BIM glossary
BIM terms, explained.
The vocabulary behind BIM analytics, in plain language — each with a visual explainer.
Formats & standards
2- IFC Industry Foundation Classes
- IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is the open, vendor-neutral file format for exchanging BIM models. It stores geometry, spatial structure, and element properties in a standardized schema, so a model authored in Revit, Archicad, or Tekla can be read by any IFC-compatible tool.
- Level of Development LOD
- Level of Development (LOD) is the industry scale — from LOD 100 to LOD 500 — describing how far a BIM element's geometry and information can be relied on. LOD 100 is a conceptual placeholder; LOD 300 is precise, coordination-ready geometry; LOD 500 is field-verified as-built data.
Model coordination
2- Clash detection
- Clash detection is the automated check for conflicts between building elements in a BIM model — typically across discipline models in a federation. It finds hard clashes, where geometry physically overlaps, and clearance (soft) clashes, where required space around an element is violated.
- Federated model
- A federated model combines separate discipline models — architecture, structure, MEP, and others — into one coordinated view without merging the source files. Each team keeps authoring its own model; the federation overlays them in shared coordinates for review, clash detection, and reporting.
Analytics & reporting
1- Quantity takeoff QTO
- A quantity takeoff (QTO) is the measured list of materials and elements a construction project needs — wall areas, pipe lengths, door counts — used for estimating, procurement, and progress tracking. Model-based takeoffs derive these quantities directly from BIM element geometry and properties instead of manual measurement.
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