BIM & VDC: What's the difference?
What is BIM?
A term originally made popular by Autodesk, BIM is a Building Information Model. It is commonly used as both a noun and a verb.
When used as a verb, most people are referring to an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure. BIM empowers one to simulate, analyze and optimize any building-related challenge.
When BIM is described as a process, you should translate to VDC.
What is VDC?
The overall objective of BIM and VDC is to improve communication through a visual medium. This, in turn, should lead to more effective team collaboration.
In conclusion, virtual construction is the process, BIM is a key tool used in the process.
So, what is VDC?. . . isn’t this just BIM?
What's the Difference?
BIM and VDC are very closely related, but not the same. BIM involves virtually building an object (like a structure) with associated information. VDC, on the other hand, uses BIM models to plan the construction process from beginning to end.
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) is essentially building the entire project virtually (digitally) before it is built in the real world. This process can lower risk, eliminate conflicts and reduce the cost of the project. VDC should focus on the construction planning of the BIM model and include elements such as budget, cost estimation, and scheduling. You will commonly hear this referred to as ‘5D Construction’, where the fourth dimension is scheduling and the fifth dimension is cost.
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