ABSTRACT
A Virtual Building Environment (VBE) is a “place” where building industry project staffs can get help in creating Building Information Models (BIM) and in the use of virtual buildings. It consists of a group of industry software that is operated by industry experts who are also experts in the use of that software. This chapter aims to define BIM and virtual buildings, and describes VBE objectives, set-up and characteristics of operation. In most developed countries the buildings construction industry, sometimes called the Architecture-Engineering-Construction-Operations or Architecture-Engineering Construction-Facilities Management industry, is the second largest industry. Yet, virtually no testing of the primary product of the industry-the building-is done before irrevocable and often very costly decisions are made. In similar situations, decision makers in other industries use software that can simulate the product’s performance that is of interest-they build virtual products they can experiment with and test with computers.
