3D to 6D: BIM Dimensions Explained

In the dynamic world of construction and engineering, you are at the epicenter of groundbreaking change. When we delve into the realm of digital transformation, our focus narrows to one monumental innovation: Building Information Modeling, or BIM.

BIM stands as a beacon of promise within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, bridging the gap between the tangible and virtual realms and revolutionizing the way we conceive, design, construct, and manage building projects.

BIM enjoys unwavering support from professionals worldwide, who sing its praises for accelerating project delivery, enhancing collaboration, reducing costs, minimizing waste, and offering long-term insights.

In a study by McGraw Hill Construction, a staggering 75% of BIM adopters reported a positive return on investment, coupled with shortened project life cycles and substantial savings in paperwork and material expenses.

So, what exactly is BIM?

BIM, an idea with roots dating back to the 1970s, comes alive through the lens of technology. The first software tools for modeling buildings emerged in the late '70s and '80s.

Defined in the BIM Handbook as "a modeling technology and associated process to produce, communicate, and analyze building models," BIM serves as a potent technology that conjures multidimensional models of construction and engineering projects within a virtual simulation.

It revolves around a shared understanding of data content and structure, empowering AEC industry professionals like you to masterfully manage building projects, unleashing heightened productivity and superior outcomes.

BIM's evolution has been nothing short of meteoric, especially in the last decade. According to Statista, the adoption of BIM among construction professionals in the UK skyrocketed from a mere 13% in 2011 to a whopping 69% in 2019.

Let's dive deeper into the innovative world of 5D BIM.

5D BIM, the pièce de résistance when it comes to managing vast and intricate projects, takes you on a transformative journey. Picture this: a classic 3D geometric model infused with rich data, encompassing quantities, furnishings, materials, equipment, and personnel deployment (the 3D model).

Then, it's amplified by the "time factor" (4D) and the "cost factor" (5D). Suddenly, you're equipped with a comprehensive view of what's being built, how, when, by whom, with what, and at what cost, facilitating rapid feedback and informed decision-making.

3D model: A classic 3D geometric model enriched with extra data (quantities, furnishings, materials, devices, personnel deployment).

4D: The time factor. The 4D model integrates work stages and their duration so that a model-based schedule and process plan can be created.

5D: Cost integration. Cost assignment in the 5D model allows integral, model-based cost planning, tendering, and execution.

5D BIM = 3D model + 4D time + 5D cost

How does 5D BIM bolster the project delivery process?

As an essential planning phase, 5D simulation unfolds a lifelike building process before your eyes, engaging all stakeholders from planning to execution to operation. It opens doors to explore myriad alternatives, conduct seamless comparisons, test intricate scenarios, and foresee the ramifications on cost and schedules.

This heightened visibility empowers you, the builder, to make astute choices. Before the actual construction commences, the sequence of construction activities dances before you in a simulated choreography, optimizing resource allocation and eliminating time and space conflicts.

You're invited to traverse multiple model-based cost scenarios, ensuring that the envisioned design aligns with budget constraints. With this holistic perspective, project design optimization becomes second nature.

5D BIM unlocks the true potential of your data, making it a logical choice for your next project delivery endeavor.

Let's cast our gaze forward to the intriguing concept of 6D BIM.

In 2019, the building and construction industry's CO2 emissions reached record highs, contributing to 38% of global energy-related emissions. You, as part of an industry that employs 7% of the world's working-age population, understand the gravity of the situation.

With 68% of the world's population slated to reside in urban areas by 2050, it's incumbent upon stakeholders like you to take charge, reduce emissions, and forge a sustainable, net-zero future.

Amidst this urgent call to action, BIM assumes a pivotal role in fostering data-driven decisions and transparency throughout the project lifecycle. Enter 6D BIM, an ingenious addition. While some envision even more dimensions in the BIM universe, RIB Software has anchored the "6th dimension" to sustainability.

Imagine the power of 6D simulations: the 3D design model converges with the schedule (4D), cost (5D), and the carbon factor (6D). Suddenly, you have the tools to compare diverse design options, optimizing your project from every conceivable angle—balancing cost, schedule, and now, the impact of embodied carbon.

6D BIM = 3D model + 4D time + 5D cost +6D carbon factor

For instance, the ability to quantify embodied carbon within building materials empowers construction teams, like yours, to assess a project's overall carbon footprint and make informed decisions. Regulators, too, can establish embodied carbon limits with precision.

So, why should you embrace 6D BIM?

Efficiency: You'll operate in a model-centric way, forging connections with your teams and partners, creating value in compliance with costs and quality, optimizing traditional planning for seamless execution, and integrating diverse data sources.

Sustainability: 6D BIM beckons as your ally in reducing waste and resource consumption through optimized planning. It facilitates the selection of eco-friendly materials, harnesses intelligent Business Partner Management for procurement, streamlines your supply chain to cut carbon emissions from material transport, and equips you with end-to-end product environmental footprint calculations and qualifications.

Open the door to a brighter, more sustainable future for construction with 6D BIM

Here at RIB Software, we're driven by the relentless pursuit of disruptive digital technologies, industry best practices, and emerging trends. Our mission is to propel the construction and engineering industry forward, fostering efficiency and sustainability.

We're committed to supporting the development and accessibility of world-leading solutions that empower professionals like you to quantify, measure, report, and compare embodied carbon across the project lifecycle.

And we're not stopping there; our ongoing development endeavors will ultimately enable better design and procurement decisions, factoring in cost, time, and carbon, to mitigate and eliminate embodied carbon throughout a building's life.

This is our promise to you and the future of construction.