There is nothing wrong with the acronym and the literal interpretation, the direct translation is "Building Information Modeling", but the connotation is not just "three-dimensional" or "geometric" modeling this perspective.
When we need a building, we think about the function and the various "needs", then we "design" it through architects and engineers who have the specialized knowledge (note that in the past, this process didn't involve too many non-professionals), then we "design" it through the architects and engineers who have the specialized knowledge (note that in the past, this process didn't involve too many non-professionals). (Note that in the past, this process did not have too many non-professionals), and then through the professional "drawing" method, drawn into the "blueprints" distributed to the various construction organizations, personnel hand, and finally is to cover up, install equipment, layout appliances, and then a few years of continuous maintenance, upkeep, and updating.
Over the past thousand years, the "mapping" method has been gradually agreed upon - because the house is a three-dimensional space, but the cheap paper is two-dimensional, so the drawing of a certain need to "abbreviate", using specific symbols to refer to the house, the house is a three-dimensional space, but the cheap paper is two-dimensional. "with specific symbols to facilitate the drawing down - so non-professionals look at the map to understand the "blueprints" in how things are, have become difficult. Well, in general, there is no need for non-architectural engineering professionals to intervene, and architectural engineers are learning "descriptive geometry", "architectural drawing" and other courses, everything is not a problem.
But with the development of computer technology, three-dimensional software can gradually run on the PC, people began to think: the building was originally three-dimensional, I use three-dimensional software to draw directly, is not really convenient? Especially "what you see is what you get", at least you can let the initiator who wants to build a building to participate (generally we call them owners, the vast majority of non-construction engineering professionals. For example, if a local hospital is expanding, the doctors are not as familiar with concrete and piping as they are with scalpels and pharmaceuticals). The actual construction operator doesn't need to know too much (the technical "why"), but only needs to be able to visualize "what is this" and "where should I put it? All they need to do is visualize "what it is" and "where to put it". This is a boon for countries with high labor costs (workers with lower knowledge requirements can use cheaper labor); and for homeowners whose personalization needs are becoming more and more pronounced, it also gives them a higher level of satisfaction (and means it's easier to ask for money).
This is where the concept of "virtual design and construction on computers," known by the acronym VDC (Virtual Design and Construction), comes in.
However, since this logic was originally only about design and construction, and did not include processes such as "requirements" and maintenance, and did not discuss the impact of information efficiency in the process, it has had limited impact in the development process.
Then, due to the efficiency of information transfer considerations, as well as the need for continuity of process data, outside the wind of "big data", more emphasis on the "information" (BIM acronym in the I) of the work method was put forward --BIM, a method of optimizing processes throughout a building's life cycle to improve overall efficiency, with a focus on information and data continuity.
It's not limited to the software used, and naturally it's not just a matter of learning a particular type of software.
Like you ask "CAD", in fact, in mainland China usually refers to AutoCAD, but in fact, such as SU, MS, ArchiCAD, Inventor, Allplan, VevtorWorks, Civil 3D, etc., are all software. "CAD" software. Tianzheng well ...... is at most a personal experience of good plug-ins. But all playing "learn ** software will BIM" or "with ** software is using BIM", most of them are selling software, and training institutions, is also the same logic.
Books, there is a "BIM Handbook" is very good, English has been out of the second edition, Taiwan publishers published a traditional Chinese version. In addition, there is also a Chinese version of "Big BIM little BIM", is also very good.
BIM is actually an engineering management method (or logic), so in the field of construction of strong institutions, are the direction of this field of specialization in the "engineering management" category of disciplines, or as a special sub-division of the direction of each construction engineering specialties. Although the domestic opening of the specialty is also a matter of recent years, it ~