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Data & software

BIM (building information modelling)

BIM is the practice of designing and managing a building through a shared digital model that holds both its geometry and information about every part.

Also known as BIM, building information modeling, building information model, 3D model, IFC

A BIM model is more than a 3D drawing: each wall, beam and window carries data about its material, size, properties and relationships. Architects, engineers and contractors work from the same model, which exposes clashes and quantities before anything is built.

For offsite construction, BIM is the starting point of the data chain. The model is broken down into manufacturable elements, and each element’s data is exported in a format the factory’s machines can read.

Related terms
CAD/CAMCAD/CAM links computer-aided design with computer-aided manufacturing, so machines are driven directly by the design data rather than by manual measurement. CDT fileA CDT file is the data format Randek systems use to describe a building element precisely enough for machines to produce it. Design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA)DfMA is a design approach that shapes a building from the start so its parts are easy to manufacture in a factory and quick to assemble on site.
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