A problem of perception versus reality? Why aren’t we all using BIM?

In theory, therefore, I should have the ability to chronicle my children’s lives in far greater detail than their grandparents could chronicle my own.

I should be able to do so (and I probably could), but the enormity of organising 10,000 photographs is such that, it’s a job I’ll probably not have the time to do until technological advances have taken us to the point where I can no longer access the jpeg files because they’re too out of date.

Consequently, far from being able to chronicle my children’s lives in greater detail than previous generations, I may end up giving them less information about their childhoods.

And I suspect I’m relatively typical.

Building information modelling

What does my lack of parenting skill in this regard have to do with building information modelling (BIM)?

Whether you’re BIM level 3 enabled, or don’t know what it is, the chances are that, without even trying, you can generate more information about projects you work on today than you could 20 years ago.

BIM is a method of working that allows that explosion of growth in data to be ordered, harnessed and put to use, setting out an approach to building information to standardise —

• how it’s named / filed

• how it’s shared

• how it’s presented / stored

Used well, the logic is that the design and construction processes become more efficient and less wasteful.

At the same time, the client has easy access to useful information throughout the lifetime of the asset, and beyond.

Using the analogy of my photo problem, construction clients that have adopted BIM practices should not be left with a mass of information so huge and unordered that it is useless.

BIM is, therefore, a good thing. Arguably, it’s not even a new thing — it’s just a part of the natural evolution of information sharing practices within the industry.

Lack of industry adoption

Why then, is BIM not being adopted by everyone in the sector?

From discussing this issue with fellow delegates at a conference last month, I suspect there are several different reasons.

The most common are a lack of time and a lack of resources to get up to speed.

Those who are evangelical about the benefits will argue investment of time and resources will pay huge dividends in the future; however, as one public sector client told me, potential dividends in the future don’t fix leaking roofs and pot-holed roads today.

Lack of time and resources apart, I do wonder, however, whether a larger problem is BIM’s image. I sense a perception within the industry that it’s a form of rocket science beyond “the likes of you and me.

That said, I think such a perception is unfair.

What is BIM Level 2?

What constitutes a “level 2 enabled project” is the subject of some discussion in the industry.

It is, however, generally accepted that it is a project where each designer does their design by way of a separate 3D digital model (rather than in 2D drawings) with all project information then being stored centrally (albeit in a federated manner) within a digital Common Data Environment.

Information is then shared in accordance with various protocols, all with a view to enabling effective collaborative working.

If you’ve not done so already, it’s worth reading the BS 1192 suite. This sets out the standards often viewed as the “how to” guide to doing a level 2-enabled project. The UK BIM Alliance website and Scottish Futures Trust BIM portal are also worth a look.

Taking the time to actually getting in to BS suite itself may help break down some of the mystique built up around BIM.

The method might be a bit acronym heavy and process (rather than substance) focused but none of it is particularly complicated.

Indeed, much of what is in the suite is just a reflection — or at least a natural progression — of current practice.

The BIM mountain – or hill

The mountain to climb in terms of becoming level 2 BIM compliant may not be as high as you think.

Don’t get me wrong, however, I do think there is still at least a hill to climb.

Even from a construction lawyer’s point of view, there is a lot of work to be done, as has been illustrated in a recent report published by the UK BIM Alliance: The Winfield Rock Report.

But as an industry, we need to start that ascent.

Because if we don’t, our children can then add “... and you failed to properly grapple with the advantages of a digitised built environment,” to their ever-growing list of parental fails.