BIM-generated Real-time Architectural Visualizations and Photo-realistic Renderings

Following up on my post about the Gamification ofArchitectural Renderings the comes a great article from AEC Magazine of BIM-generated real-time visualizations and photo-realistic renderings. Though I personally forgo real-time digital renderings in favour of more traditional architectural renderings I will admit to liking BIM’s ability to extract line work for all sorts of architecturally communicative reasons. The argument the writer puts forward is that the period of high quality real-time visualization has arrived and is already being used innovatively by several firms mentioned in the article. Some of the more advanced renderings’ treatment of light is extremely realistic. The writer has kindly summarized the benefits in one paragraph referencing Abu Dhabi International Airport's new Midfield Terminal:                         

A money saving point of view BIM (Building Information Modelling) is in some minds just another way of saying “3D”. But when modelling takes centre stage it becomes easier to add visualisation into the workflow. When Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Consolidated Contractors Company were partners on the Midfield Terminal project for Abu Dhabi International Airport, they adopted a “4D” BIM workflow that used threedimensional visualisations and time studies to review construction and design issues from a holistic perspective. The result was documented savings of more than $5 million due to better clash detection and a visualisation study that validated early calculations on crane allocation.