#9 - Paramatric Objects

The concept of Parametric Objects is very essential to understand BIM. And it is also important to understand its differentiation from traditional 3D objects. Parametric BIM objects are defined as follows:

• Consist of geometric definitions and associated data and rules.

• Geometry is integrated nonredundantly, and allows for no inconsistencies. When an object is shown in 3D, the shape cannot be represented internally redundantly, for example, as multiple 2D views. A plan and elevation of a given object must always be consistent. Dimensions cannot be "fudged".

• Parametric rules for objects automatically modify associated geometries when inserted into a building model or when changes are made to associated objects. For example, a door will fit automatically into a wall, a light switch will automatically locate next to the proper side of the door, a wall will automatically resize itself to attach to a ceiling or roof, and so forth.

• Objects can be defined at different levels of aggregation, so we can define a wall as well as its related components. Objects can be defined and managed at any number of hierarchy levels. For example, if the weight of a wall subcomponent changes, the weight of the wall should also change.

• Objects' rules can identify when a particular change violates object feasibility regarding size, manufacturing, and so forth.

• Objects have the ability to link to or receive, broadcast, or export sets of attributes, for example, structural materials, acoustic data, energy data, and the like, to other applications and models.

Technologies that allow users to produce building models that consist of parametric objects are considered BIM authoring tools. We will discuss more BIM authoring tools in the coming articles.

Next article, Origins of BIM.

For more information, subscribe and follow this blog. If you have any queries, post them in the comment section below, I will get back to you as soon as possible