Software Tools

The software applications which can author an object-based, data-rich, 3D model. These software applications often link to other Specialized Software Tools to generate a variety of Model-based Deliverables

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) refers to the use of digital tools generate, modify, analyse, or optimise an object or a space. CAD represents all pre-BIM digital tools and their 2D/3D deliverables

A software application in which design rules are authored and edited as a visual graph of connected nodes (e.g. Dynamo, Grasshopper or GenerativeComponents). A Graphical Algorithm Editor is the editing environment for a Visual Programming Language: the editor is the tool, while the language is the visual notation it manipulates. Processing the graph generates or modifies a Generative Model, a Parametric Model or their Model Components

A software solution (installed on a local server or hosted in the cloud) allowing Multi-Discipline Models to be centrally collated and managed. Model Servers are a type of Federated Modelling Environments and typically depend on non-proprietary open formats similar to Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)

A software application allowing users to inspect and navigate Modelling Project Information according to ad-hoc or standard Model View Definitions. As opposed to Model Servers, models accessed by a Model Viewer (MV) are read-only and cannot be modified. Autodesk Navisworks and Solibri Model Checker are examples of Model Viewers (MVR)…Also refer to BIM Software Tool

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software licensing and delivery model in which a software tool is not installed on each user's computer but is centrally hosted (in the cloud) and provided to users on a subscription basis. BIM Excellence online tools are an example of SaaS

An add-on, plug-in or similar which enhances or extends the core capabilities of a software

A document defining the permitted use of software tools within an organisational setting or across a Project Team. Not to be confused with a User Licensing Agreement (ULA), a Software Usage Policy may disallow unauthorised installation of software applications, clarify user access levels to specialised software tools, or define which software tools to be used for the delivery of specific services or products. The policy may also clarify licensing limits, security considerations, and provide overall guidance on acceptable user behaviour during the usage of software tools covered by the policy

A software tool which is not used for authoring models but for analysing their components or their data. For example, a Specialized Software Tool would analyse the thermal performance, seismic behaviour, Asset Life Cycle or other aspects of a BIModel generated by a BIM Software Tool