SharePoint for BIM

Overview: Building Information Modelling (BIM) Enterprise Document Management Systems are expensive.  I decided to use SharePoint instead, as we already have SharePoint licencing, security is approved, and it works with Entra MFA.  SharePoint offers great API's and is well-known and easy to manage.  Lastly, I got much better performance from SharePoint than the other two dedicated Doc Mgm Systems I evaluated.

Concerns:

• BIM version, numbering, and workflows: No issues seen; merely need a simple workflow
• Web Viewer for CAD files

Advantages:

• Part of the Microsoft ecosystem
• Free, as we all have E3 licences
• Users know how to use and manage SharePoint, so no training is required
• SaaS is running and is part of our business SLA, with 99.9% uptime.  SharePoint has an active-active architecture, built-in backups and data is stored in multiple locations
• Reduced setup and no external 3rd party requiring contracts and approvals.  No supplier has nearly as many compliance assertions including ISO27001, SOC1, SOC2, SOC3, GDPR, 
• Security is already ready with the client Entra userbase with MFA.  DLP and sensitivity labels.   Great built-in data residency, audit logs and retention policies.  File Sync is super helpful in working with large CAD files, especially in remote locations.  All data is encrypted at rest and in transit.
• SharePoint is widely used in construction projects.  Customers and third parties can securely access SharePoint Online for central collaboration.
• Mobile-friendly, tool-friendly, management-friendly approach to BIM.

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openBIM for AEC understanding

Within the AEC industry, standards are necessary to ensure that all project stakeholders are speaking the same language, thereby improving collaboration.  We can also process data to automate various processes if the data is standardised.

BIM (Building Information Modelling) is used to improve collaboration on infrastructure projects.  BIM is essentially ISO 19650, and it has various levels.  BIM is a Process! Not a technology vendor, the technology merely helps you with your BIM process.

Building Models contain 3D information that shows how assets fit together.  Each of these assets may contain properties that can be used to look for clash detections.  Think of a CAD diagram, it lays out the plans for a building so all parties can see the proposed plan.  As CAD technology advances, you can add more information about the project.  For example, as an electrician, I only want to see the layers that affect my work.  CAD can be further utilised to display product and material information.

closedBIM: These were the original big BIM systems, including AutoCAD, Revit, and Bentley ProjectWise.  These tools feature visual editors and viewers, enabling them to securely store the files required for a project and ensure that the appropriate individuals have access.  These all have their own proprietary standards.

openBIM: Read other parties' data, improves collaboration and consensus.  Easier to switch tools to reduce costs or get better features.  Consists of:

1. IFC (common language)
2. bSDD (industry common language)
3. IDS (Requirement specification)
4. BCF (check)
5. openCDE (sharing with APIS)

Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) serve as the basis for standardising how information is handled.  Has standards for location, such as geographic information.  Materials, Geometry, and Spatial Structures are covered by IFC classes.  In each industry, these base IFCs are added to.  The BuildingSmart bSDD is an extension of IFC for specialised industries and sectors, published to provide more specific, agreed-upon standards.  

Project Requirements: These can vary, but having an agreed-upon format, such as an Information Delivery Specification (IDS), is helpful. Although it is not necessary or widely used, it ensures that precise details are provided.  Therefore, collaboration allows all parties to clearly understand what is needed using IDS.

IDS uses bSDD, which is based on IFC, so that the requirement specifications are precisely laid out.

openCDE defines technical interfaces, .....

The History of BIM

I learnt a lot about BIM from a great BIM leader, Steph Neath.  Here is a diagram of the evolution of BIM from Steph:

Evolution of BIM (Building Information Modelling) as explained to me.

Introduction to ProjectWise and BIM

ProjectWise from Bentley - extend with Powershell

Postman Collection to connect to Bentley's REST API for ProjectWise (WSG)

Power BI reporting against ProjectWise (Project Insights) 

openBIM for AEC understanding & the History of BIM (this post)