BimScaler Blog – Proper version control is essential for successful BIM workflows. Without it, you risk mismatched data, communication problems, and costly rework. On the other hand, a robust version control system makes collaboration smoother, improves project outcomes, and protects your valuable BIM data.
So, how do you keep track of your BIM model versions?
Let’s look at some of the key features, best practices, and tools you’ll need to implement effective BIM version control. Without further ado, let’s jump to the topic!
Key Features of BIM Software Model Version Control
Effective Building Information Modeling (BIM) version control systems are essential for managing the complex and evolving nature of BIM models. These systems offer a range of features that streamline collaboration, ensure data integrity, and facilitate efficient project management.
A centralized repository is the core of effective BIM version control systems. This acts as a single source of truth, making sure everyone on your project team has access to the most up-to-date version of the BIM model. This ensures data consistency and prevents conflicts caused by different team members working from outdated files.
Versioning tools allow you to track changes, easily revert to earlier versions if necessary, and create separate branches of the model for testing ideas or working on parallel project elements. This kind of flexibility leaves a clear audit trail for your project and makes collaboration significantly smoother.
Robust version control systems help you identify and resolve potential conflicts when multiple people are editing the same parts of the BIM model.
This protects your data integrity, ensures the final model is accurate, and represents a coordinated design. Additionally, these systems give you control over user permissions and access rights. This lets you decide who can make changes, safeguarding your project data and maintaining overall design consistency.
Some advanced version control systems let you capture and store metadata – comments, change descriptions, etc. – directly within the BIM model.
This improves documentation and helps your team make better-informed decisions throughout the project. These powerful features can streamline your BIM workflows, make collaboration easier, and help you maintain high-quality data from start to finish.
How to Manage BIM Model Versions
Maintaining project continuity and ensuring every stakeholder uses the most up-to-date information requires a clear approach to BIM version control. Here are some tips on how to implement it effectively, according to LinkedIn advice:
1. Use a Common Data Environment
A common data environment (CDE) is a centralised hub for storing, sharing, and accessing all of your project information. This could be a cloud-based service, a network drive, or even a designated local folder – the best format depends on your specific needs.
A CDE creates a single source of truth for your project data, which helps prevent errors caused by outdated or duplicate information. You can also use the CDE to manage permissions, track workflows, and establish protocols for who can access and edit data.
2. Implement a Naming Convention
A naming convention is a set of rules and standards that you follow to name your files, folders, and objects in your BIM software.
A naming convention helps you organise your data, identify the content and status of your files, and avoid conflicts and overwriting. You can use a naming convention that is based on industry standards, such as BS EN ISO 19650 or AIA CAD Layer Guidelines, or create your own custom one. The important thing is to be consistent, clear, and concise.
3. Use Version Control Tools
Version control tools are essential software for tracking and managing changes made to your project files throughout their lifecycle.
These tools can either be integrated with your BIM software or used separately.
Popular options include Autodesk BIM 360 Docs, Bentley ProjectWise, or Git. With version control tools, you have the power to create and restore backups, easily review and merge changes, and effectively resolve file conflicts.
They also provide a detailed history log, giving you visibility into who made changes, when they were made, and the reasoning behind them.
4. Follow a Data Exchange Protocol
A data exchange protocol is a set of agreed-upon rules for how you’ll share information with other project stakeholders like clients, contractors, and consultants.
It defines the format of the data, how often it’s shared, the method of transfer, and who is responsible for each step of the process.
A clear data exchange protocol ensures your information remains accurate and compatible as it moves between different systems and teams. You can create a custom protocol for your project or adopt an industry standard like COBie or IFC.
5. Validate and Audit Your Data
Data validation and auditing involve checking your data to ensure it meets the quality and compliance standards you’ve set for your project.
This helps you find and fix errors, inconsistencies, or missing data, guaranteeing it aligns with the design intent and project specifications. You can use a variety of tools to validate and audit your data, including features within your BIM software, specialised plugins, or even manual reviews. It’s important to document your findings and what actions were taken to update your data.
Effective BIM model version control is a crucial aspect of overall BIM standard compliance.
Misaligned versions can lead to data conflicts and misinterpretations of standards, hindering your compliance efforts. To dive deeper into the importance of BIM standards, check out our guide:
Learn More: BIM Standards Compliance: Common Challenges and Key Components to Help
BIM Software That Can Help You with Model Version Control
Managing multiple BIM model versions and ensuring everyone is working from the correct files can be a major headache. The right software tools make this process smoother, reducing the risk of costly errors and miscommunications. Here are 5 highly-rated BIM software options that offer robust version control features, according to Getapp list:
- Autodesk Revit (4.3 out of 5): While Revit itself doesn’t have built-in version control, it is often used in conjunction with Autodesk’s BIM 360, which provides version control capabilities.
- Autodesk BIM 360 (4.3 out of 5): BIM 360 offers robust document management capabilities with version control and document linking. What makes it unique is its ability to handle 2D and 3D documents, including DWG files, directly within the platform. It also allows project stakeholders to work together in real-time, improving communication and reducing delays.
- Meridian by Accruent (4.1 out of 5): Meridian is an Engineering Document Management System (EDMS) that streamlines engineering document management, ensures safety and compliance, maximises company-wide collaboration, and achieves a true single source of truth.
- ARCHICAD by Graphisoft (4.5 out of 5): ARCHICAD is an architectural CAD and BIM software that offers enhancements including CineRender engine, remastered Façade Design tool, Parametric Profile Editor, and BIMx mobile model visualisations. While it doesn’t explicitly mention version control, it is often used in conjunction with other tools that provide this feature.
- ArcSite (4.6 out of 5): ArcSite is an estimating tool for sales and inspection professionals in various industries. It includes 2D drawing, cost database & estimation, bid management, HVAC & electrical estimating, and BIM modelling. While it doesn’t explicitly mention version control, it is often used in conjunction with other tools that provide this feature.
Best Practices for BIM version control
To ensure the effective management of BIM model versions, consider the following best practices:
- Establish Clear Roles and Responsibilities: Define the roles and responsibilities of each team member involved in the version control process, ensuring that everyone understands their specific tasks and accountabilities.
- Implement Training and Adoption: Provide comprehensive training to your team on the selected version control system and its associated workflows. Encourage active adoption and adherence to the established processes to maintain consistency and efficiency.
- Automate Versioning Processes: Leverage the automation capabilities of your version control tools to streamline the versioning process, such as setting up triggers for automatic checkpoints or integrating version control with your BIM authoring software.
- Maintain Detailed Documentation: Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation, including version control guidelines, naming conventions, and change management protocols. This will help ensure that the version control system is consistently applied throughout the project lifecycle.
- Regularly Review and Optimize: Continuously monitor the effectiveness of your BIM version control system and make adjustments as needed. Gather feedback from your team, identify areas for improvement, and implement refinements to enhance the overall efficiency and reliability of your version management processes.
Robust BIM model version control practices contribute to higher overall BIM quality.
Making sure everyone is using the right files lowers the possibility of mistakes, rework, and expensive project delays. See our article for additional information on making sure your BIM models are accurate:
Learn More: BIM Quality Control: Common Challenges and Best Practices
Conclusion
Effective BIM version control is an essential component of a successful construction project. Implementing a strong version control system can help you maintain data integrity, improve collaboration, and streamline project management.
Effectively managing BIM model versions can be complex, and mistakes can lead to costly rework and delays. Misaligned data, conflicting versions, and outdated workflows can derail your project’s timeline and create compliance issues.
Let BIMScaler help you streamline your version control processes.
Our CAD and BIM management expertise ensures your workflows are optimised, your data remains accurate, and potential conflicts are identified early. We provide tailored solutions to help you maintain robust version control, leading to smoother projects and full confidence in the integrity of your BIM models.Contact BIMScaler today to discuss how we can support your version control initiatives.
