A building information model (BIM) is a virtual representation of a built environment that aids in planning, designing, constructing, and managing buildings and, and is a key element of any infrastructure project. A building information modeling system includes a three-dimensional model of the building or environment, as well as information about the structure’s physical and functional qualities. Building information models also incorporate workflows that allow all project stakeholders and building management personnel to collaborate on the many aspects of and manage the built environment.
While there are a number of excellent BIM software solutions on the market, implementing a building information model requires a platform that can deliver three key capabilities: Integration of technologies, automation and customization.
Integration is essential, allowing the many software solutions used by various stakeholders to work with other systems easily and share one set of data. Automation is crucial to taming the complexity of massive projects. And because each process for creating and managing built environments is unique, building information model software must enable teams to customize every tool, workflow, report, and interface for the unique needs of each project and the working style of each team.
Quickbase offers a Dynamic Workplace Management platform that helps ensure any BIM software solution can deliver the automation, integration, and customization teams need to manage their most complex projects. With Quickbase, virtually any member of any team can create and modify sophisticated software solutions to automate workflows, improve data connectivity, and address visibility gaps.
The benefits of building information modeling
A building information model offers tremendous advantages to designers, architects, construction firms, and commercial building management teams.
Accurate visualization. A building information model provides a realistic and digestible visualization of a project or built environment, giving teams a more accurate understanding of physical structures, operational systems, spatial relationships, and many other data points.
Real-time updates. BIM systems can be updated in real time with the latest data from multiple sources, eliminating misinformation and inaccurate data.
Improved site evaluation. A building management platform typically incorporates geographical data about potential construction sites, enabling teams to evaluate sites from different perspectives.
Increased mobility. BIM software allows every team to access data from anywhere on any device, accelerating timelines and enabling fast responses as issues arise and changes are considered.
Data management. BIM construction and building management software can centralize documentation, providing all parties with access to accurate, up-to-date information.
Enhance coordination. Having access to a shared environment, visualizations, and analyses enables teams at every phase of a building project to work together more effectively to understand challenges, predict performance, and collaborate on solutions.
Prevent rework. When diverse teams use the same model for planning, design, construction, and operations, it makes it easier to identify conflicts and detect clashes between various processes, schedules, and components. As a result, teams can significantly reduce budget overruns and unplanned rework.
Solutions for building information models from Quickbase
Quickbase helps businesses continuously improve their unique processes and workflows by enabling secure, controlled citizen development at scale. With Quickbase, teams can modify existing software and create new applications to increase visibility, address workflow inefficiencies, and solve the many challenges of planning, designing, constructing, and managing built environments.
To support BIM and facility management software, Quickbase provides Dynamic Work tools that leverage no-code technology, allowing users to easily automate workflows, integrate systems, and customize applications. Quickbase also provides a wide array of templates and pre-built solutions that can augment and improve a building information model.
Building managementsoftware helps teams streamline communication, minimize administrative overhead, and identify areas of underperformance to ensure projects are delivered on time and on budget.
Construction management software equips teams and crews with real-time information to enhance safety, ensure compliance, improve communication, and quickly address schedule changes.
Real estate portfolio software securely manages crucial documentation in one place and enables teams to manage every stage of real estate projects with greater connectivity and efficiency.
Financial management software dynamically tracks every dollar, forecasts critical costs, eliminates error-prone processes, and protects the bottom line.
Project management software delivers a 360° view of projects, processes, suppliers, subcontractors, and field workers in one place, synchronizing data and workflows without disrupting existing systems.
Field service management software provides teams with updated, accurate, digitized information at every stage of every project – at any location, on any device.
Resource management and scheduling software balances workloads, allocates resources as project needs change, and allocates work to the people and firms best suited to get the job done.
Site selection software identifies opportunities for growth, closes visibility gaps, and helps choose the right locations every time.
Subcontractor management software streamlines estimating and bidding processes, tracks and analyzes performance, and ensures compliance to avoid project stoppages.
Supply chain management software centralizes and automates processes to avoid disruption, using business intelligence to anticipate potential issues before they arise.
Work order management software provides visibility of work orders as soon as they’re entered and the financial impact of changes as they occur.
Contract management software provides a central place for storing and accessing property agreements, leases, customer contracts, and vendor contracts.
What is a no-code development platform?
A no-code software development platform offers a more dynamic way to build applications. Rather than traditional tools for coding, a no-code platform provides a visual environment where applications are configured with point-and-click functionality. This enables business users with no development skills to build powerful solutions that solve challenging problems and automate complex workflows. As a result, software can be built and modified by the users who have the clearest insight into what the software needs to do, inevitably improving the final product. Quickbase’s no-code tools allow users to continue enhancing products over time, updating applications or changing schema without taking software off-line.
For professional developers, Quickbase serves as a low-code development platform, providing developers with advanced functionality, graphical UIs, and app configurations that accelerate software production. Ultimately, Quickbase unites business and IT teams on a platform controlled and governed by IT, but where business technologists can take responsibility for producing their own software solutions.
Why Quickbase
With a proven approach and a set of best practices based on 20+ years of experience, Quickbase has created a powerful platform for citizen development at scale, enabling virtually any user to create and modify sophisticated solutions to complex problems.
To ensure that new and modified applications conform with standards for design, compliance, and security, Quickbase provides a secure and flexible governance model that lets IT retain control and supervision. In-product guardrails enable business users to freely create and modify applications without worrying about breaking software or accessing the wrong data. Audit logs help ensure that developers conform with established policies and standards. Customizable, role-based permissions offer granular control over who can access information and allow IT teams to see who is building applications and integrating data.
Quickbase’s business enablement services help accelerate business impact, establish governance frameworks, and achieve greater agility. Customer support available 24/7 ensures that IT teams and business users have access to all the answers they need.
FAQs
What is a building information model?
A building information model, or BIM, is a three-dimensional representation of a built environment that also serves as a central repository of plans, specifications, data, intelligence, and other information about a physical structure and its operational systems. BIM solutions enable all relevant parties – from architects and engineers to construction firms and management companies – to view a highly accurate representation of a building at every stage of its lifespan and to access an authoritative repository of up-to-date, accurate information.
What’s important in a BIM solution?
In addition to 3D modeling technology, BIM comprises a broad range of technologies and data sources. BIM solutions must integrate siloed data and disparate applications to ensure that stakeholders have access to one unified version of the truth. BIM software must automate both routine tasks and critical processes to ensure consistency, safety, and efficiency. BIM technology must also be fully customizable, enabling members of any team to adapt BIM software and other applications to the specific needs of a built environment and the workflows of each team.
