This page is provided as a resource for our customers and clients interested in learning more about this international effort between the masonry industries of the United States and Canada.
BIM for Masonry
Midwest Block and Brick, along with other concrete masonry producers, associations and industry leaders, is proud to support The Building Information Modeling for Masonry Initiative (BIM-M).
Our commitment to BIM-M is an indication of the professionalism and dedication of the masonry industry to the modernization of the construction industry.
BIM is an acronym that stands for an object, a "building information model" and also a process for creating and using that object, "building information modeling". The BIM model provides a digital representation of the building, so that the modeling and analysis tools used by architects, engineers, constructors, managers and owners can read from and write to the same information source.
BIM for Masonry: Modeling Buildings in Autodesk Revit
BIM-M has released the its new guide "BIM for Masonry, Modeling Masonry Buildings in Autodesk Revit" for architects, engineers, contractors and other users of masonry.
BIM Deliverables Guide for Masonry Contractors
BIM-M announces the availability of a new report titled "BIM Deliverables Guide for Masonry Contractors". Developed by the Contractor's Group of BIM-M under the direction of Fred Kinateder.
Masonry Content
Pack for
Autodesk Revit
BIM-M announces the release the its new "Masonry Content Pack for Autodesk Revit". Experts have created such content as bond beams, vertical reinforcement in grouted cells, movement joints, arches, wall types of numerous conditions, various generic unit profiles, wall hatches for bonding patterns, flashing details, and more.
Instructional Video: Defining Hatch Patterns
BIM-M announces the first is a series of instructional videos to accompany its guide "BIM for Masonry, Modeling Masonry Buildings in Autodesk Revit" for architects, engineers, contractors and other users of masonry. The seven minute video is a free download and addresses Hatch Patterns as described in the overall guide. One PDF file accompanies the video.
BIM Glossary
3-D Modeling
The representation of objects with full geometric description, instead of the traditional plan/section/elevation of paper drawings and 2-D CAD. These traditional drawings can be generated as “views” of the 3-D model.
AEC
Architecture/Engineering/Construction.
BPMN
Building Process Modeling Notation. A formal and structured approach to constructing and documenting workflows.
Building Information Model (or often just Building Model)
A model (or often many models) that describe the geometry and other data regarding a building. Some BIM models are schematic, for planning purposes, and others are highly detailed (for construction purposes).
Building Information Modeling
The process of creating 3-D models linked to extensive information about the materials and components being used.
Digital Product Model
A model of a product or system that includes both geometric information (a 3-D model) as well as non-geometric data such as specifications, material properties, chain of custody, environmental product declarations, etc.
Families
Groups of pre-defined building objects arranged according to given construction practices, which can be applied to 3-D models as part of the design process. A masonry wall family might contain concrete block with brick veneer, the proper ties for the cavity wall, and the lintels used to carry the brick and block across door and window openings. When this family is applied to a given surface in a BIM authoring tool, the proper masonry units, coursing, and details are established in the BIM model.
Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs)
An open, non-proprietary data model used to represent building objects. Used to transfer BIM objects between software platforms.
Interoperability
The ability of multiple software platforms to trade information back and forth, preserving the validity of the data.
Model View Definition
A subset of the BIM model as represented in IFCs, generated with a specific application in mind, for example: cost estimating or building thermal analysis.
Parametric Modeling
Using rules to define the geometry of and relationships between building objects, so that multiple objects can be generated from a parent object, or so that models can adjust/react automatically to changes in geometry.
Schema/Data Structures
The underlying computer database representation of building objects (geometry and other properties) and the relationships between these objects.
Scripting
Defining rules and macros/scripts/code to propagate and permute objects within a CAD system or to automate some task in a computational environment.
Software Specification
Flowcharts, narratives and diagrams that describe how a piece of software is intended to function, what its inputs and outputs will be, a description of the user interface and of the data structure used by the software.
Solid Models
CAD models that represent objects as Boolean solids a collection of geometric features that is added and removed to create the final part. With solid models it is possible to assign material properties and to the solids and then create queries to determine weight, quantities, etc.
Virtual Design and Construction
The use of BIM and related technologies to inject a 4th dimension (time) and often a 5th dimension (cost) into complex building models.
Virtual Mock-Up
A very highly detailed 3-D model. These models are detailed that they can be used for photorealistic renderings, construction simulation, analysis of tolerances, advanced thermal and moisture finite element analysis, etc. In general, the density of the information in the virtual mock-up is so high, that it is not possible to represent an entire building with this level of detail.
Wireframe
3-D geometry that is represented in a computationally lightweight manner, with only the outer boundaries and major interior features (for example, door and window openings) shown.
Workflow
A flowchart and narrative that describes how actors in an AEC process work, the digital tools they use, the information that they require to complete tasks, and the information they produce for downstream users. A standardized workflow can be described by a process model, and documented in BPMN.
Midwest Block & Brick is one of the largest and most efficient masonry and landscape companies in the United States.
Locations
Missouri
- 12901 St. Charles Rock Road
Bridgeton, MO 63044
(314) 291-3200 - 201 Rock Industrial Drive,
Bridgeton, MO 63044
(314) 291-3200 - 3115 Paris Road
Columbia, MO 65202
(573) 445-9484 - 2203 E. McCarty Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 635-7119 - 4101 East 12th Terrace
Kansas City, MO 64127
(816) 241-5197 - 6293 Osage Beach Parkway
Osage Beach, MO 65065
(573) 348-1774 - 1650 East Atlantic
Springfield, MO 65803
(417) 869-2595 - 15584 Veterans Memorial Pky
Wentzville, MO 63385
(636) 332-9784
Arkansas
- 1589 Electric Avenue
Springdale, AR 72764
(479) 750-7887
Illinois
- 600 State Street
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 223-2633 - 8605 State Route 3
Waterloo, IL 62298
(618) 476-5280
Kentucky
- 1001 Estelle Street
Paducah, KY 42001
(270) 442-3585
Oklahoma
- 5519 East 15th Street
Tulsa, OK 74112
(918) 836-9151
Tennessee
- 200 Pierce Road
Oakland, TN 38060
(901) 465-6611