THIS MONTH IN ENGINEERING | September 1987 – When Buildings Became Data
- Rebeka Zubac
- Sep 8
- 2 min read
In September 1987, computer scientist Charles Eastman published one of the first papers outlining the concept of Building Information Modelling (BIM). At a time when CAD was only just replacing hand-drawn blueprints, Eastman argued that a building shouldn’t just be drawn. It should be represented as a database of components, each with its own properties, relationships, and lifecycle.
It was a radical shift. A line on a drawing could now be a wall, with materials, costs, insulation values, and connections to adjoining systems. Change the wall, and the database would update everything around it. For the first time, engineers, architects, and builders could work from a shared source of truth.
Today, BIM forms the backbone of almost every major project. It coordinates mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, structural, and architectural systems. It resolves clashes before construction begins. It links models to schedules and budgets. It even carries forward into facilities management, where a digital twin of the building continues to support maintenance and performance long after handover.
But BIM is not just software. It works when teams collaborate, adopt shared standards, and treat the model as a living reference. Used well, it saves time, reduces risk, and supports more sustainable outcomes.
Nearly forty years after Eastman’s paper, the idea of a building as data is no longer futuristic — it’s essential.
What would our cities look like if every project was coordinated through a truly integrated model, from design through to demolition?
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At Goldfish & Bay, BIM is part of our everyday delivery, from execution planning to clash detection and digital coordination. Get in touch if you’d like to learn more.
To request our BIM Capabilities Statement or speak with our team:
📞1300 979 667
