Building Information Modelling is transforming the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry through digital-driven practices, enhanced collaboration, and standardization to gain more control over the life cycle of built assets. Even though the BIM industry is booming, and several countries have already adopted BIM into their public projects as a mandatory practice, the wide spread of BIM could be hindered by a few aspects. This article will explore BlenderBIM as an alternative to dominating BIM software in the market.
What Is Hindering Widespread BIM Adoption?
Among other aspects of BIM adoption, it relies heavily on the software systems now dominated by companies such as Autodesk Inc., Nemetschek Group, Bentley Systems, and Dassault Systemes, where each software vendor has their file formats. This limits the collaboration among different software users where openBIM standard and vendor-neutral file format could be a solution. In BIM execution, one crucial thing to consider is the version control in a project specifying which software version is going to be used in the project. This approach is taken because of the inability to collaborate among different released versions of the same software. Also, the subscription costs of these software systems could hinder investment in BIM for projects. BlenderBIM, a free and open-source addon for Blender, that uses openBIM standards that are vendor-neutral and accessible could be the missing link for wider BIM adoption in the AEC industry.
BlenderBIM
Free and open-source software Blender has been around as a front-runner as a graphics software toolset for 3D modeling, animation, VFX, and many more applications. BlenderBIM is a free addon for Blender primarily developed by Dion Moult as a native Industry Foundation Class (IFC) authoring platform. IFC is an openBIM standard developed by buildingSMART International (buildingSMART, n.d.).
Free and Open-Source
BlenderBIM addon is free to use with no cost and with liberty to use the addon for any purpose, change it to suit a user requirement, learn how the software is built, and share it with others for collaboration and improvements (OSArch, n.d.). This approach changes BIM culture in the AEC industry that uses proprietary software which is limited by versions, subscription, or purchase costs and limited access to their APIs for customization. BlenderBIM is also an open-source initiative that encourages forming communities around it, improving for specific user needs, and enabling customization as one wishes (OSArch, n.d.).
OpenBIM and Native IFC Authoring
openBIM stands to expand the benefits of BIM with accessible, usable, and sustainable management of digital information in a built asset by being a collaborative and vendor-neutral process (buildingSMART, n.d.). Among many standards introduced in the openBIM approach, IFC is recognized by ISO as well, as a neutral and open file format for BIM data exchange. BlenderBIM uses the IFC file format to store BIM data as a native authoring tool for IFC as opposed to other proprietary software and their file formats. Because the IFC is an open format, one could use an array of tools for BIM uses not limited to one software vendor or application (buildingSMART, n.d.).
Tasks, Processes, And Workflows
A Typical task in BIM such as modeling, creating BIM objects, geolocation of models, drawing generation, collaboration, costing, and scheduling are all facilitated within BlenedrBIM. Tons of useful sources could help one to master using the addon from project setup to completion of meta data-rich model. Some useful YouTube channels that provide tutorials include Ifc Architect and Consult BIM (Sigma Dimensions). Accurate geometric information and metadata are two crucial facets of BIM software and BlenderBIM facilitates that with a range of useful options.
IFC Git Collaboration
For optimum collaboration, BlenderBIM has incorporated a framework that uses remote repositories to share the BIM files in IFC format. The workflow follows from saving the files locally and linking to a remote repository such as GitHub. By following standard git commands to share files with certain controlled accessibility, text-based IFC format could be viewed, analyzed, and modified for different BIM tasks by different users. This type of collaboration is different from usual work sharing and a person has to possess certain knowledge of how remote repositories work. However, the advantage of this initiative is the customization capability to suit one’s needs and git workflow flexibility.
It’s A Blender Addon
Another aspect to consider is the power of Blender to enhance the capabilities of BlenderBIM addon for various other tasks. Blender has its render engine, Cycles, which can create high-quality renders. With seamless integration of Python in Blender, more customization is possible with basic programming knowledge. As an example, one of the tutorials by Consult BIM (Sigma Dimensions) explains the automation of the task of creating materials for BIM objects using simple Python scripts that minimize repetitive tasks.
A great community
As Blender has a great community to support, BlenderBIM also possesses a great resource collection and support. OSArch forum is one of the main spaces where the community of developers discuss how the software is being developed and it is also a great place to ask questions regardless of being a novice or a veteran in BlenderBIM. The community is always there to support you. The mentioned YouTube guides provide step-by-step tutorials for BIM capabilities in BlenderBIM and guides on how to set up BlenderBIM.
The digitization of our industry is changing conventional ways of working in silos and moving towards more collaboration, communication, and coordination within teams through digital-driven practices. Having BIM present in the AEC industry for a considerable time, practitioners have gotten used to the solutions, processes, and workflows mostly provided by the proprietary software. Considering BlenderBIM as a community-backed, vendor-neutral, and openBIM initiative, it presents a useful alternative for BIM implementation by providing a user-centric approach in a free and open-source culture.
Reference:
buildingSMART (n.d.). openBIM. [online] buildingSMART International. Available at: https://www.buildingsmart.org/about/openbim/.
OSArch (n.d.). BlenderBIM Add-on – Wiki.OSArch. [online] wiki.osarch.org. Available at: https://wiki.osarch.org/index.php?title=BlenderBIM_Add-on#Benefits [Accessed 30 Jan. 2024].
