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2 years ago

What is OpenBIM and why do you need it?

When there is an AEC project, collaboration ranks among the top challenges that each member of the project faces. The problem is further magnified in larger projects that involve more members and more organisations that need to work together, as each participant has its own working style, set of priorities, and choice of tools.

This is where OpenBIM comes in. It is an initiative by GRAPHISOFT, Tekla, and other leading software vendors that helps solve the problem of collaborating in the design, realisation, and operation of buildings. This is achieved through the use of open standards and workflows.

Why You Need OpenBIM

The primary benefit of OpenBIM is in its ability to improve a project’s workflow. It can be a nightmare when different members of a project use different software tools to perform their work. This slows down the entire process considerably, and leads to loss of information that can lead to misunderstandings and costly errors.

But the reality is that different members often use different tools either because it is the best one available to them at the moment (e.g. using an older version of a software), or the tool is specifically designed for their needs (e.g. architects and structural engineers use different tools to do their work).

With OpenBIM, everyone in the project can access the same data regardless of the tool that each member uses. This will improve the flow of the project by leaps and bounds, because everyone can collaborate far smoother than ever before.

Importing and exporting of data is also made simpler by OpenBIM. The data can be filtered, so that you can choose exactly what data you will share with other teams. This is the same when importing data. If you receive a large database from another team, you can filter it to display only the data that is actually relevant to you.

An example of data filtering can be done if you are an architectural firm sending your design to a structural engineer. You can provide them only with the data they’ll need and filter out those that aren’t, such as windows, doors, and pieces of furniture.

Overall, OpenBIM revolutionises the way teams and organisations collaborate on projects, making the process faster, less prone to errors, more organised, and more streamlined. To find out more about OpenBIM, and its use in ArchiCAD18, please send us an enquiry today.