Building information modelling (BIM) a paradigm shift in construction

Abstract

The Construction industry in the UK has been recently shaken by a massive BIM (Building Information Modelling) storm, which reached its climax in April 2016 when we reached the British Government’s deadline for using BIM for all centrally procured UK Government construction projects. The requirement was pitched at level 2 maturity, which is a managed 3D environment held in separate discipline BIM tools with attached data. BIM has been hailed as a catalyst for a fundamental change in the way the industry conducts its business in a data-intensive and complex environment that significantly relies on effective collaboration of a diverse range of disciplines. As was the case with Latham Report (1994, Constructing the team. HMSO), and the Egan Report (1998, The Egan Report-Rethinking construction, report of the construction industry taskforce to the Deputy Prime Minister, UK), the industry has the astute ability to welcome the recommendations, but interpret them in the manner suitable for its endurance. Interestingly, in this instance, there is a maturity level which, on the one hand, describes the exact nature of the requirements, but, on the other hand, it allows a degree of interpretation, as to what constitutes BIM capability. However, this time the wave is global, which contain as much collaboration and cooperation, as it imposes competition on moving up the BIM maturity level. Whatever the response of the industry is, the general feeling is that BIM is here to stay. There will be significant “continuous change," but whether it will lead to the well awaited complete “reengineering” of the industry, it remains to be seen. However, what seems certain, is that every step of the process shall leave its worthy mark on the industry.