Open Source BIM Software


The Top 8 Free and Open Source BIM Software Tools 
What is this “BIM” anyway?

Building information modelling is a process to help manage complexity and improve performance in construction projects. 
Using BIM as a software application gives users the following advantages:

Many users and software developers stop at the first benefit. 
They consider BIM to be a kind of glorified computer-aided design (CAD). 


Reasons for considering free or open source BIM software

At first glance, it seems obvious. 
“Free construction software” should help you save money. 
However, as any IT manager will tell you, initial software costs are often a small proportion of the real cost of using software, including staff time and effort to learn and use it. 


Construction manager or software geek?

To help you decide, we'll categorize options for free and open source BIM software into the following types:


Free BIM Viewer


Screenshot of BIMx from Graphisoft
BIMx from Graphisoft is available free of charge for Android and iOS devices. 

As an interactive 3D communication and presentation tool, it lets users upload a 3D drawing and explore it. 
Construction companies can take advantage of BIMx to:

An iPad or Android tablet offers mobility, as well as a camera for taking pictures of problems and the ability to attach accompanying notes (although the website says that the free app is for viewing only and mostly intended for clients). 
BIMx also won a mobile Product of the Year Award as a testimony to its quality and user friendliness.
Another option is BIM Vision, a freeware IFC model viewer that allows the user to view virtual models created by systems such as Revit, Archicad, Advance, DDS CAD, Tekla, and Nemetschek VectorWorks, just to name a few. 
IFC stands for “Industry Foundation Class,” which is another kind of data model for describing building and construction industry data.
The software allows for lots of tweaking of the 3D model, including coloring elements based on the type, setting the transparency level for creating cross-sections, and comparisons of models to show the geometry changes and element properties. 
You can also load multiple IFC files in one view for side-by-side comparisons.
BIM Vision works on a PC or tablet with Windows 7 or newer, so Apple users are out of luck.

Standard office application-based BIM


Image from Practical BIM
Do Microsoft Excel and the free OpenOffice Calc qualify as BIM software? According to initiatives such as COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange), the answer is yes. 

COBie is a data format designed for the capture and recording of important building project data. 

The data can be recorded in a spreadsheet, which can then be used as input for other software applications. 
In June 2011, the UK government set out a five-year plan to bring 3D BIM in for all its construction projects (PDF). 
The requirement for the first year was COBie: a “spreadsheet containing as much information about a building in as complete and as useful form as possible.”
COBie and similar data formats also highlight another interesting point. 
BIM isn't only about 3D drawings. 
In fact, BIM can also exist without any such drawings at all as information in a COBie spreadsheet.

BIM as a bolt-on for CAD software


Screenshot of FreeCAD
BIM and engineering CAD software are two different approaches to building design. 

In a perfect world they would stay separate. 
However, in the real world, compromises are sometimes necessary in order to get building projects done. FreeCAD offers such a compromise. 
It is a CAD program that offers BIM functionality as an extension to help users handle BIM as a process.
In particular, FreeCAD offers “IFC compatibility.” FreeCAD also states that its functionality can be activated and driven by other software programs written in Python. 
Python is reputed for its relative user-friendliness, but for most people, it's “geek-speak” all the same.
In summary, FreeCAD offers a way for users already familiar with CAD to get a head start along the road to BIM, but those without any software programming knowledge may find it tough going.

The BIM software toolkit


Screenshot of xBIM
The phrase “software toolkit” instantly indicates a need for some serious software engineering capability in order to get any further. 
The challenge is to make the connection between the software constructs and terminology and a practical solution that helps your construction business. 
Unfortunately, some free toolkits or platforms seem to get stuck at the software stage.
xBIM (eXtensible Building Information Modeling) makes an effort to help users cross over the chasm and get to business value. 
While created as a software development toolkit, it offers practical examples of use in real life building contexts. 
It may take a software engineer to figure out the references to middleware and APIs (application programming interfaces), but other aspects are easier to understand:

Another option is BIMserver, which was created on the premise that no two construction projects are the same, and therefore construction managers need focused applications that can do one thing very well.
BIMserver is a platform that allows you to build a niche application perfectly suited for your project, although you’ll need some programming expertise to get started. 
The software is published under the GNU Affero GPLv3 license, so it's free to use and modify. 
You can use this software to create your own BIM tool from the ground up, or modify other tools out there to fit your unique situation.
BIMserver’s core features include storing all revisions, open BIM standards, cloud capabilities, lots of interfaces, and a plug-in framework for easier fine-tuning, to name a few.

BIM from the Start


Screenshot of B-processor
An intuitive free BIM offering in this category is “B-processor.” 
B-processor has been created from the start for BIM, and not as an add-on to a CAD software product. 
The 3D modeling of a building is relatively simple to learn. 
As spaces (such as rooms) and structures (such as  walls) are put into place, users add further information (“tags”) to each element to describe its properties and function. 
These tags can then be used to provide total cost information, cost breakdowns, carbon footprint data, alerts about design conflicts, and more. 
 
B-processor also keeps manipulation of each model simple too, with the possibility to define:

Another BIM project, 4BIM, offers similar “native” BIM functionality, this time as an online software service. 
As an open source solution, it too has its sights set on practical functionality to help designers and builders.

4BIM offers most or even all of the BIM benefits listed at the beginning of this article, without making builders jump through any software engineering hoops.

Meanwhile, back at the commercial vendors ranch…

Credit where credit is due; commercial CAD solution vendors such as Autodesk and Nemetschek (maker of Graphisoft, among other products) have also actively promoted common building data formats. 
This makes it easier to exchange such data between different programs. 

The initiative to define the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) started in 1994 when Autodesk formed an industry consortium on the subject. 
The consortium then became a nonprofit industry-led organization to develop and maintain IFC specifications, and is now called buildingSMART, the eight tool in our list.
Independently of how commercial vendors view free and new solutions such as 4BIM, open standards to help interworking are in everybody's best interest.

Conclusion

Building information modeling is increasingly part of any and all construction activities. 
While some clients choose to make it mandatory, BIM offers benefits to all players in the construction industry, whether they are architects, designers, engineers, or builders. 
This is as true for smaller companies as it is for larger ones.
Free and open source BIM software must be selected with care however. 
In this case, the size of the user's organization does matter. 
Smaller construction companies may not have the internal software skills or resources to work with some of the more complex open source BIM programs or toolkits. 
Even larger companies will need to size up the effort required to put such programs to practical use. 
On the other hand, other free and open source solutions such as BIMx, B-processor, and 4BIM offer real possibilities to become part of the BIM scene and to do better business because of it.




List of BIM Software & Providers

List of BIM Software & Providers




There are a lot of choices on BIM software, see a list here.
Although BIM is relatively new, it is also a trend that is penetrating the Construction industry fast and I would even dare to say, with no way back. For those trying to choose an application, here comes a comprehensive list of BIM providers for the different categories.
Architecture

    

  1. Autodesk Revit Architecture
    2. 

  2. Graphisoft ArchiCAD
    3. 

  3. Nemetschek Allplan Architecture
    4. 

  4. Gehry Technologies - Digital Project Designer
    5. 

  5. Nemetschek Vectorworks Architect
    6. 

  6. Bentley Architecture
    7. 

  7. 4MSA IDEA Architectural Design (IntelliCAD)
    8. 

  8. CADSoft Envisioneer
    9. 

  9. Softtech Spirit
    10. 

  10. RhinoBIM (BETA)
    11. 


Sustainability

    

  1. Autodesk Ecotect Analysis
    2. 

  2. Autodesk Green Building Studio
    3. 

  3. Graphisoft EcoDesigner
    4. 

  4. IES Solutions Virtual Environment VE-Pro
    5. 

  5. Bentley Tas Simulator
    6. 

  6. Bentley Hevacomp
    7. 

  7. DesignBuilder
    8. 


Structures

    

  1. Autodesk Revit Structure
    2. 

  2. Bentley Structural Modeler
    3. 

  3. Bentley RAM, STAAD and ProSteel
    4. 

  4. Tekla Structures
    5. 

  5. CypeCAD
    6. 

  6. Graytec Advance Design
    7. 

  7. StructureSoft Metal Wood Framer
    8. 

  8. Nemetschek Scia
    9. 

  9. 4MSA Strad and Steel
    10. 

  10. Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis
    11. 


MEP

    

  1. Autodesk Revit MEP
    2. 

  2. Bentley Hevacomp Mechanical Designer
    3. 

  3. 4MSA FineHVAC + FineLIFT + FineELEC + FineSANI
    4. 

  4. Gehry Technologies - Digital Project MEP Systems Routing
    5. 

  5. CADMEP (CADduct / CADmech)
    6. 


Construction (Simulation, Estimating and Const. Analysis)

    

  1. Autodesk Navisworks
    2. 

  2. Solibri Model Checker
    3. 

  3. Vico Office Suite
    4. 

  4. Vela Field BIM
    5. 

  5. Bentley ConstrucSim
    6. 

  6. Tekla BIMSight
    7. 

  7. Glue (by Horizontal Systems)
    8. 

  8. Synchro Professional
    9. 

  9. Innovaya
    10. 


Facility Managment

    

  1. Bentley Facilities
    2. 

  2. FM:Systems FM:Interact
    3. 

  3. Vintocon ArchiFM (For ArchiCAD)
    4. 

  4. Onuma System
    5. 

  5. EcoDomus
    6. 


There are a lot of choices on BIM software, see a list here.Although BIM is relatively new, it is also a trend that is penetrating the Construction industry fast and I would even dare to say, with no way back. For those trying to choose an application, here comes a comprehensive list of BIM providers for the different categories.


.IFC 文件擴展名

開發商： BuildingSMART
文件類型： Industry Foundation Classes File

什麼是一 .IFC 文件？

甲BIM程序被分類為建築物信息管理軟件，並且這些應用可用於創建一個工業基礎類文件。

這些行業基礎類文件存儲與用於IFC格式的開源編碼規範，並保存為文件IFC與.IFC擴展。

這些IFC的文件被分類為三維圖像文件，和一個ICF文件的內容可以包括其中通過圖像的作者輸入到IFC文件其他視覺元素數字建築和設施的設計對象。

這些建築和設施的設計可包括用於構造建築物或設施，它的形狀和類似建築物的不同部分的尺寸的空間元素的材料的數字圖像。

促進互操作性是可以在不同的BIM方案被用於IFC文件格式，這意味著這些IFC文件，並將其納入這些IFC文件的編碼和壓縮規格的發展的主要目標。


Converting 3D model into an IFC


usBIM.viewer+ is a free plug-in by ACCA software, that simplifies communication between the different teams collaborating on the platform in the definition of the BIM model. 
You can view, edit, convert and export 2x3IFC files from dwg and from other 3D model file formats by AutoCAD® (.dwg), SketchUp (.skp), 3D Studio Max® (.3ds) and many others.


IFC files contain building models, with solid geometries. 
The AutoCAD to IFC demo converts 2D AutoCAD floorplan polygons into 3D solid IFC Spaces by elevating and extruding them.

However, data appears to be contours and roadways is not possible to create solid geometry from these linear features, and this is generally not the type of data written to IFC.

Export a DWG to the IFC file format
AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP or Autodesk Civil 3D to export the DWG file to the IFC file format.

Alternatively, Revit supports the DWG file format. 
In Revit family, import DWG file and load this family into Revit project. Then try export model to IFC.

CAD Exchanger
Converting a 3D model into an IFC format


BIM大显身手


火神山医院、雷神山医院的建造速度让全球都重新认识了中国这个基建狂魔的效率。
而背后有很大一部分的功劳来自BIM及信息化的应用的支撑。
比如火神山医院设计方案落实的过程中，BIM大显身手，充分体现了BIM在整体统筹规划，项目协调、可视化模型创建等方面重要作用。

工程采用边设计、边施工、边修改、边调整，交叉突击完成。
这其中最大难点就是时间紧，没有任何返工的机会。
设计师一边建模出图，工地也一边进行施工，这种方式以前从没遇到过。

平时容纳1000个床位病房的医院BIM模型，大概需要六个人进行一个月左右时间的设计创建，而这次只有3天。

设计过程中，不仅样板间模型要设计合理、做好碰撞检测。
还需要考虑到：
信息互通、电力供给、整体协调规划。



Free Software

ifc forum

Areddo
Areddo, a BIM viewer for IFC and pointclouds (.PTS)

BIM Beaver
BIM BEAVER, – a free Viewer from the company BIM VILLAGE

BIMData
BIMData, the BIM collaborative platform

Bimserver.org
Open Source BIM Server, an open source BIM Server based on IFC 

BIM surfer WebGL viewer
BIM Surfer, an open source WebGL viewer for IFC in the webbrowser

Cadalog, Inc
IFC2SKP, IFC Import Plugin for Google SketchUp 8 
--> Download

Constructivity
Constructivity Model Viewer, a viewer for IFC Data
--> Download

CSTB
eveBIM, Multi-scale viewer for IFC, BCF, CityGML and GIS files. Multiples plugins for viewpoints, clipping, colorization, properties edition... 
--> Download

datacomp
BIM Vision, first Polish browser for IFC format
--> Download

Data Design System
DDS-CAD Viewer, a viewer for IFC Data *.ifc, *.ifcZIP, *ifcxml, *gbxml
--> Download

DDS IFC Reader, drag & drop IFC files and examine 
--> Download

G.E.M. Team Solutions
IfcQuickBrowser, Text-browser for large IFC files. The IFC file is displayed in a tree structure. 
--> Download

IfcOpenShell.org 
IfcOpenShell is a free open source IFC geometry engine. Besides the library itself, it features an 
importer for Autodesk 3ds Max, an importer for Blender and a stand-alone application to convert into the Wavefront .OBJ file format. 
--> Website

IfcWebServer.org 
IfcWebServer.org is a free to use data model server and online viewer for Building Information Models (BIM) based on IFC standards.
BIM managers and designers can query, filter and make reports about any information inside IFC models easily.
The IFCWebServer can be used also in universities for BIM courses. Students can register and upload IFC models, explore the structure, apply filters, create sub-models and generate reports.

Karlsruhe Institute for Technology / Institute for Applied Computer Science / Campus North
FZKViewer, a viewer for IFC and CityGML Data. 
--> Download

Nemetschek AG
Nemetschek IFC Viewer, free 3D IFC Viewer, supports IFC format and XML IFC Format

NIST
IFC File Analyzer, Generate an Excel spreadsheet or CSV files from an IFC file 
-->Download
SteelVis - CIS/2 to IFC Translator, CIS/2 is the product model for structural steel 
-->Download

Open Source BIM collective 
Open source BIM collectiveThe open source BIM Collective is created to support and build the highest-quality open source Building Information Modeling software for open standards like IFC. Projects like IfcWebServer, BIM tools for sketchup, UBERviewer (CityGML and IFC), BIMserver.org, IfcOpenShell and BIMsurfer team up to create a stable suite of free and open source tools for everybody to use! 

Open IFC Tools 
Open IFC tools, a set of tools for open source IFC development. 
--> Overviewincluding 
open Java toolbox, IFC loader for Java-3d, Boolean modeller, and Schedule assistent

RDF Ltd.
IFC Viewer, an IFC Viewer for Windows (DirectX 9), Unicode, IFC 2x3 (TC1) as well as IFC 4 and both 32/64 bit versions.
-->Download

IFC Viewers Source Code, the same viewer with C++ source code for 32/64 bit Unicode, including non-Unicode versions and a C# 32 bit version.
-->Download
IFC Examples Source Code, C++ and C# examples of IFC applications reading/writing including 'Hello Wall'/'Hello World' and IFC Viewers (all based on the 

http://rdf.bg/ifc-engine-dll.php IFC Engine DLL]).
-->Download

Solibri
Solibri IFC Optimizer, a tool for optimizing/compressing IFC files 
Solibri IFC Optimizer
Solibri Model Viewer, a viewer for IFC and Solibri Model Checker Data
Solibri Model Viewer
(Both Solibri softwares run on Windows and Mac OS X.)

Tekla
Tekla BIMsight, *.ifc, *.ifcZIP, *ifcxml,.dgn, .dwg, .xml files, you can combine models and run clash detection for free
--> Download

BIM Vision
freewares support IFC