Glossary
BIM & VDC terminology, explained
Plain-English definitions of the terms you'll come across when working with BIM, VDC, and construction technology teams.
BIM (Building Information Modeling)
A process for creating and managing a digital representation of a building's physical and functional characteristics, used by architects, engineers, and contractors throughout design and construction.
VDC (Virtual Design and Construction)
The broader practice of using integrated, multi-discipline models - including BIM - to plan, design, and manage construction projects before and during physical building.
LOD (Level of Development)
A standard scale (typically 100 through 500) describing how much detail and reliability a BIM element contains, from rough conceptual massing (LOD 100) to verified as-built condition (LOD 500).
Clash Detection
The process of using software to automatically identify where building systems - structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing - physically collide within a coordinated model, before those conflicts become expensive problems on site.
Scan-to-BIM
The process of converting laser-scanned point cloud data of an existing building or site into an accurate, editable 3D BIM model, commonly used for renovation and as-built documentation projects.
Point Cloud
A large set of data points captured by a 3D laser scanner, representing the precise surfaces of an existing physical space, used as the raw input for Scan-to-BIM modeling.
IFC (Industry Foundation Classes)
An open, vendor-neutral file format for exchanging BIM data between different software platforms, so a model built in one program can be opened and reviewed in another.
Shop Drawings
Detailed fabrication and installation drawings, produced from a coordinated BIM model, that guide contractors and fabricators on exactly how a building component should be built and installed.
Federated Model
A combined model created by linking multiple discipline-specific models (architectural, structural, MEP, etc.) together in one shared environment for coordination and clash review, without merging them into a single file.
QTO (Quantity Takeoff)
The process of extracting precise material and component quantities directly from a BIM model, used to support cost estimation and procurement.
As-Built Documentation
Drawings or models updated to reflect the actual final condition of a completed building, which often differs from the original design due to changes made during construction.
BIM Execution Plan (BEP)
A project-specific document that defines how BIM will be used on a project - modeling standards, LOD requirements, coordination workflows, and responsibilities for each team.
ISO 19650
An international standard for managing information over the lifecycle of a built asset using BIM, covering naming conventions, information exchange, and collaborative working practices.
Revit Family
A reusable, parametric component (such as a door, window, or piece of equipment) built in Autodesk Revit that can be inserted into models and adjusted through configurable parameters.
4D/5D BIM
An extension of a 3D BIM model that adds a construction schedule (4D) and cost data (5D), allowing teams to visualize how a project will be built over time and track budget alongside progress.