Glossary
2d CAD system
2d CAD systems are vector-oriented drawing programs. They can be used in a similar way to a drawing board. Tools provide help in processing drawing elements such as points, lines, polylines, arcs and splines. 3d CAD system
3d CAD systems are drawing programs which, as a minimum requirement, work with vectors lying in three design axes and are thus capable of creating a volume model. A further development of this are object-oriented 3d CAD systems which work with CAD objects instead of vectors. 3d laserscanning
Three-dimensional imaging method in which surface structures are computed by means of the pulse duration of a laser beam. This creates a digital point cloud with a defined number of points and their respective coordinates. Currently, scanning rates of up to 100,000 points per second with a precision of approx. 1 millimeter are possible. 3d model
A 3d model is the depiction in the computer of a particular aspect of reality by means of abstraction. The most practical way of entering the geometry is by using a suitable CAD program and then assigning the different construction components, such as walls, columns and ceilings to the geometry. Every construction component is an object in the 3d model. 3d MEP Clash Detection
Model-based method for determining geometrical clashes within building services work packages (MEP) and in architectural drawings. This method is used in the planning phase. It increases planning reliability and helps to minimise construction costs and risks. 4d model
A 4d model is an extension of a 3d model. In addition to geometrical properties, it can contain further information such as time, costs, engineering and room utilisation. So a 4d model is essentially a 3d model which has been extended in this way. Attribute
(Lat. attribuere – to assign, give or bestow) An attribute is a concrete feature of an object. An object is therefore determined unambiguously by the totality of its attributes. Building Information System (BIS)
The ViCon BIS is a data analysis software in which the pieces of numerical information in the 4d model are logically linked and depicted in easily surveyed form. BIM Implementation
A ViCon service which handles all the tasks required for the successful realisation of an implementation plan. (Example: Development of company-specific BIM standards)
2d CAD systems are vector-oriented drawing programs. They can be used in a similar way to a drawing board. Tools provide help in processing drawing elements such as points, lines, polylines, arcs and splines. 3d CAD system
3d CAD systems are drawing programs which, as a minimum requirement, work with vectors lying in three design axes and are thus capable of creating a volume model. A further development of this are object-oriented 3d CAD systems which work with CAD objects instead of vectors. 3d laserscanning
Three-dimensional imaging method in which surface structures are computed by means of the pulse duration of a laser beam. This creates a digital point cloud with a defined number of points and their respective coordinates. Currently, scanning rates of up to 100,000 points per second with a precision of approx. 1 millimeter are possible. 3d model
A 3d model is the depiction in the computer of a particular aspect of reality by means of abstraction. The most practical way of entering the geometry is by using a suitable CAD program and then assigning the different construction components, such as walls, columns and ceilings to the geometry. Every construction component is an object in the 3d model. 3d MEP Clash Detection
Model-based method for determining geometrical clashes within building services work packages (MEP) and in architectural drawings. This method is used in the planning phase. It increases planning reliability and helps to minimise construction costs and risks. 4d model
A 4d model is an extension of a 3d model. In addition to geometrical properties, it can contain further information such as time, costs, engineering and room utilisation. So a 4d model is essentially a 3d model which has been extended in this way. Attribute
(Lat. attribuere – to assign, give or bestow) An attribute is a concrete feature of an object. An object is therefore determined unambiguously by the totality of its attributes. Building Information System (BIS)
The ViCon BIS is a data analysis software in which the pieces of numerical information in the 4d model are logically linked and depicted in easily surveyed form. BIM Implementation
A ViCon service which handles all the tasks required for the successful realisation of an implementation plan. (Example: Development of company-specific BIM standards)
BIM Management
A ViCon service which covers all the tasks required for the successful application of BIM in construction projects, such as project-specific BIM training for all those involved in a project. BIM Services
A ViCon service which covers all the tasks needed for the execution of BIM applications. Building Information Modeling (BIM)
The process of developing, administering and analysing four-dimensional computer-generated models featuring real-time dynamics. It supports communication, cooperation, simulation and the optimisation of a project throughout its entire lifecycle. CAD object
Solid body as a constituent of a building model which is then defined more closely by means of further attributes (example: walls, ceilings, columns). Design Coordination System (DCS)
Software for the administration, filtering and evaluation of clash points from the 3d MEP Clash Detection. It supports the coordination process and permits analysis of the consolidated 3d model via the Internet. Digital Terrain Model (DTM)
Digital, numeric model of terrain heights and forms. Depending on the field of application, precision ranges from just a few centimetres up to 100 metres. Digital Room Book
Digital compilation of data providing room-specific information. A room book contains an ID number, information on localisation and utilisation of the room and on dimensions, materials, technical installations and employees. Drawing Exchange Format (DXF)
File format for exchanging vectorised data. DXF is supported by most CAD programs. Object definitions, such as "walls", are lost during the data exchange process. DWG
Autodesk (Autocad) file format for saving vectorised data. The format has become an established standard in the field of CAD drawings. Geographic Information System (GIS)
A computer-supported information system which connects various databases with a spatial reference. The data can be registered, reorganised and outputted.
A ViCon service which covers all the tasks required for the successful application of BIM in construction projects, such as project-specific BIM training for all those involved in a project. BIM Services
A ViCon service which covers all the tasks needed for the execution of BIM applications. Building Information Modeling (BIM)
The process of developing, administering and analysing four-dimensional computer-generated models featuring real-time dynamics. It supports communication, cooperation, simulation and the optimisation of a project throughout its entire lifecycle. CAD object
Solid body as a constituent of a building model which is then defined more closely by means of further attributes (example: walls, ceilings, columns). Design Coordination System (DCS)
Software for the administration, filtering and evaluation of clash points from the 3d MEP Clash Detection. It supports the coordination process and permits analysis of the consolidated 3d model via the Internet. Digital Terrain Model (DTM)
Digital, numeric model of terrain heights and forms. Depending on the field of application, precision ranges from just a few centimetres up to 100 metres. Digital Room Book
Digital compilation of data providing room-specific information. A room book contains an ID number, information on localisation and utilisation of the room and on dimensions, materials, technical installations and employees. Drawing Exchange Format (DXF)
File format for exchanging vectorised data. DXF is supported by most CAD programs. Object definitions, such as "walls", are lost during the data exchange process. DWG
Autodesk (Autocad) file format for saving vectorised data. The format has become an established standard in the field of CAD drawings. Geographic Information System (GIS)
A computer-supported information system which connects various databases with a spatial reference. The data can be registered, reorganised and outputted.
Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)
Independent standard for describing the building models of various CAD systems. As well as the geometrical data, further properties of the building structures are depicted. The IFC are defined by the Industrial Alliance for Interoperability (IAI). The IFC permit the exchange across different software systems of construction and facility management data. iRoom
Interactive meeting room for video conferences and project meetings. Its key constituent is an interactive presentation board for depicting and controlling the functions. An iRoom combines the useful area of a flipchart with the overview capacity of an A0 drawing and the communication options of a PC system. Object-oriented CAD
This is the term used for creating 3d models from solid elements of a particular object type resulting from the connecting-up of individual lines. A CAD object is formed by adding further information, for instance regarding material and structure, to this solid element. (Example using the object "wall": Instead of 12 individual boundary lines, just one element – "wall" – is drawn, with the relevant geometrical measurements and physical properties.) Parameter
A measurable or quantifiable characteristic, a constant, a fixed criterion. Parametric building model
A parametric building model is distinguished by the connecting-up of its various CAD objects. The CAD objects stand in relation to one another and mutually influence one another. A wall, for instance, has a connection to the ground it stands on and to the ceiling it joins up with. If the height of the wall is changed, the ceiling also shifts. Simulation (building simulation)
A method for analysing building models. For this, physical properties, such as the identifying values of the building materials, construction time or traffic figures are assigned to the CAD model. This then enables such matters as energy consumption, the construction work sequence or flows of individuals to be simulated. Topology
A model's structure is called topology. ViCon
Abbreviation for Virtual Design and Construction. Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML)
Platform-independent descriptive language for 3d scenes, geometries and animations. It is used in the Internet or in local environments to render three-dimensional depictions.
Independent standard for describing the building models of various CAD systems. As well as the geometrical data, further properties of the building structures are depicted. The IFC are defined by the Industrial Alliance for Interoperability (IAI). The IFC permit the exchange across different software systems of construction and facility management data. iRoom
Interactive meeting room for video conferences and project meetings. Its key constituent is an interactive presentation board for depicting and controlling the functions. An iRoom combines the useful area of a flipchart with the overview capacity of an A0 drawing and the communication options of a PC system. Object-oriented CAD
This is the term used for creating 3d models from solid elements of a particular object type resulting from the connecting-up of individual lines. A CAD object is formed by adding further information, for instance regarding material and structure, to this solid element. (Example using the object "wall": Instead of 12 individual boundary lines, just one element – "wall" – is drawn, with the relevant geometrical measurements and physical properties.) Parameter
A measurable or quantifiable characteristic, a constant, a fixed criterion. Parametric building model
A parametric building model is distinguished by the connecting-up of its various CAD objects. The CAD objects stand in relation to one another and mutually influence one another. A wall, for instance, has a connection to the ground it stands on and to the ceiling it joins up with. If the height of the wall is changed, the ceiling also shifts. Simulation (building simulation)
A method for analysing building models. For this, physical properties, such as the identifying values of the building materials, construction time or traffic figures are assigned to the CAD model. This then enables such matters as energy consumption, the construction work sequence or flows of individuals to be simulated. Topology
A model's structure is called topology. ViCon
Abbreviation for Virtual Design and Construction. Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML)
Platform-independent descriptive language for 3d scenes, geometries and animations. It is used in the Internet or in local environments to render three-dimensional depictions.