Model new site announced for BIM aficionados

The UK’s BIM (Building Information Modelling) Task Group is launching a Digital Plans of Work site on February 28. The latest phase in the government’s plans to make the UK the world leader in BIM, the site will enable users to keep an online version of their work. BIM is also attracting support worldwide. Today, US construction giant ZMG Construction threw its weight behind the technology saying: “New technological developments continue to revolutionize the construction and design industries — and building information modelling, or BIM, is foremost on the list of these major technological advances.”

BIM technology differs significantly from the CAD technology in allowing for full 3-D imaging, which can include “smart” objects, embedded with information. This means BIM makes it easy for architects and engineers to coordinate their work and even to showcase lists of materials and labour requirements.

3-D modeling offers myriad benefits during the design process, says ZMG: “When you lay out a 3-D model, it helpfully shows any existing conflicts or problems and allows for an office-based solution that requires much less time and effort, by a few key professionals, than a large-scale development project being placed on hold, with 50-100 employees being held up over these foreseeable problems.”

The company concludes with a note about the cost of BIM, still seen by many as a hindrance to the widespread embrace of this technology. “As for the cost of BIM, like all technology, the cost will come down as the masses find that it is useful and that it boosts efficiency.”

The growing popularity of Building Information Modelling (BIM) was underlined at the RICS BIM National Conference which took place in London last week. The RICS conference featured presentations and interactive panel discussions featuring speakers from across the full spectrum of the industry – from lawyers to architects to government officials – provided a full overview of the current BIM environment. They included:

• David Philp (Head of BIM Implementation, Cabinet Office)
• Steve Race (BIM Ambassador, CIC)
• Deborah Rowland (Head of Facilities Management, Cabinet Office)
• Dirk Krolikowski (Associate/Architect at Rogers Stirk, Harbour + Partners)
• Nick Nisbet (Director, AEC3 UK Ltd)
• Dale Sinclair (Director, Dyer & Chairmain of RIBA Plan of Work Review Group)
• Paul Fletcher (Co-founder Director, Through Architecture)
• Professor David Greenwood (BIM Academy and Northumbria University)
• Adrian Malone (Director, Faithful+Gould)
• Michael Conroy Harris (Principal Legal Manager, Eversheds)

Announcing the launch of Digital Plans of Work David Philp – Head of BIM Implementation, Cabinet Office said that on the same date, the PAS 1192:2 document – the Specification for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using Building Information Modelling – will be also be published.

You can see some of the discussions raised at the conference on Twitter by searching for the #RICSBIM hashtag.