Building Information Modeling: Major BIM-related Documents and their Descriptions

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the major BIM-related documents used in construction projects. It explains the purpose and importance of site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, door & window schedules, outline bill of quantities, and schedule of works in the BIM process. The article also highlights how BIM facilitates coordination, visualization, and communication among different design team members.

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1.0 A list of major BIM-related documents and a description of each?
BIM may be used for design maintenance review, corrective maintenance, preventative
maintenance, asset management, schematic diagram system, inventory, visualization and
scheduled inspection (Azhar, et al., 2012). However, BIM was developed mainly to cut the cost
of construction and to improve the flow of communication among all the stakeholders in the
construction industry. This taken into account improves the efficiency of construction work
which requires predesign documents prepared by the architects, civil engineers, electrical
engineers, mechanical engineers and provided to the appointed contractors (Hsu, 2013).
Construction drawings are created according to a set of convections which include views
such as plans sections, units of measurements, sheet sizes, cross references and annotation. Some
of the BIM related documents include the site plan, floor plan, elevations, sections, door &
window schedule, schedule of works and the outline of bill of quantities (Azhar, et al., 2012).
Site plan: The site plan gives the gross square feet of the whole area of construction. It is mainly
used to show the location of the site in relation to the adjacent or neighboring buildings as
mapped in the ordnance survey. The site plan is created by the architect to show the various
economic and transportation activities around the site which include site walks, parking, service
drive and plazas around the site (Hsu, 2013). Another important feature located in the site plan is
the type of vegetation on site. This include trees, grass and any other type of plantation that
might be taken care of in preparing the site for construction activities. The architectural site plan
also include other site amenities, and other elements which include building site drawings in the
vicinity. The site plan also shows the existing condition of the site, and other items to be
demolished on site.

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With the use of BIM, every design team member can communicate different features of the
site plan. For example, the architect only show the architectural aspects of the site including
existing buildings and the site condition, mechanical engineer will also use the same site to give
details of drainage and sewer line available on site and how our design will direct its effluent on
the main sewer lines; electrical engineers will also locate power line infrastructure on site. All
this information will be harmonized in BIM in order to come up with an effective infrastructure
system for the new development.
Floor plan: The floor plan shows the design layout of the building. It also gives the
interrelationship of the spaces with their functions. The plans make it possible to determine the
dimensions of each room and the floor area including its length and width in order to help the
builders during setting out and pegging the site for construction works (Qady & Kandil, 2014).
The floor plan gives dimension of walls, the wall material, floor finish, door and window
location, position and number of columns, sewarage line, position of stairs and lifts.
In a nut shell, the floor plans gives the builders and contractors the general view of all the
elements of the building in a plan dimension. BIM is used in the floor plan documents to show
the design functional spaces drafted by the architect; the same plan is used by electrical
engineers to create the electrical plan showing the location of lights for the design; mechanical
engineers also make use of the same plan to design the plumbing system of the design; the
structural engineer also give details of the building on the same platform. As such, BIM helps in
coordination, visualization and communication of the design process by harmonizing all the
design requirements in one place.

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Elevation: The elevation of the building only shows one façade from any particular side. With
this representation, the external appearance of the building are well described. Each elevation is
labelled according to the direction it faces on the compass direction. A typical elevation shows
the almost all the parts of a building from a specific side. Geometrically, we can conclude that
elevations give a horizontal orthographic projection to a vertical plane of a building.Elevation
drawing shows interior and exterior view of all the parts of a building as shown on a particular
direction (Zhang & El-Gohary, 2013). All utilities above the ground level are projected in an
orthographic view or planes illustrating its nominal type and size. Elevations are mainly
condsidered to be among the 2D deliverables that are produced directly from the BIMs as
construction documents.
BIM includes all elements and information needed in the elevations for design intent
including the construction material and other elements that are unique for the design are
indicated on the elevations (Zhang & El-Gohary, 2013). Elevations mainly help in modelling at
true scale of a building above the sea level and in accordance with the datum of that specific
area. Elevations also assist the contractors in locating the position of fenestrations on walls such
as doors and windows including their sizes and type.
With the use of BIM, elevation documents will help in reviewing the design by identifying
any errors available on a particular façade that need changes to minimize chances of poor design
that might prove to be expensive in the future.
Section: The section drawing shows the structural details of the wall as if it is sliced into half.
There are two types of section: cross section and longitudinal section. Sections are simply
vertical planes cut into an object (Zhang & El-Gohary, 2013). The cut section planes are shown
in bold lines, often covered in solid fills to indicate the materials that are cut through. In most

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cases, sections describe the relationship that stands between the different levels of the building
(Zhang & El-Gohary, 2013). In geometrics, a cross section is decribed as a horizontal
orthographic projection of the building elements on a vertical palne that cuts through the
building. The use of BIM helps in visualization of the construction material used in the design
works including the constructabiliy and maintability reviews.
Door and window schedule: It gives the timeline of when doors and window elements are being
fitted. Depending on the project size, the schedule can be divided into different zones that can be
more detailed (Hsu, 2013). The schedule also shows the total number of doors and windows
allocated to each space in the building including their sizes and type.
BIM in this case helps by communicating the type of doors and windows to be used in the
construction to avoid any chances of confusion of the selection of such building elements since
coordination of the right information is key when it comes to having the right design.
Outline bill of quantities: this is a tendering document that is used to outline materials required
for construction and labour including their total cost which sums up the total cost of the projectt.
The outline of bill of quantity as a BIM document will help in communicating the types of
materials required for construction including their prices and ultimately the cost of the project
which makes operations easier to handle in terms of the process.
Schedule of works: The work schedule is a timeliine that shows all the phases of construction
works. With the use of BIM, it is possible to track the work progress on site with less effort
involved and I addition, all the stakholders involved in construction including the client can use
the BIM tool to check on the progress of construction at the comfort of his or her home. BIM in

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essence will help in exchanging facility data through the utilization of an open standard platform
including the operations of building information exchange from the design stage to construction
and finally the facility operations.
2. Comparing different states in Australia with regard to the availability of BIM guidelines
and policies
Building Information Modeling refers to the digital depiction of both the physical plus
the functional traits of an establishment (Harris, 2017). BIM entails more than just 3D designs. It
incorporates information from the shared knowledge of resources concerning premises to
develop a dependable basis that can be utilized to make decisions in the facility's lifecycle (El
Dado &Demian, 2011). The construction market in Australia has showcased its enthusiasm in
using Building Information Modeling, although the majority of the market still utilizes it in its
basic form as opposed to the integrated form that is more complex. The Australian Federal
Government together with different states and government departments have increased efforts to
adopt and promote BIM use through various policies and guidelines.
In 2016, the Australian government released a report that effect the changes in
construction industry that meant to adopt the use of BIM in its operations (Kabata, 2018). This
report had ten recommendations following the new technologies that can transform and increase
our economic productivity. State governments have not been left out in this BIM revolution and
they have intensified their efforts in using BIM by developing guidelines and policies to help in
its research and adoption. The Queensland government, for instance, has been active in its
exploration of Building Information Modeling expansion via doing a partnership with several
research institutions. The Transport and Main Roads department, in particular, has researched to

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examine the probable life improvements from the utilization of BIM. The Department of
Transport and Main Roads awarded the Laing O’Rourke the Generation Rolling stock Deport
project which is a case study to help in the research to possible life improvements from the use of
BIM (Nawari, 2018). The project brought about 25 advantages stemming from utilizing BIM
with enhanced outcomes and high customer satisfaction.
New South Wales has instigated a program for executing Building Information Modeling
through their Transport for NSW. A prior step for implementing BIM in the Transport for New
South Wales entailed the development of a digital engineering task group to examine probable
procedures as a step in the process (Nawari, 2018).
The Victorian government, on the other hand, dispensed a procedure for selecting
important projects to take part in a BIM pilot research in their 2015 to 2016 budget (Dastbaz,
Gorse & Moncaster, 2017). The Building Infrastructure Modeling pilot research aims to provide
results for the Victorian government to aid in infrastructure projects implementation across the
state. The Western Australian government also provided for the use of BIM in high profile
building projects such as the Perth Children’s Hospital project estimated at $1.2 billion with
procedures and guidelines to authorize BIM utility in the procurement stage.
3. What else- what documents- must be provided to facilitate adopting BIM on projects?
Documentation is important in a BIM project similar to any other project and is required
at different stages within the lifecycle of the project. Building Information Modeling documents
supply the owners and operators of the project with the required information to ensure the project
is aligned. It aids to understand the flow and management of data to be produced and shared

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across the project lifeline. Projects following a coordinated documentation system, have
provided efficient results since they follow a clear and concise procedure.
The NATSPEC national BIM guide is a list of documents that can be utilized to ease the
execution of BIM on projects. To ensure effective use for the documents, they must be
coordinated and compiled to be read in conjunction with each other. The documents contained in
the list or suite are as follows;
NATSPEC National Building Information Modeling Guide and Project BIM Brief
Template: these are two documents that work together. The National BIM Guide is the mother
document that functions as a reference to explain the roles and duties, the modelling procedures,
collaboration standards, software approved and the documentation levels for projects (Mondrup,
2015). Furthermore, it gives guidance on multiple uses for BIM. The NATSPEC Project
Building Information Modeling Brief Template avails a method to document the customer's
requirements concerning BIM for personal projects.
The next document in the suite is the NATSPEC Building Information Modeling
Reference Schedule; this particular document contains a list of standards, procedures as well as
documents to be considered as references for the National BIM Guide. They can be cited in the
guide. The distinct documents selected to be appropriate in the project are jot down in the project
BIM brief.
NATSPEC BIM Object or Element Matrix; this is a document used at various levels of
the building or project lifecycle. It contains a series of Microsoft Excel worksheets that explain a
significant number of elements or projects and their characteristics through Omni Class
classification and the stage of development (Villafani, 2011).

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The NATSPEC BIM Management Plan Template is a formal document that explains in
detail how a project will be carried out controlled and monitored concerning BIM. A significant
feature of the document is providing information on who among the team members are
performing a specific task and what the teammates can expect from one another. Then
NATSPEC National Building Information Modeling Guide under clause 3.1 needs that a project
implemented needs a BIM management plan to avail a master data control plan and to issue
duties and responsibilities for information integration and model development (Isikdag, 2015).
The combined template of the BIM management plan can be split into different documents to
facilitate either a construction BIM management plan or a Design BIM management plan.
Furthermore, the split helps address the specific needs of the stakeholders to their distinct
projects. The documents are listed in the order of their nature from wider with more strategic
concerns to specific and detailed procedures to be considered.
The executive summary is the first document which entails the goals of the Building
Information Modeling, the utilization of the BIM, the phrases the project is expected to take and
the procurement addressed to and is collaboratively created by the project manager, the
customer, and the consultants (Berard, 2012). It is a response to the project BIM brief.
Design BMP; this is for the project team leaders, the principal consultants and the model
managers. Generally encompassing the individuals with management focus in the project design
phase.
Construction Building Information Modeling Management plan; it entails the same audience as
the Design BMP but it is used in the project construction phase (Kensek & Noble, 2014).

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Lastly is the BMP schedules that are in the form of an Excel sheet including the tables and
schedules of the other documents although in spreadsheet format. Mainly applicable to those
comfortable working with a form that makes it easy to exchange digital data across software
applications.
The NATSPEC BIM papers and other documents; these give access to specific coverage of the
subject matter linked with BIM implementation.
Paper 001: BIM and LOD is a BI paper that issues an introduction to the level of development
concept and its usefulness in the control of the Building Information Modeling procedure.
Moreover, it contains the recommendations needed to implement the level of development on the
projects as well as the guidance to interpret the LOD tables.
BIM Paper 002: it contains a procedure for the preparation and planning for the engineering
department that wants to make the implementation possible (Kensek & Noble, 2014). It also
supplies guidance and discussion on the topic to help in decision making and tackling issues.
BIM paper 003: helps the customers and the BIM advisor to define their requirements for the
project to take place mainly to engage the team and ensure maximum output from the projects.
The National Building Information Modeling Structure main purpose is to work as a guide
through its various documents that function as a reference document to BIM implementation on
projects. Its allows BIM to have a guide nationally controlling individual projects at the same
time, providing room for edition and upgrading response to clients in a consistent and recognized
manner.

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based on textual similarity. Automation in construction, 42, pp.36-49.
Azhar, S., Khalfan, M. and Maqsood, T., 2012. Building information modelling (BIM): now and
beyond. Construction Economics and Building, 12(4), pp.15-28.
Berard, O. 2012. Building information modelling for managing design and construction:
assessing design information quality. [Lyngby], DTU Civil Engineering, Technical University of
Denmark.
Dastbaz, M., Gorse, C. A., & Moncaster, A. 2017. Building information modelling, building
performance, design and smart construction.
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Dastbaz, M., Gorse, C., & Moncaster, A. 2017. Building Information Modelling, Building
Performance, Design and Smart Construction. Cham, Springer International Publishing.
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