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Simplebim – Introduction

Simplebim® is a BIM data processing solution. In the basic workflow:

  1. You import IFC models to Simplebim from any discipline or model author tool. Including infra models.
  2. Process the model data for your purpose with Simplebim’s unique BIM dataflows .
  3. And finally export the enriched model back to IFC, or as data to Excel or CSV.

You can use Simplebim for simple tasks like trimming the model and creating a submodel from the original one. Or you can go crazy and structure, clean up, enrich, and validate the model, for example, for any downstream use case. Simplebim also has powerful tools for visualizing and analyzing model data.

Simplebim’s goal is to turn raw BIM data into easy-to-use information and actionable insights for every construction professional on daily basis. No matter where your model comes from. Or who or how is using the data.

Why Do You Need Simplebim?

Raw BIM data is complex and incomplete. Managing it the traditional way is expensive, manual, slow, and requires specialized expertise.

Why is that? It is the same reason as for any data. Raw BIM data is created from multiple different sources, which all produce different kinds of data. There are different design disciplines, different model author tools, different companies using them differently, and so on… To use all this data together and efficiently and reliably, the data needs to be processed, just like in any properly managed data flow.

Different use cases and different BIM tools have different requirements for the data. Simplebim helps you meet the requirements.

Simplebim dataflows process your IFC model in a revolutionary, automated and centralized way. Dataflows enable the smartest possible BIM workflow and make your data consistent and complete, ready to use in thousands of use cases.

Mandatory part of BIM data lifecycle management

A good way to think about BIM data lifecycle and the different solutions needed is the following.

  • The raw BIM data are created in model author tools.
  • The models are stored in BIM platforms, CDE systems or generic data management platforms.
  • The data is analyzed in specific tools. There are amazing analysis tools available both for construction industry specific analysis like energy analysis or cost estimation, and more generic ones.
  • To get value out of data it needs to be communicated, shared, reported and visualized in a proper way. There are very good solutions for that too.

Simplebim is none of these. Simplebim is a BIM data processing solution. Open, centralized, and automated data processing is a proven method in other industries. Simplebim brings this power to BIM, and thus makes your BIM data lifecycle management complete.

Who Is Using Simplebim?

Simplebim is used by all that are trying to use and find the value of IFC models in their work. Architects, structural engineers, HVAC or MEP engineers, energy analysts, quantity surveyors, site surveyors, BIM coordinators and managers, construction company BIM teams, data analysist, data engineers and BIM users alike. Even the BIM teams of the owner prepare the models for facility management.

The use cases are endless. QTO – Cost estimation – Production planning and scheduling – Logistics – Procurement – Tendering – Site management – Energy analysis – Design coordination – and more. Wherever and whenever you need valuable and usable BIM data.

Simplebim Features

Data processing has many names. You can call it data transformation, data cleansing, data transformation and so on. It is not important what you call it. The goal is very simple: to make data valuable and usable in a scalable way.

Simplebim is an unique BIM data processing tool. It cleans and transforms BIM data fit for purpose. It makes BIM data valuable in an automated way. There are very simple things you can do, or you can go crazy and take into use the whole suite of features to make a comprehensive data processing.

Simplebim supports models from all design disciplines as long as they are in IFC2x3, IFC4 and IFC4.3 format.

Simplebim Desktop is a Windows desktop application. Note that for large-scale use we also have Simplebim Cloud, which is documented separately.

In the heart of Simplebim is data processing automation, which is done with so-called dataflows. Learn more about dataflows here.

You can think data processing workflow in 6 steps. Simplebim has tools for each of them: explore, structure, clean, enrich, validate and publish data. Please learn more about each here:

Simplebim is a complete BIM data processing suite. However you don’t have to master all the concepts and techniques to create value from BIM data. Not every use case needs all the steps in data processing. The steps are not always done in order. Feel free to jump to any section you are most interested in.