9 responses

  1. Paul Wilkinson
    May 12, 2011

    Nice description of the progression from hand-drawn to 2D to 3D and BIM. It is probably worth adding that BIM also adds other dimensions. First, the model can be used to model how the building will be constructed (time, so 4D), and you can also associate cost information, energy use, carbon, etc. As a result, some commentators describe it as nD.

    And it is not just about collaboration during the design and construction. Major clients are also looking at BIM as a way of capturing information from FM, operation and maintenance, so that their future projects are informed by real-life performance data from their existing built assets.

    Reply

    • markstephensarchitect
      May 12, 2011

      Excellent comment, thanks Paul

      Reply

  2. Su Butcher
    May 12, 2011

    Thanks for this post Mark. It is good to see matters that can be complex distilled into more readable English for lay people to understand.
    For your clients I can imagine that the use of appropriate tools can offer good savings in redesign and alteration costs, whether with a small domestic project, or a larger, long term one where whole life costs are a consideration.

    Reply

    • markstephensarchitect
      May 12, 2011

      Many thanks Su

      Reply

  3. Derek Mynott
    May 20, 2011

    Really good post Mark that explains where we have got to with BIM right now. I’ve just been viewing the NBS BIM roundtable discussion that Su Butcher posted the link to on twitter, and it certainly is the future for the industry. I’ve also heard that the other dimension is 5D being the cost aspect too.

    Reply

    • markstephensarchitect
      May 20, 2011

      Thanks for the comment, I think BIM will suit some projects (bigger ones) better than others

      Mark

      Reply

  4. Jan
    June 24, 2011

    May I ask for a little more back story Mark? I’ve most recently used Microstation mostly as a 2D program (with Sketchup as 3D), quite happily, but moving to a Mac, I’m looking at the alternatives available. My understanding from using VW several years ago was that it was really a 2D program with limited 3D capability, and some time in the last few years has developed to something that barely resembles what I used to use.

    Did you ever use VW as a 2D program, or did you jump straight into 3D & BIM? The reason I ask is because I suspect it’s easier to start as you mean to go on – I’d imagine you need to unlearn some bad habits if you’ve used it as a 2D program first.

    The other question is how easy is it to generate clear 2D drawings from the model? I found that in Microstation a lot of work was required to make the sections look ok. Do you need to draw over the generated drawings?

    Great post by the way,

    Jan

    Reply

    • markstephensarchitect
      June 24, 2011

      Hi Jan

      Did you read the potted CAD history at:

      https://markstephensarchitects.com/2011/03/18/a-potted-history-of-my-cad-background/

      In answer to question:

      In the beginning… (sounds biblical), VectorWorks was once called MiniCAD and was predominantly 2D although you could do some great 3D stuff with it. I tended (then) to draw in in 2D and if anything needed to be done in 3D, work that bit up separately.

      Nowadays however the power in the 3D means that (you could) work in 3D all the time and taake the 2D drawings from the 3D model. I tend to do this for the sketch, design and planning application stages. The drawings at this stage are fine, I add a little 2D detail but most of the info comes straight from the 3D model. The detailed design and construction drawings are based on the 3D model but I tend to do a lot of the detailing in 2D using the 3D model drawings as a starting point. This tends to happen as most of the structural engineers I work with are 2D only.

      I’m sure there are others that will be adding every beam, nut and bolt into the 3D model (which you could do) and then take the construction drawings from this; I personally don’t work this way but I’m sure there would be some that do.

      Hope this helps

      Mark

      Reply

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