what BIM is not
- TAPA Parametric Architecture
- Apr 15
- 7 min read
Revit is not BIM
Revit is a software application designed to support the Building Information Modeling process; it is not the Building Information Modeling process itself.
Most of '' BIM project '' is not BIM.
-----the biggest mistake in the industry starts right here: mistaking vehicles for the way things work. I know this statement bothers you, but let's start by accurately defining what is BIM or NOT.
Thousands of teams using Autodesk Revit feel like they're "doing BIM." But do they modelling information ?
The aim of this article is to rethink BIM and provide the right perspective.
Because the issue isn't the model; the issue is the data.
Revit, ArchiCad or Navisworks software is not BIM software; it is a software tool that enable us to create an integrated dataset within the digital model.
This begs the question:
What's the point of a collaborative Building Information Modeling technology if it is being used to build digital silos?
A 3D model and engineering data library is not BIM but can support it if integrated using standards that meet Employer’s Information Requirements (EIR) in the BIM Execution Plan (BEP).
The BIM is not just a 3D visualization. So, is the model you have really a "source of information" or just a digital "ghost" presented in 3D format?
BIM is more than a static database; its information should be stored, exchanged, and coordinated with others. It is a methodology that helps make projects efficient.
BIM is a process that adapts to construction stages and client interests, not a deliverable.
BIM is not just an application or a list of objects. It is a global work approach, where information evolves to improve the overall project.
BIM is NOT
BIM is not a 3D model
A 3D model focuses on what a design looks like—the geometry and the aesthetics. Building Information Modeling however is obsessed with how a building behaves.
BIM is not a software
BIM is not a design phase
BIM is not a visualization
A 3D wall is a set of lines or surfaces. In Building Information Modeling, it includes metadata like material, fire rating, and cost. Without metadata, 3D models lack intelligence. Are we representing buildings visually, or generating data for practical use?
BIM is essentially an information management system.
BIG MISTAKE !!!! I MODEL = VALUE
A common reflex in the industry is: "A more detailed model is better."
But the rest is this:
Detailed model ≠ Powerful model
A model,
If it is not used on site,
If it causes it to lose its value in quantity surveying,
If it is not something that can be understood by the company's managers...
that model will just be a large file.
Data or Waste? A model having a high level of detail (LOD) doesn't mean it's high quality. Unnecessary detail is a "waste" and system load from an information management perspective.
Data, when structured and transmitted at the right time, transforms into Information. This information feeds decision-making mechanisms, paving the way to Wisdom (DIKW Diagram).
The Revit Reality: Powerful But Limited
Autodesk Revit is a strong digital software. But it is not a BIM solution.
Revit's key limitations:
Closed data structures (vendor lock-in risk)
Performance issues with large models
Geometry-focused structure instead of true data management
Weak integration with business (FM) processes
In short, Revit:
Generates
designs
drawings
models
But does not generate information strategy.
This difference is critical.
BIM's Biggest Shortcoming : Lack of INFORMATION DEFINITION
In most projects, these questions are never asked:
What information is needed?
When is it needed?
Who will produce it?
Who will verify it?
In what format will it be delivered?
If these questions are unanswered, there is no BIM.
This is where the following concepts come into play:
EIR (Employer’s Information Requirements)
BEP (BIM Execution Plan)
LOIN (Level of Information Need)
But in most projects, these documents:
are copy-pasted
are not read
are not implemented
BIM on paper, chaos in the field.
A change in a BIM model is instantly reflected in all views, measurements, and analyses; however, for this synchronization to be "meaningful," clear information exchange requirements (EIR) and BIM implementation plans (BEP) are essential.
In addition, it should be remembered that BIM is a "static" snapshot, whereas living structures need a "dynamic" data flow (Digital Twin).
The Reality of DIGITAL DELIVERY: The Biggest Breaking Point
In 90% of projects, the most critical breaking point is this: The moment of delivery
The model is delivered.
Files are shared.
PDFs are uploaded.
And then?
Nothing.
The operations team:
Cannot open the model
Even if they open it, they cannot understand it
Even if they understand it, they cannot use it
At this point, it must be acknowledged:
What is delivered is not BIM, but data wreckage.
In BIM, delivery means:
Usable data
Filtered information
Goal-oriented content
means.
The concrete successes of companies that have transitioned to BIM in the sector are undeniable.
For example, Max Fordham, a UK-based engineering firm, saved 14,000 man-hours and approximately £300,000 by switching from 2D AutoCAD to Revit.
Canada-based HH Angus, on the other hand, recorded a 70% reduction in model creation costs thanks to digital twins and BIM processes.
The Real Problem: Not TECHNOLOGY, but MINDSET
The industry is constantly searching for new tools:
Faster software
Better rendering engines
Larger models
But the real problem is: We don't know what we should be producing.
Therefore:
We produce unnecessary details
We produce incorrect information
We produce too much data
But we don't produce the right information.
The Future of BIM: Transitioning from MODEL to DATA
The real transformation will be:
A shift from model-centric thinking to data-centric thinking
What does this mean?
The model will only be an interface
The real value will be in the database
Open standards (like IFC) will become critical
Digital twins will become central to the business
And most importantly:
Information management, not the model, will be the competitive advantage
The Hard Truth
Today, most "BIM experts" in the industry are:
Model experts
Software experts
But:
Not information managers
Without this change, BIM maturity will not increase.
A Mind-Opening Question
Ask yourself this question:
If all the models were deleted tomorrow, would the project's information still be alive?
If the answer is "no": You're not doing BIM. You're just producing models.
As the industry moves toward better building information management, we must stop obsessing over the acronym. Instead, focus on the wisdom the process offers, turning data into information, knowledge, and wisdom.
The question remains:
Are you just drawing lines.
Are you managing the Building Information Modeling wisdom that will define the future of our built environment?
Do not get left behind out of a fear of Building Information Modeling change.
It is time to stop playing with " 3D models" and start building intelligent actionable Building Information Modeling assets.
Conclusion
BIM is not a tool. It's not an output. It's certainly not software.
BIM: It's about getting the right information to the right person at the right time, in the right format.
Everything else is just detail.
Beyond the BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING : VIRTUAL DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION and DIGITAL TWINS
Virtual Design & Construction is a combination of people and technology, aiming at solving preconstruction problems by using Building Information Modeling.
Once the construction is done, this same model becomes the basis for the Digital Twin, where the actual performance of the building is captured by analyzing live data flow.
Put differently, the Building Information Modeling is like the map of an area while the Digital Twin is its heartbeat.
Your data must flow and be managed within the CDE. If not, your digital drawings are no BIM at all.
CDE or Cloud Storage? Some project managers may argue that using Dropbox or Google Drive is sufficient for managing information.
But according to the latest ISO 19650 standards, CDE is not just cloud storage; it is a process of managing the state of data (Work-In-Progress, Shared, Published, and Archived).
Why Do We Continue Making Mistakes?
Despite the fact that 60% of architects report the usage of BIM during projects, millions of dollars are wasted on the construction site because of interdiscipline conflicts.
And guess what: there is software but no "Information Management" (IM) .
we must shift from software-focused thinking to "Information-Focused" thinking.
Practical Implications:
Buy the Process, Not the Software: Develop ISO 19650-based information management capacity in your organization, not just Revit usage.
Establish CDE Discipline: Sharing data is not enough; establish a system that controls who shares the data, when, and in what status.
LoIN Instead of LOD: Don't fall into the trap of "let's model everything." Focus only on the level of information (LOIN) needed at that stage.
Conscious Inquiry: Ask each model element this question: "Will this data create value during the operational phase of the project ?"
Break freefrom digital illusions and become the architect of your data.
Image Reference
BIM guidance to optimise the operational phase: defining information requirements based on ISO 19650 by Simon Ashworth, Michelle Dillinger, Karsten Körkemeyer
https://www.united-bim.com/8-crucial-mistakes-in-bim-implementation-and-how-to-tackle-them/
https://www.digitwin4ciue.eu/2023/10/30/bim-to-digital-twins/
https://www.vectorworks.net/en-US/newsroom/how-does-bim-work
Resource
BIM Handbook – Chuck Eastman
Building Information Modeling – Willem Kymmell
BIM and Construction Management – Brad Hardin
The Impact of Building Information Modelling – Ray Crotty
Building Information Modeling For Dummies – Stefan Mordue
BIM Design: Realising the Creative Potential of Building Information Modelling – Richard Garber
Implementing Successful Building Information Modeling – Dana K. Smith
The BIM Manager's Handbook – Dominik Holzer
Big BIM Little BIM – Finith Jernigan
Building Information Modeling: Framework for Structural Design – Nawari O. Nawari
BIM for Construction Health and Safety – Stefan Mordue
Mastering Autodesk Revit
BIM & Revit Handbook – Morgan Steele
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