How BIM, digital mockup and software are transforming the building industry

The added value of BIM for the building industry translates into numerous advantages at every stage of the project lifecycle: design phase, site phase, operation phase and management phase. Correct use of Building Information Modeling helps to reduce costs, improve work quality by promoting collaborative working between building contractors and other trades involved in construction, and minimize 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 modeling within the digital mock-up, using recommended software? Let's build your ascent on solid information and foundations.

See all software Architecture

Contents of our guide to BIM for the building industry :

What is BIM for the building industry?

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

Digital mock-up as seen by construction industry players :

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

The best software recommended in France:

• 3D modeling software for architects, design offices and construction companies - [Comparative table]
• Digitizing software for surveyors, design offices and auditors of existing buildings - [Comparative table]
• Visualization 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 n°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 work process to manage the life of a building

Building Information Modeling (BIM ) translates into French the desire to design, build and manage a construction, thanks to information modeling:

• actors rely on a common BIM model to work together,
• The collaborative work process offers multiple advantages,
• the common digital model brings together all construction information,
• the common computer file enables data to be updated in real time,
• the aim is to optimize the management of all phases in the life of a construction project,
• the model enables a BIM manager to manage the project.

The digital model and its wealth of information

The digital mock-up contains everything professionals need:

• an identical representation of the construction and all its constituent parts,
• a list of stages, including all technical data and constraints,
• the professionals involved in the project, and the scope of their intervention,
• 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 centralizes all information, and updates it in real time, from the design stage, through all phases of construction, right up to the management of the building during its use or operation phase.

Data modeling integrated into 3D objects

3D modeling is an interactive working tool that brings out the full intelligence of the building industry through the visual representation of objects:

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

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

The recommended file format for digital mock-ups is IFC, for several reasons:

• it is standardized so that it can be read and modified by any BIM software, thus ensuring 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 costs, and improves communication between participants,
• it avoids numerous structural and functional problems by providing enriched documentation.

Digital mockup as seen by construction players

The survey of the Plan de Transition Numérique dans le Bâtiment (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 best practices to boost activity in the construction sector as a whole. Presented in 2014 by the Minister of Housing, Territorial Equality and Rurality, Madame Sylvia Pinel, the PTNB was officially created on January 20, 2015.

To obtain meaningful results on the benefits of BIM and digital mock-up, 385,067 qualified building and civil engineering professionals 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 construction and public works companies,
• 61,601 project managers,
• 78,013 project managers,
• 37,748 professionals working for manufacturers,
• 4,595 from asset management activities.

Perceived benefits for the building and civil engineering trades

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

The two major strengths of BIM are obvious:

• collaborative work between the various players,
• design errors in free fall.

The logical consequence is improved quality. The other benefits are emerging more slowly in the industry: proof that there's still a long way to go to improve understanding of BIM and its use.

You can see in the images below :

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

Legend :

• in dark blue: latest figures,
• in light blue: previous year's figures.

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, perceived as valuable and expected information,
• 3D modeling of products (3D objects), which is recognized as essential.

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

The best recommended software in France

3D modeling 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 modeling programs, as they enable them to work 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 :

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

Digitizing 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? Digitizing 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 enable the real space to be apprehended and the dimensions of the construction to be measured in order to create a digital mock-up of the existing structure. This process is extremely useful in a renovation or rehabilitation approach.

Viewer software for all construction professionals

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

CAD software for architects, or even multi-actors

These CAD programs integrate perfectly into the BIM process, particularly in the production phase and the management of construction data essential to the design phase.

Benefits of CAD software :

• They promote interoperability with other software,
• they facilitate data and information exchanges,
• you can create or modify a parametric 3D virtual model,
• models are dynamic, facilitating analysis and simulation.

See all software Architecture

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 information in real time, whatever the size of the project. Collaborative work is essential to the success of every stage, from design and construction 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 your database up to date.

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

All participants 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, it's also advisable to 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 visualization and free-form model design. In the construction phase, modeling and coordination options need 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 BIM object catalogs compatible with your software. Otherwise, you'll be wasting a lot of time creating each object yourself... As an indication, these BIM object libraries globally support the RVT format (Revit software format which also reads IFC), 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 ease of use, but rather on the richness of the software and the competitive advantages it gives you over time: it's better to invest in the solid and durable than in the "disposable": that's also the spirit of BIM.

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

The best software publishers regularly improve their software to better meet users' needs. 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.