BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING

2021 REGULATIONS
QUESTION & ANSWERS - 2 MARKS

1. Explain how Building Information Modeling (BIM) is promising for developments in the architecture and construction
industry.
i. Improved Collaboration and Communication
ii. Integrated Design and Analysis
iii. Clash Detection and Coordination
iv. Cost Estimation and Project Management
v. Facility Management and Operation
vi. Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
vii. Regulatory Compliance and Documentation

2. What is BIM tool, BIM platform and BIM environment?

i. BIM TOOL:
A BIM tool refers to the software or application used to create, manage, and manipulate Building Information Models. These
tools are designed to support the various stages of a building's lifecycle, from conceptual design and construction to
operation and maintenance.
ii. BIM PLATFORM:
A BIM platform is a broader term that encompasses the software, protocols, and standards used for collaborative BIM
workflows. It may include a suite of interconnected BIM tools, file formats, and collaboration features to facilitate seamless
communication and coordination among different stakeholders involved in a construction project.
iii. BIM ENVIRONMENT:
The BIM environment refers to the overall context or ecosystem in which BIM processes and tools operate. It encompasses
the organizational workflows, standards, policies, and the collaborative culture that enables effective implementation of BIM.

3. Explain the processes of importing cad file into BIM platform.

i. OPEN OR CREATE A REVIT PROJECT: Launch Autodesk Revit and either open an existing project or create a new one.
ii. NAVIGATE TO THE "INSERT" TAB: In the Revit interface, go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen.
iii. SELECT "IMPORT CAD": Look for the "Import CAD" option within the "Insert" tab. In Revit, this is usually found in the
"Import" dropdown menu.
iv. CHOOSE THE CAD FILE: Click on "Import CAD," and a dialog box will appear. Navigate to the location where your CAD file
is stored, select the file, and click "Open."
v. SPECIFY IMPORT SETTINGS: Another dialog box will appear, allowing you to specify import settings. You may need to
choose options related to units, positioning, and layers. Review and adjust these settings based on your project
requirements.
vi. PLACE THE IMPORTED CAD FILE: After specifying the import settings, click "OK." Revit will import the CAD file into your
project. You'll need to place the imported file into the project environment. Click on the desired location in your project
to place the CAD file.
4. Explain how topo surface can be added for contour site.
i. OPEN OR CREATE A REVIT PROJECT:
Launch Autodesk Revit and either open an existing project or start a new one.
ii. SET THE PROJECT LOCATION:
Before creating a topo surface, ensure that your project is geographically located. Go to the "Manage" tab, select "Location,"
and set the project's geographical location. This step is important for accurate mapping.
iii. GO TO SITE PLAN VIEW:
Navigate to the site plan view where you want to create the topographic surface.
iv. ACCESS THE "MASSING & SITE" TAB:
In the ribbon, go to the "Massing & Site" tab. Here, you'll find tools related to site design, including the creation of
topographic surfaces.
v. CHOOSE "TOPOSURFACE":
Click on the "Toposurface" tool. This may be labeled as "Toposurface," "Topography," or something similar, depending on the
version of Revit.
vi. CREATE POINTS OR IMPORT SURVEY DATA:
You can create the topographic surface by either placing points manually or importing survey data. If you have surveyed data
in a file (like a DWG or LandXML), you can import that data to create the topo surface.
vii. PLACE POINTS MANUALLY (IF NEEDED):
If you choose to place points manually, click on the desired locations in the site plan to specify elevations. Revit will
interpolate the terrain between these points to create the surface.

5. Which interface element allows you to open any of your views and sheets in Revit?
In Autodesk Revit, the interface element that allows you to open any of your views and sheets is the "Project
Browser." The Project Browser is a panel typically located on the left side of the Revit interface, and it provides a
hierarchical view of the project's elements, including views, sheets, and families.

6. Explain the process of creating Sun and Shadow study for a model.
i. Click the Shadow icon at the bottom of the Revit display area to turn on the shadows for this building.

ii. Click the Sun Path icon at the bottom of the Revit display area to open the Sun Path menu.

iii. Select Sun Path On to enable the Sun Path.

7. Explain how BIM can be used for project management.

i. BIM can help project managers plan and design a project more effectively by providing a detailed 3D model that
can be used to visualize the building and test different design options.
ii. BIM also allows project managers to simulate construction sequences, analyze constructability, and estimate costs.

8. Define Reference Plane.

Reference planes are an integral part of family creation. Reference planes display in each plan view that you create for a
model.
9. What is System and Component Families? Explain with examples.
System Families:
Definition: System families in BIM refer to predefined building elements that are integral to the overall structure and
functionality of the model. These elements are typically created when the BIM software is installed, and they represent
essential components of a building.
Examples:
Walls: Wall types are often system families. They are fundamental building elements and come with predefined properties,
materials, and constraints.
Floors: Similar to walls, floor types are system families that represent the fundamental building blocks of a structure.
Roofs: Roof types, including their slopes and materials, are part of system families.
Ceilings: Ceiling elements that define the height and materials of the indoor environment are typically system families.
Component Families:
Definition: Component families, on the other hand, are user-defined or custom elements that can be created within the BIM
software. These families are often specific to a particular project or design intent, providing flexibility and customization
beyond the standard system families.
Examples:
Doors and Windows: While certain basic door and window types may be part of system families, specific custom-designed
doors and windows can be created as component families to meet unique project requirements.
Furniture: Custom-designed furniture pieces, such as chairs, tables, or cabinets, can be created as component families to
accurately represent the interior design of a space.
Light Fixtures: Lighting elements, like chandeliers or custom-designed fixtures, are often created as component families to
provide detailed representations in the model.
Specialized Equipment: Any specialized equipment or components unique to a project, such as HVAC units or machinery, can
be created as component families.

10. What are the advantages of Energy Analysis in BIM platform?

i. Early Design Stage Optimization
ii. Improved Decision-Making
iii. Integration of Building Systems
iv. Regulatory Compliance and Certification
v. Life cycle Analysis
vi. Cost Savings
vii. Environmental Sustainability
viii. Client Communication and Visualization
ix. Optimization of Passive Design Strategies
x. Performance Monitoring and Adaptation

11. Define Level 1 BIM.

Building Information Modelling [BIM] Level 1 has been defined by the SFT BIM Delivery Group and the Home Nations
Working Group as: “BIM Level 1 maturity encompasses the management of digital, indexed construction information,
including that generated by 2 or 3D CAD systems within a common data environment.
12. Explain what kind of information are stored in Rooms, Spaces and Zones in BIM.
ROOMS :
Information stored for rooms includes attributes like room number, name, area, volume, occupancy load, and utilization.
It may also contain details about finishes, furnishings, and equipment within the room.
SPACES :
Space information includes data related to the function, occupancy, area, and volume of the space. It may also store
information about the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) requirements, lighting, and other relevant
parameters.
ZONES:
Zone information includes details about the overall purpose, thermal properties, and other characteristics that apply to a

group of spaces. It helps in understanding the building's zoning for heating and cooling analysis.

13. Explain how BIM can be used for Construction management.

i. BIM can be used to manage the construction process more effectively by enabling project managers to track
progress, monitor schedules, and manage resources.
ii. BIM also allows project managers to identify and mitigate potential risks and optimize the construction process by
improving the coordination of work and reducing waste.

14. What are 4D and 5D BIM?

a) BIM 4th Dimensions: Duration, Timeline & Scheduling
i. 4D is related to planning the construction site by adding a new element i.e. time. Scheduling data helps in outlining how
much time will be involved in the completion of the project and how will the project evolve over time.
ii. The information can provide elaboration about the time taken for installation or construction, the time needed to make
the project operational, the sequence of installation of various components, along with other scheduling information.
b) BIM 5th Dimension: Cost Estimation, Analysis, and Budgetary Tracking
i. 5D BIM is useful in cases where budget analysis and cost estimation are required from the beginning of any project. It
goes without saying that cost is one of the most important elements associated with a project.
ii. 5D BIM enables project promoters and owners to analyze the costs that will be incurred over time in the project
activities.

15. How to copy schedule between different projects?

1. Open both projects in the same window of Revit.
2. In the first project, right click on the name of the schedule you want to copy, and choose "Copy to Clipboard"
3. In the target project, use the Paste command on the Manage ribbon, or type CTRL+V to paste the schedule into the project.
(You can do this with any view open).

16. What is enscape? Explain in brief.

Enscape is a commercial real-time rendering and virtual reality plugin. It is mainly used in the architecture, engineering,
and construction fields and is developed and maintained by Enscape GmbH, founded in 2013 and based in Karlsruhe,
Germany with an office in New York, United States.
17. What is finish face interior/core face interior?
i. Finish Face Interior in BIM:
In a BIM model, "finish face interior" could refer to the side or surface of a building element that is intended to be the visible
and finished interior face. It may include information about the material, texture, color, and other properties that contribute
to the aesthetic aspects of the interior.
ii. Core Face Interior in BIM:
Conversely, "core face interior" in BIM might indicate the opposite side or the concealed interior side of a building element.
This could represent the structural core or substrate of the element, and it may have different properties compared to the
finished face.

18. How to Specify Temporary Dimension Settings?

i. Click Manage tab Settings panel Additional Settings drop-down (Temporary Dimensions).

ii. From the Temporary Dimension Properties dialog, select the appropriate settings.

iii. Click OK.

19. How to add roof?

i. Have your perimeter walls and levels ready.

ii. In Architecture tab select Roof – Roof by Footprint tool and choose desired roof type.

iii. Choose a relevant level for a bottom face of the roof.

iv. Use Pick Walls tools and hover over a wall – press tab to select all joined perimeter walls.

20. How to simplify a Topo Surface?

i. Open the site plan view and select the toposolid.

ii. Click Modify | Toposolid tab Shape Editing panel (Simplify Points).

iii. Set the % Points to keep for the toposolid, and click OK.

21. How to dim lights?

i. Open a 3D view.
ii. On the View tab, click Render
iii. In the Rendering dialog, under Lighting, for Scheme, select a setting that includes artificial lights.
iv. Click Artificial Lights.
v. In the Artificial Lights dialog, in the Dimming column, enter dimming values for light groups or individual lighting fixtures.
vi. Enter a value between 0 and 1 to indicate the relative amount of dimming. A value of 1 means that the light is
completely on (not dimmed). A value of 0 means that the light is completely dimmed (off).
vii. Note: If a lighting fixture is a nested family that contains multiple light sources but is not shared, you cannot dim
individual light sources in the fixture.
viii. Click OK.
22. How does energy Modelling work?
The energy model is created automatically in Revit and can be visually inspected for accuracy before it is submitted to Insight
for analysis. Energy settings give you control over different factors to consider as you create the energy model. Understand
the basics behind the creation of the energy model.

23. Discuss in brief Room areas vs area.

i. Room Area : A room in Revit is considered as spatial division of your project based on elements such as walls, floors,
roofs and ceilings. Revit can compute areas, volume and perimeter of the rooms and can schedule them as well.
ii. Area : Area plans are created to calculate and show gross building or rent-able building area.

24. List out any three critical success factors for BIM implementation.
The topmost five success factors for BIM implementation in order of importance are:
i. Standard platforms for integration and communication
ii. Cost of development;
iii. Education and training
iv. Standardization (product and process)
v. Clear definition and understanding of users' requirement.

25. List out steps to create a New Template on BIM.

i. Go to the project picker and click View All Projects.
ii. In the Project List, click the Project Templates tab.
iii. Click Create project template.
iv. Select Create blank template.
v. Enter a template name and select your account from the drop-down list.
vi. Click Create template.

26. Discuss the importance of rendering in architectural representation.

Using rendering in architectural design doesn't just give architects helpful visual references as they work on a concept, it
also enables them to market their design ideas to clients, solicit feedback for design refinement, and keep projects moving
forward.

27. Enumerate the role of BIM in designing zero net energy homes.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) plays a crucial role in designing Zero Net Energy (ZNE) homes by providing a
collaborative and integrated approach to the entire building lifecycle. Here are several ways in which BIM contributes to
the design of ZNE homes:
i. Energy Analysis and Simulation ii. Parametric Design
ii. Material and Resource Management iv. Collaboration and Coordination
v. System Integration vi. Lifecycle Analysis
vii. Visualization and Communication viii. Performance Monitoring & Maintenance
ix. Regulatory Compliance x. Cost Estimation