BIM and Construction Management: Proven Tools, Methods, and Workflows

1.4. A New Concept of Process

For decades, the way data was transferred in a construction process was linear, with one task being followed by another. This old process of drawing collaboration involved a large number of isolated files that needed to be continually updated and constantly managed. In a typical CAD process, information was created in isolated CAD (or other) files and then digitally inserted over the top of the floor plans, sections and other separate views. For example, the architect would reference a single mechanical floor plan file of a single floor and use the single structural engineers' CAD drawings for a single floor as a background to test for conflict interference between the two. This process was time intensive, not automated, ...