BIM represents the unified evolution of the design, production, construction, and management process of our building in that, virtually, we are able to work in all these areas in a preventive manner, on a 3D digital model, also called Digital Twin or digital twin, which fully reflects our project. Moreover, and most importantly, we can do this in ‘concert’ with all the professionals and companies that collaborate in the realisation of the work. This interaction takes place on two levels: the first only concerns the design and development of one’s own product, by means of a software that is capable of receiving and integrating the information requested by the client; the second aspect, which is no less important, is the use of files that can be read, inserted and processed in the general project model. All this can only be applied using a shared platform and interchange files; these aspects are defined and approved by the client and specified in the Employer Information Requirements (E.I.R.) of the contract. To apply the BIM methodology we basically need software to help us interact with this system. Normally, these applications are divided into two main categories: the first is used for the management of the architectural and structural part of the building, i.e. for the purely “masonry construction” part (foundations, walls, pillars, stairs, doors, windows, railings, roofs, etc.); the second is used for the development of the socalled “systems”, i.e. the plant engineering part (electrical, ventilation, heating/ cooling, hot/cold water, and drainage systems). The software used in BIM processes are different, and one must assess which one is best suited to one’s design needs. In general the most widely used are: - REVIT - Autodesk (USA) - ARCHICAD - Graphisoft (Hungary) - EDIFICIUS - ACCA (Italy) - ARCHITECTURE - Allplan (Italy) - TEKLA STRUCTURES - Trimble (Finland) These programmes allow more or less complex projects, or parts of them, to be developed. There is usually the possibility of exploiting preconfigured objects or systems, placed in dedicated libraries (product families), so that elements can be quickly integrated. A practical example are the libraries available in some proprietary sites or portals of “OpenBIM” of doors, windows, furniture, and in general all those elements that are part of the design of a building. In this case, the operator, after choosing the model most suited to him, will import the chosen object with all the characteristics defined by the manufacturer, and with a required level of detail (LOD), without worrying about “drawing/designing”, i.e. modelling, the element itself. These ‘blocks’, similar in concept to those used in the ‘old’ CAD systems, can in most cases be modified dimensionally, within the minimum and maximum parameters defined by the manufacturer. For example, it is possible to insert a window with a span of 800x1000 mm in the model and, by modifying the internal parameters of the object, transform it dimensionally into one with a span of 1000x1200 mm. The import of ‘families’ can also be extended to more complex elements or systems and, in our specific case, also to lifts. There are some manufacturers of complete systems or lift parts who have made their products available in some proprietary or ‘OpenBIM’ libraries. In this case too, the designer (BIM Specialist), depending on the characteristics required in the project, can draw on these “showcases”, the library, and directly import the defined element, complete with all the characteristics specified by the manufacturer. In addition to the libraries, there is the possibility of using dedicated software to design systems directly in BIM, in our case lifts. These programmes, as in CAD systems, work by composing the lift with a “block” logic, i.e. by choosing a series of defined components (such as drive, cabin, doors, motor, etc.), and with dimensions pre-selected by the operator, directly creating the 3D model. To date, there are not many software packages dedicated to the lift sector. Here are the best known ones: - LIFTDESIGNER - DigiPara (Germany) - ELEVATORARCHITECT - DigiPara (Germany) - FINELIFT - 4M (Greece) - Of course, we hope that as BIM develops and becomes more widespread, these systems will also evolve and grow in number. The last aspect that must be emphasised, speaking of programmes and applications, concerns the economic side. In addition to the ‘significant’ 37 Here is an overview of BIM software on the market as well as liftspecific software to help you understand which product to choose according to your design needs BIM and its application software
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