• It enables simultaneous engineering, i.e. several players working in real time on the same file,
• This BIM standard makes it possible to adopt the point of view of each construction-related trade,
• It saves time and money, and improves communication between the parties involved,
• It avoids numerous structural and functional problems by providing enhanced documentation.

Digital mock-up as seen by construction industry players

The Digital Transition Plan for the Building Industry survey (March 2017)

As a reminder, the long-term aim of the PTNB, Plan de Transition Numérique dans le Bâtiment, is for professionals to adopt digital tools and good practices to boost activity in the construction sector as a whole. Presented in 2014 by the Minister for Housing, Territorial Equality and Rurality, Ms Sylvia Pinel, the PTNB was officially created on 20 January 2015.

To obtain meaningful results on the benefits of BIM and digital mock-up, 385,067 qualified professionals in the building and public works sector were questioned to carry out the PTNB survey, conducted with the help of batiactu groupe "Le BIM dans le secteur du BTP, baromètre de mars 2017":

• 203,110 professionals working in building and public works companies,
• 61,601 project managers,
• 78,013 project managers,
• 37,748 professionals working for manufacturers,
• 4,595 from asset management activities.

The benefits perceived by the building and public works trades

Here are a few revealing figures (rounded down or up to simplify reading) to sum up the survey:

The two major strengths of BIM are obvious:

• collaborative working between the various players,
• design errors plummet.

The next logical step is improved quality. The other benefits are emerging more slowly in the sector, proving that there is still a long way to go before BIM is better understood and used.

You can view the images below:

• the main benefits of digital mock-up depending on the project owner (public versus private),
• the main advantages of digital mock-up according to construction companies of different sizes.

Legend :

• in dark blue: latest figures,
• in light blue: figures for the previous year.

The perceived need for BIM technology

The survey also reveals the expectations of building and civil engineering professionals.

In particular, they express the need for information in digital formats such as :

• product characteristics, seen as valuable and expected information,
• 3D modelling of products (3D objects), which is seen as essential.

Technical regulations such as standards have also remained in the top 3 of expectations for the past 2 years, despite a drop, while data useful for operation and maintenance has seen a 10% increase among project managers.

The best software recommended in France

3D modelling software for architects, design offices and construction companies

The software used and most appreciated in France, most of which is recommended by Le Cercle Promodul, offers data encoding in IFC format.

Architects and builders alike use these 3D modelling software packages because they can be used in several phases:

• architectural design and, more broadly, the field of architecture,
• structural design, such as reinforcement management and gravity control,
• MEP, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing.

The possibilities offered by digital mock-up creation in these software packages include

• integrating all the information concerning the model
• benefit from a common database including 3D objects,
• encoding objects according to their physical and functional characteristics,
• exchanging all the data without loss thanks to the IFC format.

Digitisation software for surveyors, design offices and auditors of existing buildings

How do you reconstitute an existing building into a file that can be used for digital mock-ups? Digitisation software acts like a 3D scanner. They scan reality using a point cloud process: the final file faithfully reproduces volumes and space.

Once imported into BIM software such as Revit, for example, the scanned points can be used to understand the real space and measure the dimensions of the construction to create a digital mock-up of the existing structure. This process is extremely useful for renovation and refurbishment projects.

Viewer software for all construction professionals

All professionals can use viewer software: this is a viewer designed to read the information in a digital mock-up, selecting criteria as required. This is made possible by the standardised IFC exchange format, and is very practical when using software other than that originally used to create the file. Another advantage is that it can detect anomalies in the model, such as dangerous interactions or compliance with geometric standards.

CAD software for architects, or even multi-actors

This CAD software integrates perfectly into the BIM process, particularly in the production phase and the management of construction data, which is essential for the design phase.

Benefits of CAD software :

• They promote interoperability with other software,
• they facilitate the exchange of data and information,
• You can create or modify a parametric 3D virtual model,
• models are dynamic to facilitate analyses and simulations.

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6 precautions to take before choosing your software

Precaution no. 1: make sure you can work with others

BIM is a model: everyone involved must be able to communicate and exchange ideas in real time, whatever the size of the project. Collaborative working is the key to success at every stage, from design, through construction, right up to building operation. BIM also means model: everyone needs to be able to work on the same model. Choose software that allows you to update data and keep an up-to-date database.

Precaution no. 2: ensure that data can be exchanged without being altered

Everyone involved must be able to exchange and work on the same data within the digital mock-up: your software must read the IFC format, the standard BIM format to ensure interoperability between different software. Depending on your needs, you should also check which formats you need to use, such as RVT (Revit software), DXF/DWG and 3D DWG, RVT (Revit software), DXF/DWG and 3D DWG or PDF, for example.

Precaution no. 3: examine the software's functionalities from a business point of view

Are you more focused on engineering and MEP manufacturing? You need software capable of managing the entire document base. Architects in the design phase appreciate 3D visualisation and the ability to design models using free forms. In the construction phase, the possibilities in terms of modelling and coordination should not be restricted.

Precaution no. 4: demand a well-stocked library of BIM objects

Ready-to-use 3D objects are the whole point of software: it must be able to connect to catalogues of BIM objects that are compatible with your software. Otherwise, you're going to waste a lot of time creating each object yourself... As a guide, these BIM object libraries cover the RVT format (the Revit software format, which also reads IFCs), the IFC format and the 3DS format.

Precaution no. 5: assess the balance between ergonomics and long-term benefits

It's all in the title! Don't focus on how easy it is to use, but rather on the richness of the software and the competitive advantages it gives you over time: it's better to invest in something solid and durable than in something "disposable": that's also the spirit of BIM.

Precaution no. 6: put the software's reputation to the test

The best publishers regularly make improvements and add features to their software, to better meet the needs of users. These same users talk to each other: a specific feature or a reliable software name often comes up in conversation in positive terms. A good reputation is generally based on the fact that the software has been tried and tested by professionals.