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MOVING TOWARDS “BIM”
BIM ? partitioning of the general-purpose areas was done mainly with
a 2D plan in accordance with the program’s surface and flow
“Building Information Modelling”, or “BIM” for short, is a major requirements. The 3rd dimension was used only to show the
new trend in the construction world. It is an open method height of the ceiling on the plan. The pipes/ducts and technical
for creating and managing a project and involves putting all equipment in the suspended ceilings and raised floors were
information about a building into a detailed three-dimensional studied separately, and sometimes led to retroactive changes
computer model shared by everybody working on the project. to the design. A 3D model would obviously have improved this
All sorts of useful data (figures, texts, links, drawings, photos, optimisation process through more effectively detecting any
etc.) are then linked to the various construction elements. The geometric conflicts, though at the price of initially investing
model thus becomes a comprehensive representation of the greater efforts.
building, from its initial draft to its final occupation and use, via
its construction. For certain subjects, the 3rd dimension plays such a
determining role in establishing the shape of something that
During the design phase, coordination of the various studies one just cannot postpone studying it in detail. In such cases, it is
(architecture, structure, technical facilities) is improved by impossible to make do with measures that are simple to apply,
the automatic detection of geometric conflicts, the speed at such as, for example, fixing the height of a suspended ceiling.
which any changes can be made, the automatic production of
specifications and measurements, the links to the calculation The lantern was a good example of such a subject.
software for structural stability, building physics, etc. Contrary to what might be thought, the lantern is not a
“blob” whose shape is determined in the same way a sculpture
During construction, execution is better coordinated is modelled. Instead it is the result of a consistent analytic and
through adapting the components of the model to the real-life deductive process of superimposing layer after layer of elliptical
execution dimensions. Site management also benefits from the planes, the dimensions of which vary from floor to floor.
model thanks to its help in the phasing of work, the allocation of However, even this process did not provide a complete picture
work to subcontractors, cost price management, etc. of the envelope’s exact geometry. When the moment came to
define the form of the curved columns needed for the lantern’s
Once the building is operational, the model can be used, for surface, a 3D model became indispensable. These columns had
instance, to manage inventories of furniture and supplies, to to be drawn in three dimensions to allow their calculation (see
plan maintenance schedules, to fine-tune heating/cooling or Chapter 4 of Volume 1: Europa, Jean Attali - Philippe Samyn).
energy consumption parameters, etc. Working in cooperation with the company responsible for
constructing the glass facade, the model was, for instance,
Already well-established in other countries, the “BIM” used to determine the facade’s total thickness. The model was
revolution is now taking hold in Belgium. With the construction expanded to generate a 3D model of the facade’s external
of the Europa building taking place during the changeover surface and determine its arched faces. The company then used
from the old to the new regime, it is interesting to see how the model’s dimensions to manufacture the facade’s glazed
ongoing studies and construction work are already, sometimes elements.
unknowingly, becoming affected by BIM. This collaborative approach based on compatible 3D models
corresponds to the BIM approach, even though the software
2D PLANS OR 3D MODELS component was not fully integrated.
While not the sole purpose of BIM, the ability to develop
three-dimensional (3D) models plays a crucial role.
The Europa project started before BIM tools were available,
meaning that the 3D approach was only used partially.
Moreover, many issues arising in the project were solved
very efficiently in two dimensions (2D). For example, the
