Building Information Modeling Trivia 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which UK government mandate, issued in April 2016, required Level 2 BIM on all centrally procured public sector projects?
- The Building Safety Act
- The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
- The Government Construction Strategy (Correct answer)
- PAS 1192-2
Correct answer: The Government Construction Strategy
The UK Government Construction Strategy included the April 2016 mandate requiring BIM Level 2 on all centrally procured public construction projects.
Question 2: What is the function of a 'model server' in an open BIM workflow?
- It renders photorealistic images from BIM models
- It hosts IFC models centrally so multiple users can query and update them (Correct answer)
- It converts Revit files to IFC automatically
- It stores only 2D CAD drawings derived from the BIM model
Correct answer: It hosts IFC models centrally so multiple users can query and update them
A model server hosts IFC-based BIM models centrally, enabling multiple users to query, view, and in some cases update models through an open, interoperable interface.
Question 3: Which software company originally developed ArchiCAD, one of the first BIM-capable architectural tools?
- Autodesk
- Bentley Systems
- Graphisoft (Correct answer)
- Trimble
Correct answer: Graphisoft
ArchiCAD was developed by Graphisoft (a Hungarian company) and is one of the pioneering BIM authoring tools, first released in 1984.
Question 4: In BIM, what is a 'smart object'?
- A model element with embedded parametric data and behavior rules (Correct answer)
- An AI-generated component created by machine learning
- A cloud-synced family stored on Autodesk servers
- A 2D symbol with hyperlinks to product specifications
Correct answer: A model element with embedded parametric data and behavior rules
A smart object (or intelligent object) is a BIM component that carries parametric data, geometry, and behavior rules that update automatically based on design changes.
Question 5: What does 'EIR' stand for in BIM project delivery, and who typically produces it?
- Employer's Information Requirements, produced by the client (Correct answer)
- Engineering Integration Report, produced by the structural engineer
- Element Identification Register, produced by the BIM manager
- Exchange and Interoperability Requirements, produced by the software vendor
Correct answer: Employer's Information Requirements, produced by the client
EIR (Employer's Information Requirements) is a document produced by the client that specifies what BIM information they need, in what format, and at what project stages.
Question 6: Which BIM process uses point cloud data captured by laser scanners to create accurate as-built models?
- Generative design
- Scan-to-BIM (Correct answer)
- Design to fabrication
- BIM to GIS
Correct answer: Scan-to-BIM
Scan-to-BIM is the process of using laser scan point cloud data to reverse-engineer and create accurate as-built BIM models of existing conditions.
Question 7: What distinguishes a 'soft clash' from a 'hard clash' in BIM clash detection?
- A soft clash involves rendering artifacts; a hard clash involves geometry errors
- A soft clash is a clearance or proximity violation; a hard clash is a direct physical overlap (Correct answer)
- A soft clash is detected by AI; a hard clash is detected manually
- A soft clash occurs in 2D drawings; a hard clash occurs in 3D models
Correct answer: A soft clash is a clearance or proximity violation; a hard clash is a direct physical overlap
A hard clash is when two elements physically occupy the same space, while a soft clash (or clearance clash) occurs when elements are too close together, violating required maintenance or operational clearances.
Building Information Modeling Trivia 4
Which UK government mandate, issued in April 2016, required Level 2 BIM on all centrally procured public sector projects?