One App Shall Rule Them All

Yesterday brought an interesting observation of where the future of BIM software lies, I think. With Autodesk currently gobbling up market share like Pac-Man at a buffet, I believe we are already moving towards a reduction of files to a set of 4 or 5 centralized database models linked together, representing each of the major disciplines.

The question is, where can this go?

I think the answer may lie in SSP apps such as those being developed by Google and Adobe, which could lead to a web-centric, single model that is hosted either in one or multiple locations but accessed and developed by the entire building team. This is a mighty challenge, with various needs by sub-contractors, S/MEP engineers, architects, and builders, but if done correctly it could truly be an intelligent, living building model that can be accessed by the team, anywhere, and not feeling like it is an antiquated modelling environment adapted from the early days of CAD.

Aspirational, probably, but if a company like Google or a well-assembled set of Web 3.0 developers put their minds and resources to it, Autodesk may have some serious contention to their soon to be monopoly...