Free course · Architecture & Engineering
Free BIM Course
Understand building information modelling as it's practised: uses, levels of information, ISO 19650, IFC, execution plans, coordination and handover.
8 lessons · 1 practical project · about 6 hours · free, no sign-up
Your progress
0 of 9 lessons and projects complete · saved on this device
About this course
Building information modelling is how much of the construction industry now designs, coordinates and hands over buildings and infrastructure. This free course is software-neutral: it teaches the concepts, standards and workflows that apply whether your team uses Revit, ArchiCAD, Tekla or anything else.
You'll learn what BIM is (and isn't), which BIM uses create value, how to specify the right level of information, how ISO 19650 organises information management, how IFC and BCF let tools work together, what a BIM execution plan contains, how coordination and clash detection really run, and how to plan handover for building operations.
By the end you will be able to
- Explain BIM and its uses clearly
- Specify levels of information
- Follow ISO 19650 terms and workflows
- Exchange models with IFC and issues with BCF
- Write and use a BIM execution plan
- Plan coordination and handover
Who it’s for
- • Architecture, engineering and construction students
- • Designers and drafters moving onto BIM projects
- • Project managers and clients commissioning BIM
- • Contractors and facilities managers
Course outline
Follow the order, or jump to what you need — nothing is locked. Each lesson has steps, an exercise, a checklist and a quiz.
Beginner BIM foundations
Beginner overviewWhat BIM is, what it's used for across a project, and how much geometry and information models should contain.
- 1. What is BIM?BIM is a way of creating and managing information about a built asset throughout its life, using structured digital models. Learn what it means in practice — beyond the 3D pictures.14 min
- 2. BIM uses across a projectClients and teams choose specific BIM uses for a project. Learn the common ones, what each needs from the model, and the ‘nD’ terms you’ll hear on site.15 min
- 3. Level of development and information needHow detailed should a model be? LOD and Level of Information Need describe what geometry and data are required, when, and for what purpose — so teams neither under- nor over-model.15 min
Intermediate Standards and planning
Intermediate overviewISO 19650 information management, IFC and openBIM exchange, and the BIM execution plan.
- 1. ISO 19650 and information managementISO 19650 is the international framework for managing information on BIM projects. Learn its key terms and workflow so you can follow it on real projects.22 min
- 2. IFC and openBIMTeams use different software. IFC is the open, standard format that lets their models be exchanged and checked. Learn what it is, how to export well and how to check the result.18 min
- 3. The BIM execution planThe BIM execution plan is the team’s agreement on how information will be produced and shared. Learn what goes in it and how to keep it useful rather than a document nobody reads.18 min
Advanced Coordination and handover
Advanced overviewProfessional coordination and clash detection, and delivering asset information for operations.
- 1. Coordination and clash detectionCoordination turns separate discipline models into a buildable whole. Learn how professional teams run clash detection so it resolves real problems instead of producing noise.20 min
- 2. Handover and asset informationThe longest phase of a building’s life is operation. BIM handover delivers the data owners need to run and maintain it — if it’s planned from the start.16 min
Practical projects Practical project
Practical projects overviewPlan BIM for a small building: requirements, execution plan, coordination and handover.
Free KitWren tools for this course
- Area ConverterConvert square metres, square feet, acres, hectares and more.
- Length ConverterConvert between metres, centimetres, millimetres, kilometres, inches, feet, yards and miles.
- Merge PDFCombine multiple PDFs into one file, in any order, choosing which pages to include from each.
- Word to PDFConvert Word (.docx) documents to PDF in your browser — text, headings, lists and tables.
Related courses
- RevitLearn to model, document and coordinate buildings in Revit — from BIM fundamentals and your first walls to families, schedules and full drawing sets.28 lessons · 4 projects · free
- NavisworksCoordinate BIM projects in Navisworks: federate models, review and mark up, build search sets, run clash detection, simulate construction in 4D and report.7 lessons · 1 projects · free
- Construction documentationLearn to produce drawing sets builders can price and build from: organisation, sheets, plans, sections, details, schedules, specifications, revisions and checking.8 lessons · 1 projects · free
- Civil 3DLearn civil design in Civil 3D: survey data, surfaces, road alignments and profiles, corridors, grading, earthworks and pipe networks.8 lessons · 1 projects · free
BIM course: questions
Do I need software for this BIM course?
No. The course teaches concepts and processes. To practise modelling, take the Revit course; to practise coordination, the Navisworks course.
Does the course cover ISO 19650 certification?
It explains ISO 19650 so you can work on projects that use it. It isn't a certification; accredited certification schemes are run by other bodies.
Is BIM only for large projects?
No. Small projects benefit too, especially from coordination and consistent information, but the amount of process should match the project's size.
Free, independent learning material written for KitWren. We never provide software downloads, licence keys or cracks — use the official sources.