What are you going to learn in this UNIT?
- Recognise the different collaboration tools available to support
BIM.
- Recognise how BIM tools can help to improve the coordination in
the construction project and the exchange of information
between multiple stakeholders.
- Understand the different collaboration tools available to support
BIM processes.
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Common Data Environment
Choosing CDE
Commonly used tools
Communication between
team members
Commonly used tools
BIM Viewers
Commonly used viewers
Information repository
Communication and visualisation
Project Documents
Commonly used tools for
project documents creation
Information Database
Commonly used tools for
information database
BIM Collaboration tools
References
Document creation
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Common Data Environment (CDE)
See Unit 1C for more information on CDE
The Common Data Environment (CDE) is 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 (i.e. all project
information whether created in a BIM environment or in a
conventional data format). Creating this single source of
information facilitates collaboration between project team
members and helps avoid duplication and mistakes –The
Designing Buildings Wiki
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CDE functions
• Protect ownership and authorship of models and shared
information.
• Define the roles of the participants to establish permissions,
responsibilities, obligations and rights for each team member.
• Guarantee the security and consistency of the data to ensure
its traceability throughout the life of the construction.
• Enable visualisation and control of the federated model in
standard formats.
• Serve to justify the delivery, validate and give conformity to
the documentation delivered and previously required.
• Enable the distribution and coordination of project
information.
• Favour better control over the versions, revisions and
modifications made in the project.
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Choosing CDE
.
The success of BIM implementation on the Project is directly corelated with the choice of an appropriate and the most
suitable CDE for the particular Project. CDE is the key factor for successful Project management.
In the initial phase of the Project , the choice of CDE is influenced by the ordering party’s requirements regarding Project
BIM implementation level (more information on BIM implementation level can be found in Unit 1B).. The Employer’s
Information requirement (EIR) outlines the choice of CDE (More information on the EIR can be found in unit 3B).
If the requirements are not high, then our CDE may include a local disk on a computer connected to the network, where
the project data will be stored, i.e.: documents, plans, models, calculations, contracts, standards, etc
In this case, each project participant needs to have access to the project drive to have the current version of each file. There
is an increasing tendency to move away from creating CDE on local drives and choosing cloud solutions. Such solutions are
safer, give more freedom and offer possibilities that local drives do not have (e.g.: opening 3D models in a browser without
using any special software)
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Choosing CDE: The functionalities
The functionalities will be the most important consideration when choosing CDE for the project. The technical
specifications constitute the core of a project, so it is essential to identify CDE that is a perfect fit. Most of the
CDEs have common basic functionalities and provide a similar offer, however, some of them can offer the extra
feature that will be very essential for your project . Some of the considerations:
• Cloud Access (with/without internet)
• Efficient and varied search tools
• Document versions and revision management
• User access permissions and privileges management
• Viewers for common files used
• Collaboration among team members
• Management and tracking of requests for changes/issues in documents
• Cloud and data security and protection
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Choosing CDE: The ease of use
Ease of use can be very subjective and depends on the participants
previous experience and IT capabilities
Some considerations:
• Online accessibility – via browser without installing third-party
software.
• Flexibility/compatibility- ease of use for all stakeholder without
significant intervention.
• Trial period offered - try before you buy
• Minimal training required to use it
• Smooth user experience
• Seller’s support -video tutorials, user manuals, FAQs
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Choosing CDE: The pricing
The pricing is obviously very influential factor when
choosing the right common data environment for a
project. Depending on the features you need and the
number of stakeholders involved in the project, the price
may vary a lot.
Some considerations:
• Cost v the project value and the payment schedule-
monthly/annually
• Number of people using the CDE
• Pricing model- pay per user, pay per project, pay per
size of the project, etc
• Seller’s support included
• Training course – included or payable extra
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Choosing CDE: The service
The additional services offered will not be necessarily be
first consideration but will impact decision on the choice of
the right CDE.
Considerations:
• Data storage – capacity/security
• SLA (Service-level agreement) provided by the CDE
• Support provided by CDE -ticketing system, email,
hotline, dedicated account manager
• Availability of support 24/7
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CDE platforms
• Open BIM platform of the Nemetschek Group to
facilitate the efficient collaboration of all disciplines in
building projects.
• Centralised management of data, information,
documents and tasks of the BIM model during the entire
building life cycle.
https://www.allplan.com/uk_en/products/allplan-bimplus/
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Project documents – commonly used software
• Office 365 is a cloud-based subscription service by Microsoft
• Combination of apps like Excel and Outlook with cloud
services like OneDrive and Microsoft Teams, allows anyone to
create and share anywhere on any device
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/explore-
microsoft-365-for-home
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Model Driven Design
Model Driven Design – design method where the central place of project information is the model(s) and CDE, where
the documents are located
Currently the BIM design process begins with close cooperation of the employer and the design team. They work
together to obtain and collect information as well as requirements regarding the project, which is stored in the
Common Data Environment Such data is normally available in many different forms:
• Model sketches
• Excel with a list of rooms and areas
• PDFs with requirements and technical descriptions for each industry
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Model Driven Design
In the next phase a 3D model (often several 3D models) is designed according to the requirements specified,
using BIM tools (Revit, Archicad, Tekla, etc.) It starts with entering basic and generic information on the elements.
As the project progresses, and depending on the level of the requirement designers further enhance the models.
This is followed by validation of everything that has been designed concerning legal requirements, investor
requirements
other industries.
In this phase the uncertainty of the correct information source is tested . Is it the one in the model or is it in the
documents on the CDE? This is the quality control stage.
In case of discrepancies between the requirements and the design, it is necessary to redesign the individual
elements and their attributes.
Model Driven Design process -source BIM corner
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Data Driven Design
The data-driven design process is a central database, which gathers as many requirements and data as
possible and then synchronise and map the pieces of information with the model.
In the early design phase, employer and designer cooperate by using a common database. Pieces of information and
requirements are written into the database instead of documents and Excel, dividing boards into planned functions,
departments and rooms.
In the following phase the project with specific data, according to the employer’s requirements. These may be, for example,
significant objects (hospital equipment), expensive building elements or installations in the building. The introduction of
such information enables a simple and quick estimation of the total budget and the total planned area divided into
sections.
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Data Driven Design
Such information then serves as a basis for validation. Since the
structure of the database reflects the structure of the construction
project it is possible to coordinate the project already in the initial
phase. Designers can introduce modifications and adjust the project
without the need for graphical redesign.
After validation and adjustments, designing objects starts.
Designers can determine appropriate data mappings as well as the
way of synchronization between the external database and the
model. It enables more efficient modelling using information placed
in tables - they are filled with information from the database
How does all that help? There is no need to enter all attributes manually
into the model, thus speeding up modeling, but also ensuring the
correctness of project data –they reflect what was agreed with the
investor.
Data mapping-source BIM corner
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Information database creating tools
• dRofus is a planning, data management and BIM
collaboration tool by Nemetschek
• dRofus was developed directly on behalf of public building
owners. Capturing client requirements (EIR), validating
design solutions (BIM) against client requirements,
management of public standards and equipment planning
are core features in the software
• https://www.drofus.com/en/
Click here to watch video
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Information database creating tools
• CodeBook provides a narrative of the
project life cycle, from inception
through design, tender and
construction to occupation by the
facility users
• http://codebookinternational.org.uk
Click here to watch video
Codebook BIM Data Workflow- Source CodeBook
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Communication between team members
The communication tools between the participants of the project are another group of daily use software. Without them,
the workflow of the BIM Coordinator would not even be possible. Although they are not strictly design tools, they are a
crucial element of design workflow. The choice of communication software is usually a case of using the software provided
by the stakeholder’s company.
Source: TechSoup
Source: Email overload solutions
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Commonly used tools
Outlook is used mainly
to send and receive
emails. It can also be
used to manage
various types of
personal data including
calendar appointments
and similar entries,
tasks, contacts, and
notes
Micrososft Teams is
a chat-based
workspace with
funcionality of
instant messaging,
video conferencing,
calling, and
document
collaboration
Slack is a chat room for whole
company, designed to replace email as
primary method of communication and
sharing. Its workspaces allow
communications organised by channels
for group discussions and allows for
private messages to share information,
files, and more all in one place
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BIM viewers
BIM viewers, more widely knowns as IFC viewers, allow you to access information from the BIM model also known as IFC
model . Some of them let you only navigate the IFC model, whereas some others allow you to edit it, convert it to other
formats, add properties or view more files at the same time.
Click here for video
Source :NBS National BIM Library
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Commonly used BIM viewers
• Free browser BIM software for viewing
3D models.
• Allows viewing of a model content (model
browser) and properties assigned to
individual objects. Properties are
presented tabularly in a dialog box.
• Several tools supporting the model view
(Orbit, Pan, Zoom, Section, Explode)
https://www.autodesk.co.uk/viewers/all-viewers
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Commonly used viewers
• Free BIM software for individuals (paid version for
companies).
• Allows viewing the 3D model from different
perspectives.
• Offers the possibility to adjust the camera (Rotate, Pan,
Look around).
• Possible to view non-geometric properties assigned to
the object.
• possibility of analysing all data simultaneously (Data
Table), grouping them and exporting to CSV files.
• The paid version allows you to add information to an
objects
https://www.tekla.com/uk/products/trimble-connect
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Commonly used viewers
• Free software from KUBUS company
• Each property has its tab. The application
provides a division structure of the IFC file.
• Allows for different camera settings (Orbit
mode, Fly mode), the possibility of isolating
objects, changing object colour and setting
the transparency of objects
UK: https://www.bimcollab.com/en/products/bimcollab-zoom?gclid=CjwKCAjwnPOEBhA0Ei
BIMCollab ZOOM
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References
How to choose your CDE, Catenda, June 2020: https://catenda.com/blog/how-to-choose-your-common-data-environment/
The top 5 CDE for BIM, Viraj Voditel, April 2020 :https://www.planbim.io/blog/2020/04/07/the-top-5-common-data-
environments-cde-for-bim/
Implementation of CDE: The Benefits, Challenges and Considerations, August 2018, The BIM Delivery Group for Scotland:
https://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/storage/uploads/cdeimplementaionresearchaug18.pdf
UltÃmate BIM software list for BIM coordinator, Ignacy Lozincki, January 2020: https://bimcorner.com/ultimate-bim-
software-list-for-bim-coordinators/
Which BIM software to use? Marcin Pszczolka,March 2020: https://bimcorner.com/which-bim-software-to-use/
Data Driven Design Explained In One Guide, Konrad Fugas, January 2020 :https://bimcorner.com/data-driven-design-
explained-in-one-guide/
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