BIM and Parametric

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Permalink Reply by peter fotiadis on May 13, 2016 at 4:45am

BIM (Building Information Modelling) is an umbrella that hosts the sum of 3d models (and related meta data) with regard the sum of vertical disciplines involved (for AEC say: Architectural, Structural, HVAC, blah blah).

BIM is NOT a parametric process at least having in mind graphical editors the likes of GH (or stuff the likes of Generative Components): it's a holistic data management approach. Some concepts used in BIM apps (for instance in AECOSim etc) the likes of "walls"/"openings" etc are "parametric" in the sense that allow auto perforation of this with that. On the other hand AECOSim is feature driven (since Microstation works in that "mode" as well) ... a thing that complex things even more with regard what is actually "parametric" and what not. 

BIM is as good as the meta data structure is (especially the spec related aspect - Goggle MasterFormat and the likes). BIM AEC apps are notoriously incapable to work (without a lot of lines of code) with proper RDBMS. On the other hand Bentley Systems ProjectWise ... well ... but that's another animal (by no means a topic for the inexperienced).

In descending order or importance a contemporary AEC practice should use:

1. A general information "controller" like ProjectWise (who said/did what/when/why).

2. A Specs (say CSI - not the TV soap opera) management app.

3. Several Meta data RDBMS.

4. A BIM suite of apps.

5. Optionally some parametric thingy. 

PS: For AEC ... when inviting the parametric thingy to the party you have only 2 options:

ProjectWise + AECOSim + Generative Ciomponents (my choice).

?? + Revit + Dynamo.

Permalink Reply by mhana on May 13, 2016 at 5:04am

Thank you peter.

Interesting

Permalink Reply by dominic on May 14, 2016 at 1:56am

I would look at Catia and its 3dExperience... if you can afford it :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPM3dzNQzow

Catia and its Knowledgeware tools has been doing a lot of what GC, GH, Dynamo, Marionette for years.. but without the nice GUI. It also allows combining constraints solving to be part of the DAG.

What is parameterics? Or parametric associative as GC has been described. Can't remember. History or procedural modeling? Even constraints solving or rules based solving all use parameters. Is it generative or merely parametric? I guess the difference is a parametric door doe not generate other parameteric doors?

BIM has opened the door to a more data centric view and manipulation of the design model. To old skoolers a wall is a linear construct that can be abstracted into parameters... beginning and end points of wall in plan + height and thickness. But start adding other stuff and need to ineteroperate with others and things get problematic.

Pretty soon, all those abstractions (parametric or otherwise) need to be structured and you end up talking about schemas etc to control the format of the parameters using rules as checks or constraints..so that your parameters can interface with parameters from others without causing data quality issues. It all gets very database thinking like.

So, I would say parametrics as GH does it is more free form and ad hoc and at some point if it goes BIM, the parametrics will be need to be (re)structured..

BIM is dependent on IFC development which is not very fast.  IFC4 is only beginning to think about parametrics and 'Design Transfer'.

Permalink Reply by peter fotiadis on May 14, 2016 at 4:08am

That name ... reminds me something I confess > wait a minute: are you the very same Dominic from the Bentley Forums?