CORENET X vs Corenet 2.0: Why You Should Start Implementing BIM in Your Project

What is BIM?

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a methodology for creating a digital representation of a building’s physical and functional characteristics. It serves as a collaborative tool that integrates data from different disciplines—architectural, structural, and services—into a unified 3D model. This approach promotes coordination, minimizes errors, and streamlines workflows across a building’s lifecycle, from design and construction to operation.

BIM Submissions with CORENETX

In Singapore, CORENETX represents a groundbreaking effort to digitize the regulatory approval process for building works. By adopting OpenBIM standards like IFC (Industry Foundation Classes), CORENETX enables:

• Parametric and Geometric Checks: Agencies can automatically assess BIM models for compliance with regulations.
• Improved Collaboration: A unified digital format ensures alignment between agencies.

This initiative simplifies submissions, reduces errors, and accelerates approvals, making BIM an essential part of (public-sector) project delivery.

CORENETX vs Corenet 2.0

The previous system, Corenet 2.0, faced issues with fragmented processes and inefficiencies. Multiple submission touchpoints often led to delays and contradictory approvals between agencies. CORENETX addresses these challenges by consolidating submissions into a streamlined process with just three key touchpoints, significantly improving the regulatory approval process for building works.

How Will You Be Affected?

With CORENETX, BIM becomes the default mechanism for regulatory submissions. Project teams must adapt to:

1. Upfront Modeling: Detailed and coordinated BIM models are essential early in the project.
2. Enhanced Collaboration: All disciplines & stakeholders must work together to ensure consistency across the design, construction, and handover.
3. Compliance Checks: Regulatory agencies rely on BIM for automated evaluations. Without a BIM submission, firms cannot obtain the necessary permits needed to begin works.

Turn Risks to Opportunity: The Benefits of BIM

BIM-based submissions have become a critical component of project delivery for public sector developments. As more projects adopt this standard, participants will need to demonstrate robust BIM capabilities to remain competitive. This shift presents an opportunity for firms—including those focused on private sector work—to modernize their processes. By digitizing project delivery workflows now, businesses can not only meet emerging requirements but also gain a strategic advantage in an increasingly BIM-driven industry.

Clash Detection

In traditional 2D workflows, design conflicts often go unnoticed until construction. BIM’s 3D environment makes it easier to identify and resolve clashes, such as overlapping ductwork and beams, before they cause costly on-site issues.

Virtual Planning (4D BIM)

4D BIM incorporates the dimension of time into BIM models, enabling teams to simulate construction sequences and optimize project schedules. This approach helps reduce delays and enhance resource allocation. For instance, general contractors can virtually identify potential obstructions that could impede the movement of large equipment such as cranes or earthmovers. By addressing these issues during the planning phase, teams can ensure that such obstacles are cleared before the equipment arrives on-site, avoiding costly delays and improving overall efficiency.

Cost Estimation (5D BIM)

5D BIM integrates cost data directly into the project model, providing accurate, real-time cost estimates. This feature is especially useful for managing tenders and tracking budget changes throughout the project. Specialist contractors can create reusable BIM object libraries, allowing them to quickly adapt to different projects. By generating material schedules from the BIM models, contractors can easily calculate material costs, ensuring more accurate estimates and avoiding costly miscalculations that could lead to financial losses.

Asset Management (6D BIM)

BIM models become living documents during a building’s operation, supporting maintenance, upgrades, and energy optimization. They provide a centralized source of data for asset tracking and facilities management.

BIM for Manufacturing & Assembly

BIM facilitates Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), enabling the off-site prefabrication of building components. Trade contractors can design and produce prefabricated modules in controlled environments, ensuring higher quality and efficiency. These modules are then delivered to the site on a just-in-time basis, reducing on-site storage needs and minimizing material waste. By streamlining production and assembly, DfMA through BIM generates significant cost savings and accelerates project timelines.

Is 2D CAD Dead?

No, but its role has evolved. Certain details, like fabrication drawings, are better handled in 2D. However, relying solely on 2D workflows is insufficient in a BIM-centric environment. The key is to use 2D as a supplement to BIM, not as a replacement. Consider developing detailed 2D drawings from BIM achieve the benefits of both approaches for project delivery

BIM vs Revit: Understanding the Difference

BIM is a methodology, while Revit is one of many software tools used to implement it. While Revit dominates the market due to its ties to Autodesk’s AutoCAD, alternatives like Bentley Systems’ OpenBuildings and Graphisoft’s Archicad also support BIM. The focus should be on outcomes and compatibility with OpenBIM standards, not reliance on a single software.

Challenges of BIM Implementation

BIM adoption is not without hurdles. Many project teams are accustomed to traditional workflows, and transitioning requires training, significant investment in software, and a cultural shift within organizations. Resistance to change and high upfront costs can deter adoption, making it critical to approach implementation strategically, often with the help of BIM consultants.

Adopting OpenBIM (IFC)

OpenBIM, based on the IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) standard, promotes seamless collaboration by ensuring that BIM models created in different software platforms remain interoperable. CORENETX builds upon this foundation with a tailored implementation of OpenBIM, designed specifically for Singapore’s regulatory approval process.

A notable advantage of OpenBIM is the availability of free IFC viewers, which allow project teams to review, annotate, and collaborate on BIM models without the need for costly software licenses. This makes it easier for organizations to begin their BIM journey while minimizing upfront investment and associated risks.

Key Takeaways

BIM is no longer optional for building projects in Singapore; it is a necessity. CORENETX has made regulatory approvals more streamlined and efficient, but it requires a shift in how projects are planned and delivered. While 2D workflows remain relevant for specific tasks, BIM’s benefits in coordination, cost estimation, and asset management are undeniable. By adopting OpenBIM practices and investing in the right tools and training, firms can future-proof their workflows and thrive in an increasingly digitized industry.