While 2D CAD and scheduling tools remain the most used software applications among respondents to a recent McGraw-Hill construction survey, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is quickly gaining steam in the construction industry. Not too long ago it was a tool utilized mostly by engineers and architects; now, 33% of contractors and 17% of owners frequently use BIM, according to the survey. So, the question remains -- what exactly is Building Information Modeling? Well, in layman's terms, it's a process that brings geometry, geography and material quantities into 3D modeling software in order to provide a virtual representation of a building. Almost every key player in a construction project can benefit from these virtual models, and they can even foster better communication between teams. Some other advantages of BIM include:

• speeding up model changes between team members,
• helping identify problems, such as system clashes,
• preventing against collisions that result in design discrepancies, and
• allowing managers, engineers and owners to monitor progress without having to travel to the actual site.

Despite all the positives associated with BIM, there are still some issues that need to be worked out. For instance, because BIM tools take in a wide array of data in order to create these 3D models, interoperability can be a problem. Many users are finding compatibility among all the software programs in the market as a roadblock when dealing with other employees or business partners. To combat this issue, the BuildingSMART Alliance, founded in 2006, is trying to define standards of data interoperability, which will help alleviate this concern, as well as save time and money. As of right now, BIM seems to be in its infancy. Nevertheless, here are a few resources in case you want to delve deeper into this budding process:

• BIM Software Tools: An excerpt from Building Information Modeling -- Here is a book excerpt that details everything you would want to know about BIM and provides insight into the BIM software tools that get the job done. (ConstructionSoftwareReview.com)
• Documented BIM Advantages Tell Savings Story -- This is a real-world example of how the uses of BIM saved a construction firm more that $800,000. (Construction Informer Blog)
• BIM for Facilities Management -- Here's a construction lawyer's take on the advantages of BIM for facilities management. (Womble Carlyle Construction Industry Blog)

Ultimately, the future is bright for Building Information Modeling because almost every sector of the construction industry can utilize its capabilities in some fashion. Even if this software doesn't suit your particular company right now, getting familiar with it won't hurt because it will almost certainly be ubiquitous in the near future.