Building Information Model (BIM) is a digital form of construction and asset operations. It brings together technology, process improvements, and digital information to radically improve client and project outcomes and asset operations. BIM data is typically created using specialized software, such as Revit or a host of other BIM software that create IFC data. BIM data can include information such as building geometry, materials, and equipment data, as well as data on energy performance, cost, and maintenance schedules. Bringing the BIM data inside of ArcGIS allows you to better manage projects and infrastructure in a spatial (real-world) context.
Workflows
The first step in bringing digital models (BIM data) into ArcGIS is to acquire the data in a compatible file format that ArcGIS supports. ArcGIS Pro support files from Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Autodesk Revit (RVT) and reads them as ArcGIS BIM file workspaces. BIM data can be brought in as local files on disk or from cloud connections through a BIM Cloud Connection.
Typically, you start by bringing the BIM files into ArcGIS Pro as a BIM file workspace that allows you to visualize, investigate, and analyze your data. The BIM file workspace provides a geodatabase structure and organization to a BIM file and when it is added to an ArcGIS Pro scene, it is added as a special layer called building layer. If you need to combine multiple BIM files or need to be able to edit the BIM files as GIS features, you can store it a geodatabase using the BIM File To Geodatabase geoprocessing tool.
It's recommended that you use a building scene layer if you need to work with BIM data on the web. A building scene layer allows you to share and maintain information across the ArcGIS platform as web layer. You create building scene layers from ArcGIS Pro building layers. You can use building layers created from BIM files or a geodatabase feature dataset such as that created from the BIM File To Geodatabase geoprocessing tool.
Considerations
Data positioning, performance, ability to edit, analyze, and share BIM data for visualization on the web are important things to consider when working with this type of data in ArcGIS. It's recommended that you go through the GIS and BIM tutorial path, bringing your own BIM data into ArcGIS.
Required software
You need ArcGIS Pro to work with BIM data. To publish and share BIM data as building scene layers, you'll need an ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise.
Explore the following resources to learn more about bringing BIM into ArcGIS.
ArcGIS help documentation
Reference material for ArcGIS products:
ArcGIS blogs, stories and technical papers
Supplemental guidance about concepts, software functionality, and workflows:
Videos
Esri-produced videos that clarify and demonstrate concepts, software functionality, and workflows:
Tutorials
Guided, hands-on lessons based on real-world problems:
Esri community
Online places for the Esri community to connect, collaborate, and share experiences:
- Ask the 3D community questions.