BIM Level of Development Specification – LOD

The Level of Development (LOD) Specification as created and presented by BIMForum.org ” is a reference that enables practitioners in the AEC Industry to specify and articulate a high level of clarity the content and reliability of Building Information Models (BIMs) at various stages in the design and construction process. The LOD Specification utilizes the basic LOD definitions developed by the AIA for the AIA G202-2013 Building Information Modeling Protocol Form1 and is organized by CSI Uniformat 2010. It defines and illustrates characteristics of model elements of different building systems at different Levels of Development. This clear articulation allows model authors to define what  their models can be relied on for, and allows downstream users to clearly understand the usability and the limitations of models they are  receiving.  The intent of this Specification is to help explain the LOD framework and standardize its use so that it becomes more useful as a
communication tool. It does not prescribe what Levels of Development are to be reached at what point in a project but leaves the  specification of the model progression to the user of this document. To accomplish the document’s intent, its primary objectives are:

• To help teams, including owners, to specify BIM deliverables and to get a clear picture of what will be included in a BIM deliverable
• To help design managers explain to their teams the information and detail that needs to be provided at various points in the design process
• To provide a standard that can be referenced by contracts and BIM execution plans.

It should be noted that this Specification does not replace a project BIM Execution Plan (BIMXP), but rather is intended to be used in  conjunction with such a plan, providing a means of defining models for specific information exchanges, milestones in a design work  plan, and deliverables for specific function,”

Download 2013 LOD Specification

LOD is sometimes interpreted as Level of Detail rather than Level of Development. There are important differences.
Level of Detail is essentially how much detail is included in the model element.

Level of Development is the degree to which the
element’s geometry and attached information has been thought through – the degree to which project team members may rely on the  information when using the model. In essence, Level of Detail can be thought of as input to the element, while Level of Development is reliable output.

Fundamental LOD Definitions 
LOD 100 The Model Element may be graphically represented in the Model with a symbol or other generic representation, but does not satisfy the requirements for LOD 200. Information  related to the Model Element (i.e. cost per square foot, tonnage of HVAC, etc.) can be  derived from other Model Elements.
LOD 200 The Model Element is graphically represented within the Model as a generic system, object, or assembly with approximate quantities, size, shape, location, and orientation. Non-graphic information may also be attached to the Model Element.
LOD 300 The Model Element is graphically represented within the Model as a specific system, object or assembly in terms of quantity, size, shape, location, and orientation. Non-graphic information may also be attached to the Model Element.
LOD 350 The Model Element is graphically represented within the Model as a specific system, object,  or assembly in terms of quantity, size, shape, orientation, and interfaces with other building  systems. Non-graphic information may also be attached to the Model Element.
LOD 400 The Model Element is graphically represented within the Model as a specific system, object  or assembly in terms of size, shape, location, quantity, and orientation with detailing,  fabrication, assembly, and installation information. Non-graphic information may also be  attached to the Model Element.
LOD 500 The Model Element is a field verified representation in terms of size, shape, location,  quantity, and orientation. Non-graphic information may also be attached to the Model  Elements.
Example – light fixture:
100 cost/sf attached to floor slabs
200 light fixture, generic/approximate size/shape/location
300 Design specified 2×4 troffer, specific size/shape/location
350 Actual model, Lightolier DPA2G12LS232, specific size/shape/location
400 As 350, plus special mounting details, as in a decorative soffit

OMNICLASS – BIM Strategy

OmniClass

(Sources – omniclass.org, CSI)

 

The OmniClass Construction Classification System (known as OmniClass™ or OCCS) is a classification system for the construction industry. OmniClass is useful for many applications, from organizing library materials, product literature, and project information, to providing a classification structure for electronic databases. It incorporates other extant systems currently in use as the basis of many of its Tables – MasterFormat™ for work results, UniFormat for elements, and EPIC (Electronic Product Information Cooperation) for structuring products.

• Learn about CSI/CSC MasterFormat
• Learn about CSI/CSC UniFormat
• Learn about Omniclass and the IFD Library in this presentation (PDF)

Download the tables in PDF format See descriptions of the tables
Table	Status	Release Date
Introduction – OmniClass Introduction	Release	2006-03-28
Table 11 – Construction Entities by Function	Release	2006-03-28
Table 12 – Construction Entities by Form	Release	2006-03-28
Table 13 – Spaces by Function	Pre Consensus Approved Draft	2010-06-24 modified by Committee action 2011-05-23
Table 14 – Spaces by Form	Release	2006-03-28
Table 21 – Elements (includes Designed Elements)	Pre Consensus Approved Draft	2011-02-11
Table 22 – Work Results	Pre Consensus Approved Draft	2011-04-11
Table 23 – Products	Pre Consensus Approved Draft	2010-06-24
Table 31 – Phases	Release	2006-03-28
Table 32 – Services	Pre Consensus Approved Draft	2010-06-24
Table 33 – Disciplines	Release	2006-03-28
Table 34 – Organizational Roles	Release	2006-03-28
Table 35 – Tools	Draft	2006-03-28
Table 36 – Information	Pre Consensus Approved Draft	2010-06-24
Table 41 – Materials	Release	2006-03-28
Table 49 – Properties	Draft for Comment	2010-06-24

MasterFormat / MasterFormat2004 Changes

MasterFormat® Updates:

Did you know CSI and CSC have a new annual revision cycle?

Did you know there is a new Division?

The major updates to MasterFormat2004 are:

• A new division, Division 46 – Water and Wastewater Equipment, which significantly expands the document’s coverage of environmental engineering specifications
• Revisions to Division 44 – Pollution and Waste Control Equipment, so that it complements the addition of the new Division 46
• New specifications related to polished concrete (Division 03)

CSI and CSC designed the 50-division format of MasterFormat 2004 so that it can accommodate additional divisions and changes as the industry evolves. The 50-division format is now used in a majority of commercial projects in North America.

The MasterFormat revision process is conducted by the MasterFormat Maintenance Task Team (MFMTT), a committee of volunteers appointed by CSI, CSC and MasterFormat Sponsors (ARCAT, ARCOM, Building Systems Design, Inc., the Construction Sciences Research Foundation, Inc., McGraw-Hill Construction, and Reed Construction Data).