Model coordination in the context of BIM (Building Information Modelling) involves the process of integrating and aligning various models created by different stakeholders involved in a construction project. This coordination helps to identify and resolve clashes or conflicts between different building systems early on, streamlining the construction process and minimising costly rework. Model coordination ensures that all stakeholders work seamlessly together and that the process runs more efficiently.
So, what is model coordination, and how can it benefit your construction project process? Continue reading to learn more about that.
BIM 360 is an Autodesk platform for cloud-based construction project management, and it includes various modules and features to support Building Information Modelling (BIM) processes.
Model coordination in BIM 360 typically refers to a functionality that allows project teams to coordinate and collaborate on 3D models within a centralized platform. This feature helps ensure that various disciplines (architects, engineers, contractors, etc.) working on a construction project can detect and resolve clashes or conflicts in the building design before construction begins.
Model coordination in BIM 360 refers to the process of integrating and synchronising multidisciplinary 3D models to identify and resolve clashes, conflicts, and discrepancies. It serves as a centralized platform where architects, engineers, contractors, and other project collaborators can collaborate in real time, ensuring that the project progresses smoothly and efficiently.
Components of Model Coordination
When performing a model coordination process, make sure you’re using the right tools. You’ll need to ensure that the model coordination tools (such as Autodesk BIM 360) have a few key components to help you streamline the process. So, what components should you look for to help with model coordination? According to the Asite blog, here are the 5 main components of model coordination.
1. Cloud-Based Detection
You can get rid of siloed ways of working and make sure that model issues are easily accessible to the whole design team with the help of a good tool that makes collaboration easy.
Most model coordination tools are desktop software, which means they are designed to work in offline conditions without any collaboration. Because of this, the identified problems and the fixes that need to be made can only be seen on the BIM coordinator’s computer.
When you work in the cloud, like in a CDE, you can share problems with the whole design team. This lets everyone work together more easily and gets problems fixed faster.
In order to do this, you need an open API.
Your chosen tool should be able to connect to both your CDE and your BIM authoring tool. This way, you can share these issues with the whole team and then fix them. By exchanging structured data between different computer systems, this data exchange makes sure that solving problems is no longer a hard and time-consuming process.
2. OpenBIM and BCF File Support
A good model checking and coordination tool should let you share information freely and work with other tools in your BIM process and software library. This way, you can fix problems at any point in the lifecycle of an asset.
Building with the OpenBIM standards allows you to have the IFC schema, which lets anyone share models without any restrictions. They can then be put together into a single federated model, which the BIM coordinators can check.
A BCF file format is another important thing to have. That file format is one that most vendors use. That way, you can work together without any problems and quickly fix issues like bad data formatting or hard or soft clashes. In the end, you should be able to set the rules for what a clash is and share problems and information between platforms in an open, standard way.
It’s important that this works with other apps and has an open API. It’s important that teams that use different tools can easily share information with each other.
Openness and interoperability are very important at all stages of an asset’s life cycle, from design (for example, by helping to find problems with how different discipline teams coordinate design) to operation (for example, by giving asset owners notes about upgrades that need to be made).
3. Rule-Driven Validation
If you pick a tool that lets you automate tasks, you can set up rules and checks that can be used in other projects.
Before you can use your coordination tool to review your models, your software provider needs to export native file formats to IFC the proper way. Here, you need to make sure that all the parameters you need in your IFC are transferred and that none of the ones you don’t need are lost.
When you’re done, an open file format like IFC lets you make rules that check both geometry and data. IFC makes sure that the data framework is consistent when it is used across projects.
From this, you can make checking rules that are also standard and use them on different projects with only minor changes for each one. You don’t have to start from scratch for every project because you can automate your processes.
These checks are based on models that are specific to the field. The IFC schema sets rules for things like naming elements and how they should be used, as well as checking that user-defined parameters are in line with those rules.
Model coordination in BIM (Image by Freepik @creativaimages)
4. Usability
Another important factor to consider when selecting model coordination tools is the software’s intuitive design. It includes the ability to customize or work from a library of templates for rules and rulesets, which will help you organise and simplify your process.
The appearance of your software has a significant impact on its usability. Your tool should have a clean interface, with a well-organised ribbon and all unnecessary features hidden away, as well as the ability to be customised during setup and navigation.
Customisation is also noticeable here. The ability to structure your model objects by classification code facilitates finding objects and establishing checking rules. This functionality eliminates the need for element-level filtering.
Creating custom templates and maintaining a large library of templates for rules and rulesets improves the user experience. You can use pre-made templates or create your own. These templates can then serve as a foundation for all rules.
5. Continuous Improvements and a Healthy Roadmap
The tool you select should have ongoing product development that works for both your current project and your future plans.
If you choose a tool that is supported by consistent and new product development, you can be sure that it will keep getting better and not stop developing.
You also need to look inside yourself as part of this. What is the plan for your business, and will this tool help you carry it out?
Remember that when you buy new BIM tools, you’re investing in them for the long term, so they should last.
After you learn all the main components that you need to look at in model coordination, it’s time to look at those components inside the best computer-aided design software available on the market. Check out our article, “What Is the Best 3D CAD Software? 5 Top Options to Consider” to start your journey.
Clash Detection and Resolution
Another important component of the model coordination tools is clash detection and resolution.
Two designers may be working on architectural and electrical models at the same time during a construction project. Before construction starts, these two models need to be matched up to make sure they will fit together. For instance, if a pipe carrying electrical cables crosses over a wall, there could be a clash. So, one of the models would have to be changed to get rid of the overlap, and the clash would be fixed.
According to Microsol Resources, there are steps you can take to detect and resolve clashes.
When project managers log in to Model Coordination for the first time, they are asked to create a coordination space and choose a folder in the Document Management module to link it to. When someone on the team has access to the folder, they can upload models to be looked over and clash-resolution coordinated.
When 3D RVT, DWG, NWC, and IFC models are added to the coordination space, the clash service in Model Coordination finds any objects in those models that are at odds with each other.
Then, members of the project can look over the clashes that were found and either mark them as “Not an issue” if they don’t need to be fixed or make them an issue so that they can be looked into further.
After creating a coordination space, project managers can also change the clash settings and choose whether to automatically detect clashes or not.
Model Merging and Integration
Model merging and integration are crucial aspects of the model coordination process in Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows, including platforms like BIM 360. These processes involve combining and harmonising 3D models from various disciplines to ensure that they fit together seamlessly, identify clashes or conflicts, and create a coordinated and clash-free virtual representation of the construction project.
Model merging and integration are often facilitated by specialised tools like BIM 360. These platforms provide a collaborative environment where project stakeholders can upload, share, and coordinate their 3D models. The coordination process typically involves:
- Clash detection: Automated tools identify clashes between elements from different disciplines.
- Issue tracking: Stakeholders can create issues related to clashes and assign responsibilities for resolution.
- Collaborative workflows: Teams can work together to integrate models, resolve clashes, and update the centralised model in real-time.
How Do You Create a View in Model Coordination?
Creating a view in model coordination involves establishing a visual representation of the coordinated 3D models, allowing stakeholders to analyse specific sections or aspects of the project.
In BIM 360, users can create customized views by selecting relevant disciplines, model versions, and clash statuses. So how do you create a view in Model Coordination? Here is the step-by-step tutorial, using the BIM 360 tools as an example:
- Click the Module Selector > Model Coordination
- Use the Models tab to select the models you want to save as a view, then click Open in viewer.
- If necessary, click Select models on the Models panel and edit your combination of models and 3D views.
- If you only want to include specific model elements in your view, open the Model Browser panel.
- If necessary, use the model tree to help locate and isolate specific model elements and the Visibility buttons to show or hide elements.
- Use the drop-down lists to access the filters. Select the filter checkboxes to choose the elements you want to include in the view.
- If the default filters don’t meet your needs, click Add custom property to create a custom filter based on any property defined in your models:
- To remove the applied filters from the models, click the X icon at the top of the Model browser panel, or use the reset option in the viewer.
- When you have combined and filtered the models and 3D views as needed for your view, click Save view.
- Use the dialog box to enter a title and description of the view, and select a privacy status.
- Click Save view. The view is saved in the Views tool.
You can go to the BIM 360 model coordination help page for a detailed tutorial, especially if you are using BIM 360 as your main model coordination tool.
That’s all you need to know about model coordination and how to do it in any software you choose. Now it’s time to download your preferred CAD software. You can begin with our article, “How to Download CAD Software: A Step-by-Step Guide“.
Conclusion
Finally, building information modelling (BIM) coordination is the foundation of collaborative and efficient project management in the construction industry. Project teams can improve coordination, proactively handle clashes, and streamline model integration with the help of integrated platforms and advanced tools like BIM 360.
At this point, you might be considering implementing BIM into your construction project. If this is the case, you should consider BIMscaler’s consulting and management services.
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