BIM - Makes headlines in the Economist

For all those interested, The Economist magazine has done an article on how Building Information Modelling is changing the Built Environment Profession.


Extract: The model also includes information about the relationships between these objects, so that when one object is changed (a window is made bigger, say) any related objects are automatically updated (the wall surrounding it gets thicker). Both 3-D views and traditional 2-D drawings can then be generated from the model.
...
As well as spotting such “spatial conflicts” and saving money, BIM can also dramatically improve the communication and co-ordination between architects and engineers. Drawings have been the main documents of a construction project, says Dr Mitchell. With BIM, the 3-D model becomes the main reference, and any 2-D drawings produced from it merely perform a minor role. The model also makes it possible to calculate the quantities of materials needed, and hence construction cost.

Once a computer model of a building has been
created, it is possible to extract detailed plans of
particular subsystems, such as cooling, water
and electrical wiring

For Full Story see: http://www.economist.com/printedition/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11482536
(Accessed 10th June 2008)