Building Information Modelling
Expert-defined terms from the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering (Portugal) course at London School of Planning and Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a professional course.
AASHTO #
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, an organization that sets standards for infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, and tunnels, in the United States, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it provides guidelines for design and construction methods.
ABNT #
Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas, the Brazilian National Standards Organization, which develops and publishes technical standards for various industries, including construction and engineering, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it covers safety and quality aspects.
Accessibility #
the degree to which a building or structure is usable by people with disabilities, including those with mobility, visual, or hearing impairments, an important consideration in the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it affects the design and layout of buildings and public spaces.
ACI #
American Concrete Institute, a professional organization that sets standards for concrete construction, including mix designs, testing methods, and safety protocols, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it provides guidelines for concrete structures.
Adaptability #
the ability of a building or structure to be modified or expanded to meet changing needs or circumstances, an important consideration in the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it affects the design and construction of buildings and infrastructure projects.
AEC #
Architecture, Engineering, and Construction, the industry sector that encompasses the design, engineering, and construction of buildings and infrastructure projects, the primary focus of the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering.
API #
Application Programming Interface, a set of rules and protocols that enables different software applications to communicate with each other, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it facilitates the integration of different tools and technologies.
ASCE #
American Society of Civil Engineers, a professional organization that sets standards for civil engineering practices, including design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure projects, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it provides guidelines for safety and quality aspects.
ASME #
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a professional organization that sets standards for mechanical engineering practices, including design, construction, and operation of mechanical systems, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it provides guidelines for mechanical systems in buildings and infrastructure projects.
ASTM #
American Society for Testing and Materials, an organization that develops and publishes technical standards for various materials and products, including concrete, steel, and asphalt, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it covers safety and quality aspects.
BIM #
Building Information Modelling, a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building or infrastructure project, the primary focus of the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables collaboration, simulation, and analysis of building and infrastructure projects.
BSI #
British Standards Institution, the national standards body of the United Kingdom, which develops and publishes technical standards for various industries, including construction and engineering, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it provides guidelines for safety and quality aspects.
CAD #
Computer-Aided Design, a software application used for creating, modifying, and analyzing digital models of buildings and infrastructure projects, a fundamental tool in the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering.
CFD #
Computational Fluid Dynamics, a simulation technique used to analyze the behavior of fluids and gases in various engineering applications, including building design and infrastructure projects, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the simulation of wind, water, and thermal behavior.
CIM #
Construction Information Modelling, a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a construction project, similar to BIM, but with a focus on the construction process, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables collaboration and simulation of construction projects.
Collaboration #
the process of working together to achieve a common goal, in the context of the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, it refers to the coordination and communication among different stakeholders, including architects, engineers, and contractors.
Computer #
Aided Engineering - the use of computer software to support engineering activities, including design, analysis, and simulation, a fundamental aspect of the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering.
Construction Management #
the process of planning, organizing, and controlling construction projects, including scheduling, budgeting, and quality control, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it ensures the successful completion of construction projects.
Data Exchange #
the process of transferring data between different software applications or systems, in the context of the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, it refers to the exchange of data between different BIM tools and software applications.
Design #
Build - a project delivery method in which the designer and builder are the same entity, or work together as a team, to design and construct a project, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables collaboration and integration of design and construction activities.
Digital Twin #
a digital representation of a physical asset or system, which can be used to simulate, analyze, and optimize its behavior and performance, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables the simulation and analysis of building and infrastructure projects.
Energy Efficiency #
the use of technologies and strategies to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and infrastructure projects, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it affects the design and operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Engineering #
the application of scientific and mathematical principles to design, build, and maintain structures, systems, and processes, the primary focus of the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering.
Facility Management #
the process of managing and maintaining buildings and infrastructure projects, including operations, maintenance, and repairs, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it ensures the safe and efficient operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
GIS #
Geographic Information System, a software application used to capture, store, and analyze geographic data, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the analysis of spatial relationships and patterns in urban and regional planning.
Green Building #
a sustainable approach to building design and construction, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of buildings and infrastructure projects, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it affects the design and operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
IFC #
Industry Foundation Classes, a data model used to represent building and infrastructure projects, which enables the exchange of data between different BIM tools and software applications, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it facilitates the integration of different tools and technologies.
Infrastructure #
the physical structures and systems that support the operation of a city or region, including roads, bridges, water supply systems, and energy grids, the primary focus of the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering.
Information Modelling #
the process of creating and managing digital models of buildings and infrastructure projects, which enables collaboration, simulation, and analysis of building and infrastructure projects, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it facilitates the integration of different tools and technologies.
Integration #
the process of combining different systems, processes, or technologies to create a unified whole, in the context of the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, it refers to the integration of different BIM tools and software applications.
Interoperability #
the ability of different systems or software applications to communicate and exchange data with each other, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the integration of different tools and technologies.
ISO #
International Organization for Standardization, a global organization that develops and publishes technical standards for various industries, including construction and engineering, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it provides guidelines for safety and quality aspects.
IT #
Information Technology, the use of computer systems and software applications to support business and engineering activities, including design, analysis, and simulation, a fundamental aspect of the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering.
LEED #
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a sustainability rating system used to evaluate the environmental performance of buildings and infrastructure projects, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it affects the design and operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Lifecycle #
the entire duration of a project or asset, from concept to demolition, including design, construction, operation, and maintenance, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables the analysis of costs and benefits over the entire lifecycle of a project or asset.
Maintenance #
the process of keeping a building or infrastructure project in good condition, including repairs, replacements, and upgrades, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it ensures the safe and efficient operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Materials Science #
the study of the properties and behavior of materials used in construction and engineering applications, including metals, polymers, and composites, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables the selection of appropriate materials for construction and engineering projects.
Model #
Based - a design and construction approach that uses digital models to represent and analyze buildings and infrastructure projects, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables collaboration, simulation, and analysis of building and infrastructure projects.
NIST #
National Institute of Standards and Technology, a US government agency that develops and publishes technical standards for various industries, including construction and engineering, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it provides guidelines for safety and quality aspects.
Object #
Oriented - a programming paradigm that uses objects to represent and manipulate data, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the creation of complex models and simulations of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Occupancy #
the use of a building or space by people or organizations, including residential, commercial, and industrial uses, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it affects the design and operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Open BIM #
an open standard for building information modelling, which enables the exchange of data between different BIM tools and software applications, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it facilitates the integration of different tools and technologies.
Operation #
the process of managing and maintaining a building or infrastructure project, including energy management, water management, and waste management, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it ensures the safe and efficient operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Parametric #
a design approach that uses parameters to define and manipulate geometric shapes and structures, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the creation of complex models and simulations of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Performance #
Based - a design approach that focuses on the performance of a building or infrastructure project, including energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor air quality, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables the evaluation of building and infrastructure projects based on their performance.
Planning #
the process of defining and managing the development of a project or asset, including feasibility studies, design, and construction planning, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it ensures the successful completion of construction projects.
Quality Assurance #
the process of ensuring that a product or service meets the required standards of quality, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it ensures the safe and efficient operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Real #
Time - the ability to access and analyze data as it is being generated, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the monitoring and control of building and infrastructure projects in real-time.
Renewable Energy #
the use of natural resources such as solar, wind, and hydro power to generate energy, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Research #
the process of investigating and analyzing a topic or problem, including literature reviews, surveys, and experiments, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the development of new technologies and methods for building and infrastructure projects.
Risk Management #
the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with a project or asset, including safety risk, environmental risk, and financial risk, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it ensures the safe and efficient operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Safety #
the state of being free from harm or danger, including physical safety, health safety, and environmental safety, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it ensures the safe and efficient operation of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Schedule #
a plan for the execution of a project or task, including start and end dates, milestones, and resource allocation, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables the management of construction projects.
Simulation #
the process of imitating the behavior of a system or process, including computer simulations and physical models, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the analysis and optimization of building and infrastructure projects.
Sustainability #
the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Systems Engineering #
the application of engineering principles to the design, development, and operation of complex systems, including buildings and infrastructure projects, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the integration of different disciplines and stakeholders.
Technology #
the application of scientific and engineering principles to develop and use tools, machines, and systems, including computer software and hardware, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the creation of complex models and simulations of buildings and infrastructure projects.
Transportation #
the movement of people and goods from one place to another, including roads, railways, airports, and seaports, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables the connection of cities and regions.
Urban Planning #
the process of designing and managing the physical environment of cities and towns, including land use, transportation, and infrastructure development, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the creation of sustainable and livable cities and communities.
Value Engineering #
the process of analyzing and improving the value of a product or service, including cost reduction, quality improvement, and performance enhancement, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables the optimization of building and infrastructure projects.
Virtual Reality #
a computer simulation of a three-dimensional environment, which can be used to visualize and interact with virtual objects and spaces, relevant to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering, as it enables the creation of immersive and interactive experiences for building and infrastructure projects.
Water Management #
the process of managing and conserving water resources, including water supply, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management, applicable to the Certificate in Civil Structural Engineering in Portugal, as it enables the reduction of water waste and pollution.