
Importance of Level of Detail applied to the Construction Professional and Projects
Levels of Detail introduced in BIM Services is an essential aspect for the construction projects as it states how much levels of detail added to the model elements. It’s a degree to which element’s geometry and attach information have been through. The project members could rely on LOD used in a model to aid in information about design and documentation.
LOD helps in covering issues in the design stage and makes the information content flow appropriately to make the model elements perfect. The LOD in a model helps the users to define what the model is used for and understand the usability of the model from the information and detail they are receiving. LOD is a part of the BIM process which consists of a level of development in the design process.
LOD has five levels in a model that described below:-
LOD 100
Conceptual design is what LOD 100 is known as which a model that consists of a building is missing, and users to perform building’s analysis such as volume, cost per square foot, etc. This is the basic level informative model of a 3D geometry that conceptualizes the design with given parameters such as height, location, and orientation, etc.
It is mostly used for the pre-planning design stage of a building to understand how the object would be designed and what its cost estimation would be.
LOD 200
Schematic design is LOD 200 that aids in the design development of a model that has a generic system or assemblies with quantities, size, shape, location, and orientation. Analysis of selected systems by performance application will be checked. Other than the 3D model information to the model elements can be attained from this level. Components to be used can be known from this level into an object designing.
LOD 300
Detailed design is where the model elements create traditional construction documents and shop drawings of the object in building design. Verified analysis and stimulation is carried out for detailed elements and systems. Model made in this level is accurately defined by specific assemblies, exact quantity to be used, shape, volume, etc. Non-graphic information to the model elements can be attained. Detailed information of components is added on the basis of the performance used to develop construction documents.
LOD 350
LOD 350 is also known as Construction documentation Services is a model made to get detailed elements of how the model will be constructed with various MEP systems and other systems shown in graphical representation and which information would it require to be filled can be taken from this level.
It is used for developing coordination between all disciplines and resolve clash detection, and it varied from countries to countries depending upon the purposes of LOD being used in their country by the construction players.
LOD 400
This level is used for Fabrication & Assembly, and this level applies to trade contractor or fabricator that depicts the scope for the architects or the engineers in fabrication work. In this level, the model elements have assemblies attached with complete fabrication information to get details on parameters such as size, quantity, etc.
LOD 500
As-Built data is captured in the final level, which represents the project as it is constructed in as-built condition. This gets useful to the surveyors and facility managers for maintenance and operation of the facility purposes. Constructed assemblies can be understood in order to be used for maintenance and operations. Actual quantities can be drawn from the model of the components.
Let’s understand what is the difference between level of detail and level of development has in the point of view of construction projects.
Difference between Level of Detail v/s Level of Development
Level of detail in layman terms means graphical representation or model’s detail of an object, whereas Level of Development means the graphical representation and the information detail of an object. Level of detail can be the measurable input, whereas the level of development can be the reliable output of the model designed using BIM Modeling Services tool.
Advantages of using LOD in construction projects
LOD is the base for preparing model of any projects is it complex or simple drawn by all the disciplines such as Architecture, Structural and MEP Engineers. LOD stands for them as a standard that needs to be followed in modeling it. It helps to understand the detail included in the model, such as quantity, size, locations, volume, etc. All these are called as parameters that the model should consist of while modeling it from any aspect.
LOD standards differ from country to country, and while conducting the projects, it gets clear from the requirement that what LOD it needs to be prepared upon. It is very useful for filtering out the product specification of any generic object or assemblies that are constructed in the object modeling.
It is the base of the model; without this, it will not be made upon; hence, it must be provided by the clients. Materials that are processed and allotted are known in the model that is drawn by the designer or the engineers. Countries do customization of LOD based on what standard of LOD or framework is used by there.
Architects, designer, or engineers need LOD standards for the model of construction projects. The foundation of any object can be made on LOD 100 to LOD 200. Architects use LOD 300 to LOD 500 for giving in detail parameters or information of the model and show how the graphical model representation would make the model after being constructed look-like.
Structural Engineers for fabrication purposes uses LOD 400 to LOD 450 where the material such as concrete, iron or shields are fabricated and later on the construction site installed and insulated. MEP Engineers can define their parameters and provide information using LOD 300 to LOD 500.
Conclusion
In a construction project, both Level of Detail and Level of development is important as it provides information and detail of the model elements. LOD is defined into levels such as LOD 100 to LOD 500 wherein each level would have different model detail and information flow. All the parameters defined to the levels are monitored and accurate so that it can keep in mind the framework or standard is given by the clients to be met clearly.
All the disciplines have different levels to be used while modeling the objects in a project. Without defining LOD, the model can be prepared or can be misunderstood by the designers and constructed where the clashes and coordination part is collapsed.