What LOD Actually Specifies
Level of Development (LOD) defines how much geometric and non-geometric information a model element carries at a given project stage — it's not simply "how detailed the 3D shape looks," but a formal specification of what a design team can reliably rely on the model for at that stage, from rough massing through to exact fabrication-ready detail.
LOD 300 — Design Coordination
LOD 300 elements are modelled with accurate size, shape, location and orientation sufficient for clash detection and design coordination between disciplines — the level most UAE projects require for tender documentation and cross-discipline coordination, where exact quantities and fabrication detail aren't yet needed.
LOD 400 — Construction and Fabrication
LOD 400 adds fabrication-level detail — exact assembly information, specific manufacturer part numbers where relevant, precise connection details — needed for construction issue and, in ELV systems, often for panel and containment fabrication drawings. This level of detail costs meaningfully more modelling time and should be scoped only for elements that genuinely need it.
Choosing the Right Level for a UAE Tender
ASDV scopes LOD requirements per element category rather than applying one blanket level across an entire model — structural and major MEP routing might need LOD 400 for construction issue, while less critical elements remain at LOD 300, keeping modelling cost proportional to where the detail actually adds tender or construction value.