Sticks and stones...will not hurt you...

It is the software-packages that can’t represent them well that will break-your-back as you try to make any headway in virtual construction.

Take for example walls within buildings:

Most architect-focused modelling packages create walls as monolithic entities, even when they are made up of numerous layers in real life (composites);

Therefore, when one wants to represent walls in a ‘virtual construction’ or BIM context, the work method to follow is not user friendly or straight forward.

There are two lines-of-thought:

Some practitioners, that I’d classify more as BIM theorists, believe this shortcoming of ‘AEC targeted’ modelling packages should be tolerated, as the said simple representation of the wall can be enhanced by almost endless number of non-graphical parameters to include anything worth knowing about the building element.

Others (myself included) require the capability for elemental build up of complex structures, keeping them highly detailed, well defined, accurately positioned and ‘constructurally’ intelligent.

As an upshot of my opinion on this issue, I long for construction modelling packages developed truly for the virtual constructor (or BIM manager).

Software and tools geared towards the easy creation of highly intelligent objects armed also with turbo-charged profilers able to sweep complex sections within 3 directions and beside/over/under one another.

Currently, most packages are woefully inadequate for use in the above described manner.

Barely deserve the title of ‘BIM modelling software’.