A visual BIM query language

The change from drawing-based to model-based work demands the integration of the very important group of the craftsmen into the BIM-oriented process chain, which is practically not considered in BIM development until now. Effective and encompassing access to the particular information needed for a certain work task based on different domain specific models which are the fundament for a 5D-BIM (building, costs and time) with respect to the specific working environment is a major prerequisite to achieve craftsmen integration. Because it should not be necessary to burden craftsmen with learning some kind of (text based) programming or query languages to formulate model queries this paper discusses the concept and the language elements which will be needed for aVisual BIM Query Language. Such a visual language is supposed to lower the threshold and effort required for the adoption of the BIM-based work paradigm by the small and medium crafts enterprises.