BIM as an enabler for digital processes

BIM, IoT, CDEs and other digital processes are rife within certain sections of the construction industry – 3D modelling is one of the main methodologies that is changing its landscape, however, hesitation still grips some areas of the sector. According to Roy Danon, CEO and co-founder of Buildots, it is absolutely critical that companies adopt BIM so they do not fall behind in the race.

AI, IoT and other bespoke software provide an all-encompassing digital journey for the construction industry. Each one is growing in importance across many projects due to the fact that businesses are beginning to realise that complex processes can be made tenfold easier with the adoption of technology. Having digital solutions helps to eliminate and mitigate the risks involved as well as making arduous programmes of work more efficient and seamless.

BIM is no doubt the technology that has made the most transformative difference and is at the core of the industry’s digital offering. It has meant that this is the first time that the industry has agreed on an end-to-end product that aims to create through its delivery process, it also means that different pieces of the puzzle are now properly coordinated.

The innovative company Hilti is a great example of this, it recently revealed the Jaibot, a robot that replaces some of the repetitive and dangerous work that is conducted on a construction site. Plans need to be in place for it to operate otherwise it will not be able to drill holes properly.

AI-based programme generation and optimisation need BIM in order to grasp the complexity of the project it is planning and to provide the best course of action.

BIM as the enabler: What are the other benefits?

A 60% increase in BIM adoption from 2011 to 2019 was highlighted in the 2019 NBS National BIM Report, this is a clear indication of BIM being used more widely across construction projects. In an attempt to raise the profile of BIM further, the UK government has outlined ‘Construction 2025’ where they plan to ensure that companies are BIM Level 3 compliant to collaborate on government projects. This builds upon the notion that companies must adhere to BIM Level 2 regulations currently.

To fulfil these targets, many contractors and asset owners are turning to smarter and greener methodologies and processes. BIM plays a vital role in this case in helping firms to predict their digital footprint before the construction phase as well as measuring it once the asset is in use.

Improved quality and traceability are high on the agenda of implementing BIM processes. Dame Judith Hackitt’s golden thread of information has been praised as one of the most prominent methods in the industry of ensuring best working practice across the board. Aligning with this process is the fact that higher demand from companies is prevalent in knowing and understanding the role of visible and accessible data within an asset or project. A clear audit trail of what has been done is imperative in knowing what has been done and by whom, this will create the all-important golden thread.

The concept of connected data comes into play here, currently, historic data is stored across multiple, disparate silos that render the information inaccessible and inefficient. This cannot craft a reliable like-for-like image of the performance of a building and old data is a reference of what occurred, not necessarily a tool that can confidently report on how an asset is currently performing.

BIM is transforming the terrain of a tech-resistant industry. It is expected that these new technologies will only work on BIM-enabled projects, widening the productivity gap between those who have accepted and adopted change versus those who stayed behind.