W1: Open BIM#
31st August 2026
Name |
Type |
Time |
Description |
Learning Objective Groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lecture |
13.00 |
Course Introduction |
A, B, C, D |
|
Activity |
13.30 |
Building Design Simulation |
A |
|
BIM Challenges |
Discussion |
14.00 |
People, process or tool challenges? |
A |
OpenBIM |
Lecture |
14.10 |
Open BIM IFC and FOSS tools in AEC |
A, B, C |
Blender |
Exercise |
14.30 |
Blender / Bonsai install etc. |
A, B, C |
Summary |
Discussion |
16.45 |
Share Learning reflection with peers |
D |
Activity - Scenario 1 - Silo Model and Send
Course Introduction#
Short motivational lecture to help situate your own interests into the course.
___ What is your role in the Building Design Team?
___ What is Advanced BIM - how could it help you?
_____________ Support better decisions about buildings throughout their lifecycle.
_____________ [Discuss] Limitations - data, silos etc.
___ Circular Education System and Course Rules
___ ABIM focuses on Analysis
_____________ What do we need to do to get good, comparable data every time?
_____________ What tools do we need to create robust comparable results from this data
___ Course Learning Objectives
___ Course Assignments and Feedback [ ]
___ Test your assumptions …
structured pre scenario survey.#
BattleBuild#
Activity - Scenario 1 - Silo Model and Send
In class experiment to simulate the challenges of multidisciplinary BIM based collaboration in projects. Are your assumptions about good BIM enough?
___ You will be assigned a role in a project team, this could be a BIM manager or an engineer / architect.
___ You will be assigned one of 2 different software options for your role.
___ You will have a task to complete related to your role before the deadline.
___ Can you complete both your own goals and that of the project?
___ Submit your final design for review when you are complete.
Discuss - What worked, what didn’t?#
___ What are the problems of siloed working? Inc. post scenario survey.
BIM Challenges#
Focused discussion on what we discovered from running the simulation
___ What were the barriers to your discipline
___ How could you work better as a team?
___ Is perfect BIM acheivable, is it enough?
___ What are the Benefits and challenges of BIM? (Inc. Silos)
OpenBIM#
___ What is OpenBIM?
___ Interoperability Principles [ ]
— Introduction to existing model of B308 and model of B112
___ BIM Maturity Levels [-]
___ What is [(Open)BIM] and what are what are FOSS tools and FAIR data? [ ]
___ FAIR Principles [ ]
___ Standards, Technical Specifications and Guides [ ]
___ Assignment 1 Introduction
Blender#
View the model in Blender / Bonsai (fka BlenderBIM)#
Managers should gather knowledge from groups in their focus area and the teaching team to work out the best way to support all the groups in their focus area through this activity.
Please note that the Blender / Bonsai BIM ecosystem is being updated rapidly so some links below may not work as first intended. Please be patient and help each other learn :)
You can use this tool from Dion Moult to help find the entities you are looks for also you can search the IFC4 schema here
Activity 3)#
Look for specific IFC entities in Blender.
Do a basic IFCopenShell analysis using simple forensics code.
Are there limitations in the model and in the previous tools using the forensic analysis of the existing model?
Activity 2#
1) Battleships 1: A messy project with limited disciplinary communication#
Battlebuild: do a forensic analysis on existing building and make a simple change
Blender#
In this activity we will analyse the previous models [LO7], apply and improve programming and openBIM modelling skills [LO11]
2) Download Blender / Bonsai (fka BlenderBIM) installation) and investigate the model#
5) Next Steps#
You are now one step closer in your journey to becoming an OpenBIM guru. Check out the next session here