Identifying the association of bim platforms with architectural design process: The case study of Antalya

BIM (Building Information Modeling) is defined as the design of the buildings' life cycle within the digital environment. The design of the building life cycle covers not only conceptual design but also includes the design of building cost, construction methods, management, in case of need, renovation and even recycling processes. From these viewpoints, the stage of architectural design plays an important role in decision-making related with building life cycle. Although the use of BIM platforms can be considered as the first step in the implementation of BIM process, this use does not mean that the BIM process is implemented. There is an important distinction between BIM process and BIM platforms; while BIM process involves professionals, workflows, legislations, software, hardware etc., BIM platforms are limited with software used for controlling certain aspects of BIM process. In spite of this, the use of BIM platforms can give information concerning what BIM can be and how it can be implemented. This thesis focuses on a selection of architectural design offices in Antalya, Turkey which use BIM platforms and which have international relations, in order to examine their designs produced by the use of BIM platforms. Through this case study, the following points are questioned: Which BIM platforms were used? How these platforms contributed to the development and interpretation of architectural design both as process and product? Did BIM platforms facilitate interdisciplinary coordination? In this framework, the positive and negative aspects of the use of BIM platforms in general and the experiences of architectural design offices are interpreted. It is expected that the findings of this study will contribute to the further implementations of BIM.