BIM Basics: 2D & 3D Deliverables
As you are creating your 3D BIM model, it’s important to keep both the end-user and end deliverable in mind. The final outputs you deliver to the client will be a decision made by the end-user and will affect the way that you model. There are 2 types of deliverables, 2D and 3D.
Architectural drafting has traditionally been completed in 2D. 3D BIM modeling is a relatively recent trend, taking off as technology that has advanced in the last 15 years. With 2D drawings being the industry standard ever since humans have been building structures, there are many still who are more comfortable working with 2D.
2D Plans
Floor Plan
Floor plans, the basic overview of a structure from the top down, most often comes to mind when thinking of 2D plans. Though this is the most common, many other 2D plans are useful.
Reflected Ceiling Plan
A reflected ceiling plan is just as it sounds, a 2D representation of the ceiling. It is the inverse of the floor plan. This plan is great for indicating light, sprinkler, vent, and smoke detector locations and showing the type of ceilings such as acoustic tile, metal, or sheetrock.
Roof Plan
The roof plan is useful in determining the location of specific systems that ventilate, such as piping, or draw in air from outside, such as HVAC units. These types of plans are very important for commercial spaces, where it is common for these major systems to be placed on the roof.
Elevations
2D elevations are another common plan often used in the industry. Elevations are two dimensional drawings of one side of a structure standing 20ft back. These drawings are useful in gaining a proper understanding of the space. They are great for referencing doors, windows, and other openings in walls. You’ll often find interior and exterior elevations requested for projects.
Exterior elevations are great for understanding the size of openings in relation to the rest of the structure. This is crucial for architectural design applications. Exterior elevations are also used to understand how different exterior finishes look. You often see brick, stone, or siding represented in these elevations.
Interior elevations are great for determining opening sizes on interior walls and for determining the best use of space for objects that might be in the structure.
Other Plans
There are many other 2D plans that can be created. You can have an electrical plan showing the wiring, receptacles, light switches, and panel boxes. There are also Mechanical plans that map out HVAC or plumbing systems, Equipment Floor Plans that show a top-down view of how important objects fit into a space, and many more.
3D Models
When it comes to 3D BIM model deliverables there aren’t different model types per se. Where we find the variation in 3D models is in the LOD and LOA. The 3D BIM model is intended to be a digital representation of the structure. This means you aren’t going to have a 3D floor plan or 3D elevations independently. What you do have in the 3D model is a digital asset from which the 2D plans can be derived.
This is one of the main applications of our 3D models. Once the client has the model, then all the other 2D plans mentioned above can be easily created digitally. By simply moving the model around with your mouse, in a matter of minutes, you can have all the elevations, floor plans, etc created.
With the advancement of technology, creating a 3D deliverable is becoming faster and simpler. In our opinion, at this point, the value of having a 3D BIM model is worth the extra hours upfront.
At the end of the day when it comes to choosing between developing 2D plans vs 3D BIM models, it is up to the needs and budget of the client. For more information on this process, please give us a call.