#34 - Glossary of BIM terms

YASH PATEL
May 3, 2021
7 min read

Updated: Jul 23, 2023

3D: Three-dimensional geometry
4D: Construction sequencing information
5D: Cost information
6D: Project lifecycle information (O&M information)
7D: Information from sensors and building analytics
Actual Digital Questions (ADQ): These breakdown Plain Language Questions (PLQ) in a way that means they can be answered with a digital answer
Assembly: A physical aggregation of components
Asset Information Model (AIM): A model that compiles the data and information necessary to support asset management
Asset Information Requirements (AIR): Define the information required for Asset Information Model
Attribute: A piece of data that describes a characteristic of an object or entity
BIM Collaboration Format (BCF): An open file format based on XML that allows the addition of comments to an Industry Foundation Classes BIM Model
BIM Execution Plan (BEP): A developing strategy prepared by suppliers that comprise pre-contract BIM execution and then a post-contract BIM execution plan
BIM maturity levels: The levels of complexity and collaboration that building information modeling can take
BIM Protocol: A supplementary legal agreement that can be incorporated into professional services appointments, construction contracts, subcontracts
BIM Task Group: Bringing together expertise to strengthen the public sector's BIM capability and provide the information the industry needs to meet the government's BIM requirement
BS 1192: Collaborative production of architectural, engineering, and construction information. Code of practice.
BS 1192-4: Collaborative production of information Part-4: Fulfilling employer's information exchange requirements using COBie - code of practice
BS 7000-4: Design management systems. Guide to managing design in construction
BS 8536-1: Briefing for design and construction - Part -1: Code of practice for facilities management (Buildings infrastructure)
BS 8541: Library objects for architecture, engineering, and construction
BS ISO 16739: Industry foundation classes (IFC) for data sharing in the construction and facility management industries
BS ISO 55000: Asset management - Overview, principles, and terminology
Building Information Modeling (BIM): A very broad term that describes the process of creating a digital model of a building or other asset (such as a bridge, highway, tunnel, and so on) using object-oriented information
BuildingSMART Data Dictionary: A catalog of what objects are called (the vocabulary)
CAD: Computer-Aided Design
CAFM: Computer-Aided Facility Management
CAPEX: Capital Expenditure
CIC BIM Protocol: The construction industry Council Building Information Modeling protocol: Standard protocol for use in projects using Building Information Models
Clash Rendition (CR): A rendition of a building information model specifically to avoid clashes in spatial coordination
CMMS: Computerside Maintenance Management System
Common Data Environment (CDE): The single source of information for the project, used to collect, manage and disseminate documentation, the graphical model, and non-graphical data for the whole project team
Component: A physical item or feature
Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie): A non-proprietary multi-page, a spreadsheet data format for the publication of a subset of building information models focused on delivering asset data rather than geometric information
Contractor's proposals: Set out contractor's proposals for designing and constructing a built asset, along with their price
CPI: Construction Project Information
CPIc: Construction project information committee
CPIx: Construction project information Xchange
CSG: Construction solid geometry
Data: Information that has not been interpreted
Data drops: Information of a particular format and level of detail issued to the client at pre-defined stages of a project. Also known as information exchange
Data manager: A procedural gate-keeper who sets up and manages an asset information model
Design intent model: The initial version of the project information model (PIM)
DGN: MicroStation and Intergraph file format
Dimensions: types of building information that might be required in a model can be described as ‘dimensions
DWF: AutoCAD Design Web Format
DWG: AutoCAD file format
DXF: Interchange file format
Employer's Information Requirement (EIR): Set out the information required by the employer aligned to key decision points or project stages, enabling suppliers to produce an initial BIM execution plan from which their proposed approach, capability, and capacity can be evaluated
Employer's requirements: Provide a description of all the client's requirements for a built asset, in response to which contractors prepare the contactor's proposal
Employer's Decision point: Project gateway aligned to key stages at which information is provided to answer the employer's plain language questions and a decision is taken about whether to proceed
Federated Building Information Model: An assembly of distinct models to create a single, complete building information model of an asset
Government Soft Landings (GSL): The process of aligning the interests of those who design and construct an asset with the interests of those who use and manage it. GSL sits alongside BIM, as BIM feeds into CAFM systems, and heps enable future alterations to completed buildings
iBIM: Integrated Building Information Model or Level 3 BIM
ICT: Information and communications technology
IFC2x: Industry Foundation Classes version 2x
Industry Foundation Classes (IFC): A neutral, non-proprietary data format used to describe, exchange, and share information
Information Delivery Manual (IDM): Specifies when certain types of information are required during the construction of a project or the operation of a built asset. Now known as the BuildingSMART standard for processes
Information Exchange: Information of a particular format and level of detail issued to the client at pre-defined stages of a project. Also known as Data drop
Information Management Process (IMP): Procedures implemented to manage the asset information model
Information Manager: A procedural gate-keeper who sets up and manages the common data environment
International Framework for Dictionaries (IFD): A standard of terminology libraries
Layer: Attribute that allows control over the visibility of entities within CAD files
Level 0 BIM: Unmanaged computer-aided design including 2D drawings, ad text with paper-based or electronic exchange of information but without common standards and processes
Level 1 BIM: Managed CAD, with the increasing introduction of spatial coordination, standardized structures, and formats as it moves towards Level 2 BIM
Level 2 BIM: Managed 3D environment with data attached, but created in separate discipline-based models
Level 3 BIM: A single collaborative, online, project model with construction sequencing (4D), cost (5D), and project lifecycle information (6D). This is sometimes referred to as iBIM (integrated BIM)
Level of Definition: Overall term describing the level of model detail and level of information detail
Level of model detail (LOD): The level of detail of graphical content in building information model
Level of model information (LOI): The level of detail of non-graphical content in building information model
Master Information Delivery Plan (MIDP): The primary plan for the preparation of the project information required by the project information required by the Employers Information Requirements, setting out program, responsibility, protocols, and procedures
Master Information document Index (MIDI): A detailed list of information deliverables for a project identifying responsibility for delivery and programme
Model production and Delivery Table: Referred to in CIC BIM protocol, summarising originators of and level of detail for the project information model at different stages of the project
NBS BIM Object standard: Defines what constitutes a high-quality BIM object for use with Level 2 BIM, with the right levels of information, appropriate geometry, and a consistent, structured, easy to use format
OPEX: Operating Expenditure
Organizational Information Requirements (OIR): The information required at an organizational level (rather than asset-level) to achieve the business objectives of the organization
Origin: The setting out point for a project
Parametric Modeling: The generation of a model based on a series of pre-programmed rules or algorithms
PAS 1192-2: Specification for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building information modeling
PAS 1192-3: Specification for information management for the operational phase of construction projects using building information modeling
PAS 1192-5: Specification for security-minded building information modeling, digital built environments, and smart asset management
Plain Language Questions (PLQ): Questions that the client will want to ask at key stages of the project to decide whether the project has developed satisfactory and whether it should proceed
Post Contract BIM Execution Plan: Confirm's the supply chain's capability, capacity, and competence to meet the employer's information requirements and providing Master Information Delivery Plan
Pre Contract BIM Execution Plan: Prepared by prospective suppliers, setting out their proposed approach, capability, capacity, and competence to meet Employer's Information Requirements
Process Map: Identifies the key decisions that will need to be made during the project to ensure that the solution developed satisfies the business need that has been identified
Project Execution Plan (PEP): Sets out the overall strategy for managing a project, describing the policies, procedures, and priorities that will be adopted
Project Implementation Plan (PIP): A statement relating to the supplier's IT and human resources capability to deliver the Employer's Information Requirements submitted as part of the pre-contract BIM Execution Plan by each organization bidding for a project
Project Information Model (PIM): The building information model developed during the design and construction phase of a project
RACI Indicator: Identifies authorities of participants in relation to specific project activities. Responsible, Autoriise, Contribute, Informed
RAG Report: Report giving status assessments in terms of Red, Amber, or Green
Standard Method and procedures (SMP): Defined how information is named, expressed, and referenced
Supplier Information Modelling Assessment Form: Sets out the capability and competence of a supplier to use BIM in a collaborative environment
Supplier Information Technology Assessment Form: Sets out the capability and IT resources of a supplier for exchanging information in a collaborative enviornment
Supplier resource assessment form: Used to assess a supplier's resource capability and capacity, based on the supplier information technology assessment form and supplier information modeling assessment form
Supply Chain Capability Summary (SCCS): Prepared by the principal supplier to verify that there is suitable human resource and IT capability in the various organizations that make up the supply chain
System: Set of components with a common function
Task Information Delivery Plan (TIDP): Prepared by individual task team, setting out the responsibilities for each individual information deliverable
Third-party capability assessment form: Sets out the information management and IT capability of non-design, non-construction suppliers. This is made up of individual Task Information Delivery Plans
Virtual Construction Model: Development of the design intent project information model
Volume: A manageable spatial subdivision of a project that allows more than one person to work on the project models simultaneously
xBIM (Extensive Building Information Model): An open-source software development tool that allows developers to read, create and view BM in the IFC format
XML: Extensible Mark-up Language, for encoding data in a format that is human-readable and machine-readable
Zone: A set of locations with a shared attribute

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#34 - Glossary of BIM terms

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