Getting Started with BIM
A practical 6-step roadmap — from legal check to as-built handover, aligned with Decree 217/2026 and ISO 19650.
Check Legal Obligation
Determine whether your project is legally required to apply BIM under Decree 217/2026.
- →New construction → determine grade (I / II / III…) per Circular 34/2026/TT-BXD
- →Grade II and above: BIM mandatory from feasibility study stage (Article 8)
- →Public investment + Grade I and above: CDE (Common Data Environment) mandatory
- →Linear / special / state-secret works: decided by the investment decision-maker
💡 If unsure of the project grade, look up Circular 34/2026/TT-BXD (with transition rules for projects approved before 01/07/2026) in the library.
Identify Roles & Assess Capability
Each party has different BIM responsibilities. Know your role to plan effectively.
- →Identify role: Owner, PMU, Design Consultant, Contractor, BIM Consultant, Supervisor
- →Assess current BIM maturity across 4 axes: Strategy / Process / People / Technology
- →Identify gaps to BIMKit L2 (the tool's own internal benchmark, not a Decree 217 legal requirement)
- →Build a learning path and capability development roadmap for your specific role
💡 BIMKit L2 is this tool's own benchmark for 'baseline solid BIM practice' (structured EIR, operational CDE, named roles, contracts citing ISO 19650) — not a legal threshold under Decree 217. Actual bidding eligibility is determined by each project's tender dossier.
Establish Information Requirement Documents
EIR issued by the appointing party (usually the client), BEP prepared by the lead appointed party in response. These are the foundational documents shaping the entire BIM process.
- →EIR (Exchange Information Requirements): 10 sections — BIM goals, LOIN, software, CDE, milestones, security…
- →Pre-BEP: consultant/contractor prepares as part of tender response to demonstrate BIM capability
- →Post-BEP: finalized after contract signing, includes RACI, MIDP/TIDP, CDE structure, naming convention
- →MIDP (Master Information Delivery Plan) + TIDP per discipline — information delivery schedule
Select Software & Set Up CDE
Authoring software, coordination tools, and the Common Data Environment (CDE) form the technical backbone of a BIM project.
- →Select the BIM software and CDE platform based on the intended application, feature fit, market adoption, and other supporting factors
- →Set up CDE with 4 states: WIP (internal authoring) → Shared (shared across parties) → Published (authorized) → Archived (read-only)
- →Agree on file naming convention, e.g.: Project–Originator–Functional–Spatial–Form–Discipline–Number–Suitability–Revision
- →Ensure IFC export capability (ISO 16739) — open format required per Decree 217/2026 Art. 8 §3 at appraisal submission
💡 The CDE plays a critical role in the project — the single place where all construction data is centralized, controlled, and shared across parties.
Model & Coordinate Across Disciplines
A crucial part of the BIM process — delivering tangible, real-world value — where disciplines collaboratively build a federated model, coordinate clashes, and control information per LOIN.
- →Model per LOIN stage: G1 (concept) → G2 (schematic) → G3 (technical, clash-ready) → G4 (fabrication, as-built)
- →Coordinate clashes: hard (physical intersection) → clearance (insufficient distance) → 4D (schedule conflict)
- →Apply discipline right-of-way: gravity drain > structure > fire > HVAC/pressure > electrical
- →Track issues via BCF workflow: Open → In Progress → Resolved → Closed (stored in CDE)
💡 G3 is the minimum threshold for clash coordination — models below G3 do not produce technically meaningful clash results.
Model Handover & National Database
Completion phase — the model must reach G4/A3/D3 with operational data and be submitted to the National Database on Construction Activities.
- →Finalize as-built model: G4 geometry (field-verified), A3 attributes (COBie — IDs, warranties, maintenance, spare parts), D3 docs (O&M manuals, certificates)
- →Hand over AIM (Asset Information Model) to facility management team — CAFM/CMMS
- →Submit standardized model (IFC + COBie) to National Database per Ministry of Construction guidance
- →Archive all project BIM data in CDE (Archived state) — long-term legal record
💡 Specific schema guidance for the National Database submission is pending Ministry of Construction publication — track in the library.
Continue Learning BIM
Self-paced courses from Autodesk Learn — free, role-specific, with Vietnamese subtitles via Chrome Live Caption.