BIM AI #01 – AI in Rendering and Visualization

Imagine working on a complex construction project.There are many obstacles in the way of the team, such as multiple changes in the concept, the need to quickly present the effects in 3D, collision detection, cost optimization, energy control, etc… Each of these activities takes time and precision, and each mistake can lead to costly fixes. What if artificial intelligence could take over some of these responsibilities, or speed up the delivery of the final results? See how AI in architectural visualization supports designers.

Sounds like science fiction? In fact, AI is already gradually changing the way we design, build and manage buildings. Multinational companies are investing billions of dollars in the development of increasingly powerful algorithms, and software providers are implementing AI in their tools. In this atmosphere, innovative start-ups that promise to revolutionize the construction market pop up like mushrooms. 

Will AI change the rules of the game in the construction industry? In this series of articles, we will look at specific tools based on artificial intelligence – we will see how they work and what opportunities they offer. We will present the tools chronologically in the life cycle order of the construction investment, which is why we start with the initial concept.

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AI-assisted 3D scene rendering

Graphics and rendering have definitely become the most groundbreaking areas of AI application in the architectural industry. Visualization of the project vision allows you to see projects in a realistic form before the project receives a green light for implementation. Artificial intelligence is making huge changes in this area, allowing you to create visualizations in a shorter time, in a more automated way. 

Thanks to AI, the process of rendering initial concepts is faster, and the images themselves become more realistic thanks to the automatic selection of lighting, textures and ambient elements. Artificial intelligence “guesses” many details that would require many hours of work of a specialist to achieve photorealistic effects.

AI in rendering – from improving quality to generating entire scenes

At first glance, D5 Render resembles tools like Twinmotion or Lumion, offering intuitive settings for vegetation, lighting, weather, and a material library. Its free version is functional, but the Pro version stands out thanks to built-in AI tools that enhance rendering workflows.

The most useful is AI Enhancer, which automatically boosts render quality in post-processing, adding detail and realism in minutes. Before upgrading to Pro, though, it’s worth exploring other advanced (and often free) AI enhancers that allow more control over effect intensity.

Another feature is AI Style Transfer, which applies artistic or mood-based styles—like sketches, paintings, or different lighting conditions (e.g., “sunset” or “night”). However, results can be inconsistent, sometimes producing artifacts.

AI Generated Texture Maps speed up material workflows by automatically creating texture maps, while AI Atmosphere Match offers a library of scene moods that can be applied with a click, streamlining the process.

Among the more experimental features is Text to 3D, which generates simple 3D models from text descriptions—currently best suited for decorative objects. The most ambitious tool, D5 HI, is still in development but promises future capabilities like generating full scenes from text or photos.

While some tools are still maturing, D5 Render’s key advantage is having all these AI features built into one platform, making it a promising all-in-one solution for visualization professionals.

Interface – D5 Render Atmosphere Match Tool

Veras – intelligent rendering without leaving BIM

For those seeking simpler tools to generate environments directly from their BIM modeler, options like SketchUp Diffusion, Veras, and AI Visualizer offer consistent rendering results without switching platforms.

Veras, developed by EvolveLAB (now acquired by Chaos Group – creators of V-Ray and Corona), is particularly noteworthy. It integrates seamlessly with Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, Archicad, and Vectorworks, enabling fast render generation without exporting to external engines. A standout feature is the ability to control AI creativity—from faithful model reproduction to more artistic interpretations with mood, soft lighting, and richer materials.

To get the best results, effective prompt usage and model detail are key. The more accurately the prompt guides the AI, the better the output. For instance, if you want people to appear in the background, place their silhouettes in the 3D model and specify style or mood in the prompt. The same applies to geometry and materials—Veras interprets surfaces better when they’re clearly defined in the BIM model (e.g. glass, windows, textures).

This approach prevents random AI guesses and improves realism. Veras reads the model contextually, reflecting user intent with more precision. It’s ideal for those who want to enhance render quality without spending hours in post-production.

With its recent acquisition by Chaos Group, Veras is poised for rapid development. This could mean even greater accuracy and visual quality in future updates. For designers seeking efficient, creative, and model-integrated rendering solutions, Veras offers an exciting, AI-powered alternative—and its potential continues to grow.

Drafts corrected “promptly”

Another but much simpler tool is PromeAI. It is an intuitive tool that generates renderings based on sketches and text descriptions. PromeAI has a rich style library. Thanks to it, the user is not able to determine the type of scene – from general categories, such as architectural rendering, to more detailed types of projects, e.g. residential, commercial, public, or even specific forms, such as a skyscraper or a villa. In addition, the tool offers a choice of perspective (e.g. wide angle, dynamic perspective, bird’s eye view or drone view). It also offers the type of lighting, which gives a lot of freedom in creating visualizations tailored to various design needs.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that PromeAI does not always stick to the strictly provided sketches. Sometimes it adds architectural elements that were not present in the original – e.g. additional window/door openings or changes in the body of the building. This can be a great option for those who want to explore new ideas, but if full compliance with the BIM model is crucial. It is worth approaching the effects with some caution. Still, the tool is great for quickly prototyping and testing different visualization variants. No need to refine details from scratch.

With this example, we temporarily close the topic of static renderings supported or generated by artificial intelligence. Noting that we will return to examples of other tools describing how AI can support architectural concepts and the creation of BIM models.

Architectural animations generated by AI in architectural visualization

If static images are hard to prepare, this is nothing in comparison to a photorealistic animation. AI in architectural visualization supports designers in the process of generating architectural films. Sora (from OpenAI) is a tool that allows you to generate videos with realistic lighting, materials and space based on BIM models. This is a breakthrough in creating visualizations. Users can not only generate their own sequences, but also view the work of others. Save them in your library and analyze the textual prompts that were used to create them. Sora also allows you to combine multiple clips into one sequence, which allows you to build more complex visual narratives.

Tim Fu Studio and their use of Sora AI in architectural animations:

Of course, at this stage there are also many disadvantages of such a tool. Physics is the Achilles heel of artificial intelligence. Elements may vanish, change shape, or permeate each other in an unrealistic way. The movement of people, animals or vehicles, which often behave unnaturally, is problematic. Fortunately, when depicting architecture, everyone usually prefers to avoid people getting entangled in the frame. Therefore, static shots or landscape films, where these imperfections are not so visible, will work better in the context of architecture. Sora can be used to quickly create initial conceptual animations using BIM models. They will help in the initial presentation without the need for time-consuming rendering of traditional animations consisting of hundreds or thousands of individual frames. It can also make it easier to visualize the impact of the building on the environment – the tool copes well with landscapes. This makes it suitable for showing the urban context or changes in weather conditions. In the future, it will probably also be able to be used in simulations of the construction process.

AI at the service of architecture: stylized conceptual visualizations

An additional interesting application of Sora and another similar tool from Google, i.e. Veo 2. There may also be video styling in a drawing form – the tools are good at creating animations resembling handwritten sketches. This can be a great way to present conceptual architectural visualizations.

Despite their limitations, animation tools based on artificial intelligence open up completely new possibilities for presenting concepts in the design industry.

Summary – AI in architectural visualization

Although AI tools are still not perfect and need refinement, their potential is already very impressive!
They’re significantly improving the design and visualization process. With integration in software like Revit or Archicad, testing design concepts becomes easier and more realistic. AI tools help automatically generate scenes and materials, speeding up early project stages.

Not all AI tools integrate directly with BIM models, but that’s clearly the direction things are heading. Early examples are already enhancing BIM capabilities. Thanks to integration, changes in the model appear instantly in visualizations. This allows quick generation of visuals without unnecessary data export.

AI-generated visualizations are now easily accessible, but there are still some challenges. One key issue is writing precise prompts, which often requires practice and creativity. Controlling the visualization process can be hard, especially with more advanced tools.

This niche is developing rapidly, and examples we mention may soon be outdated. Still, we’re excited to share what’s happening in early 2025! We look forward to how AI in rendering will evolve. The future may bring truly surprising results.

In the next episode, we’ll explore how AI helps create architectural concepts and BIM models. Stay tuned for upcoming insights!

Author: Oliwia Prochowska
Under the editorship of:: Wojciech Jędrosz