BIMx and the Future of Interactive Design

Building Information Modelling, more commonly known as BIM, starts with creating a 3D virtual model of your project.  It is a tool that gives architects, engineers and construction professionals the ability to work together to efficiently plan, design, construct and manage buildings and infrastructure.

It enables us to generate plans, elevations and sections from a single source. Ultimately, this speeds up coordination, and reduces the likelihood of errors.  Furthermore, it allows us to check for hidden clashes and problems before even bringing the project to site.

A project modelled using BIM offers many exciting opportunities and helps PLACE architects bridge the gap between the design studio and the construction site. BIMx is an award-winning app produced by Graphisoft for exploring the BIM models that we produce. Moreover, it is the most popular architecture presentation and coordination app for the iPad, iPhone and Android phones and tablets.

BIMx features the ‘BIM Hyper Model’ — a game-like navigation tool that helps you, as a client, easily explore the building model and understand project deliverables. Real-time cut-throughs, measuring tools, and project markups make BIMx the best on-site BIM companion.

Firstly, a  digital model can mean no more paper on the building site, or at client meetings. All relevant model data is at your fingertips for easy access and sharing.

Notably, you can take it anywhere.  It’s simple to run BIMx on any mobile device with the easy-to-use app, or on a laptop or desktop without any special hardware or software.  Making design decisions and updating your building model on the go has never been easier.  There’s no need to head back to the office.

PLACE Architects can offer BIMx access as a service for the majority of our projects – providing a personal link (URL) for you to view and download your project BIMx model.  It will be kept up to date, and you can share the link with as many people as you like.  Also, it gives you and the whole team access to a full set of the information to explore in real-time.

Interestingly, one of the most amazing parts of BIM is not actually the 3D model, or the drawings themselves – it’s the amount of data that can be stored in the model itself.  BIMx lets you interrogate the model, and the objects contained in it.  Simply click on a door or wall in BIMx to get a full ‘element info’ palette.  In addition, data stored can be made to include dimensions, ID’s, important information relating to manufacturers, and more.

Not everyone can get a sense of the spaces we design from the drawings alone.  Heights of ceilings, routes through the building, and views outside can be hard to envisage before the project is on site.  With the virtual reality viewer within BIMx, you can turn your phone into a virtual reality experience and walk around the building as if it was complete, using a simple headset.

Ask us about our unique technology, how it could be used on your next project and book in for a consultation, by contacting us at people@placearchitects.co.uk or calling 01566 772035.