Cloud computing is about provision of computing and storage capacity over a network, usually the internet, for users. Cloud computing becomes a handy model to overcome challenges in practical BIM implementations. Construction projects usually comprised of temporary teams. That is why a project organization is termed Temporary Multi-Organization, or TMO. Acquisition of permanent BIM infrastructure may not become economical, and might go waste at the end of the project.
The infrastructure may not be effectively used in future projects due to several reasons, including;
- Some of the elements of the infrastructure would have broken away with the team members,
- The infrastructure may not match the requirements of the future projects, and ...
- Infrastructure may not be compatible with the oncoming technology in future projects.
These and other reasons give rise for make use of Cloud Computing in BIM implementations. Read this interesting article on BIM Could Computing followed by this article by BIM9.