Geometric Description Language, The building block of BIM.
At its simplest form, GDL programmers create an active object that can provide detailed information about itself. These smart objects can then be queried for electrical load and structural calculations, energy compliance, material lists, CAD-CAM data, cost estimates, equipment repair/replacement schedules...
WHAT ARE THE CONS?
Intelligent object design has its place, but the fact is, most manufacturers have not created intelligent objects. This makes open source architecture a solid necessity for todays BIM modeller. GDL is open source. Always has been and it always will be...With little skill, basic GDL can easily be utilized for customizing any project specific requirements.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
BIM software and development is certainly not new. Most of the programs currently marketed have solid histories in computer aided drafting and design, but Graphisoft are pioneers. Even mighty AutoDesk woke up to the realization that BIM was the future. Their solution? Buy something, and fast. Their family of software now includes a "freshman" BIM architectural program called Revit. Revit was a stand-alone product independantly developed that showed great promise. Though it has achieved great successes in a relatively short time, their incredible growth in recent years is most completely attributed to their purchase by AutoDesk. As a family member of AutoDesk, Revit now enjoys an ample amount of users. I simply prefer ArchiCAD!
