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The 10 most used BIM acronyms

The 10 most used BIM acronyms or acronyms. This post explains one of the topics that most brings people to mind when they start working with BIM, everyone uses acronyms. The problem is that its use is already so widespread that users do not even realize it and do without an explanation. There are many people who, either because they are ashamed to admit that they don't know their meaning, or because of disinterest, end up using acronyms without having a precise idea of ​​what they mean. This can give more than one problem. When I started working with Revit I spent more time consulting Mr.Google what each thing was than working. So that this does not happen to you, here I leave you this list.

Guide to the 10 most used BIM acronyms or acronyms compiled especially for Spanish speakers:

1. BIM: building information modelling. In Spanish it would be "building information through modeling" or something similar, we would all understand each other wonderfully with this definition. BIM is nothing more than an intelligent modeling process that provides the ability to enter information into the model to assist in the planning, design, execution and construction phases and manage the infrastructures of a construction process.
2. BEP or BIM EP: BIM Execution Plan. When I googled it for the first time I found a lot of information, yes, but about the Black Eyed Peas, a well-known music group. In the BIM context, the BEP has nothing to do with music: It is a document that all the agents involved in a BIM project should know and have in the nearest drawer, for a reason it is the second in the list of BIM acronyms or acronyms most used. It is a document shared and supported by all parties to the BIM process that sets out how they will work together during the BIM process to achieve the EIR standards (yes, yet another acronym). The BEP must describe in detail: the agents involved in the process and their role, the deliverables and the delivery time associated with each deliverable, the processes of exchange, authorship,
3. LOD: it is a classification scale of the level of detail that the BIM objects will have according to the moment of development of the project. According to the international standards of the AIA, the LOD levels range from LOD 100 to LOD 500. Let us say that a LOD 100 would correspond to the most initial design moment, a LOD 300 would be a level of graphic detail corresponding to that of an execution project and a LOD 500 would correspond to an «as built», as it is built, which would serve for the management of the building already in use. Be careful, the British have their own standards, which range from LOD 1 to 7 and are called: LOD 1 brief (concise), LOD 2 concept (concept), LOD 3 design development, LOD 4 Production (production), LOD 5 Installation (describes construction), LOD 6 As built and LOD 7 Asset Information Model. To understand each other, an AIA LOD 100 would correspond to the British LOD 2 and the LOD 500 would correspond to the British LOD 6.
4. LOI: Level of Information. It is the amount of non-modeled information that our BIM object has. For example, a family has its types and within these types it can have a huge number of parameters that can be something as simple as height and width to as complex as a mathematical formula that changes the spacing of elements based on the occupancy of the room they are in. The LOI can be tables, specifications and parametric information.
5. MET: model element table, table of modeled elements. It is a table that is normally found in the BEP and that precisely and visually defines the LOD, level of detail, at which the elements for the different modeling categories will be modeled.
6. EIR: Employer's Information Requirements. It should be one of the first documents issued when starting to work on BIM. Defines the client's needs for each stage of the construction process in terms of modeling. According to current English regulations, this document is essential for writing the BEP. If you search for EIR in Google from a search engine in Spanish, the first thing that will appear will be the preparation for nursing courses, so in this case it is essential to know what the acronym BIM means.
7. PIM: project information model. It is what the BIM project is called during the process stage and until the moment before it is delivered to the client, even once delivered to the client and completed, this project is renamed AIM (Asset Information model).
8. IFC: Industry Foundation Classes. It is a standard BIM information file format. It is normally used to exchange information between different BIM programs. A common example is to pass a file from Revit to Cype, export it to ifc and then import it from Cype. You have much more information about the ifc and the standards it follows here : //www.buildingsmart-tech.org/implementation/faq/fag-general-ifc-spec
9. CDE: Common Data Environment. It is a common digital space open to all members of a BIM team. It must be clearly structured and subdivided into different areas by information categories. Design teams will normally work on an area called WIP (work in progress) or work in process.
10. API: Application Program Interface. It is a programming program to make small applications or macros that speed up the work in BIM programs. The Revit API is open sourced and available to users in the “manage” tab, “macro manage”. Thanks to it, tasks that would otherwise be extremely repetitive can be streamlined and scheduled.