What is BIM?

© University College of Estate Management 2017

Transcript

Introduction
One of the key changes occurring in the UK construction industry at
present is the adoption of building information modelling, or BIM.

This term can mean many different things to many different people. So,
what exactly is it?

BIM is often interpreted as one or more of the following:

 a process using models;

 3D models and their use in design;
 specific software;
 4D movies showing buildings being constructed;
 5D costs being attached to a model;
 3D, 4D and 5D all being present and using a model;
 and often, BIM is defined as being Level 2 or even Level 3
compliant.

None of these are entirely correct on their own, and often they only
outline part of the BIM process.

BIM is defined in the British Standard PAS 1192-2:2013 (BSI 2013) as

the ‘process of designing, constructing or operating a building or
infrastructure asset using electronic object-orientated information.’

This definition is designed to encompass all the possible uses of both

models and data within the lifecycle of a construction project.

The UK construction industry is undergoing a digital revolution in

adopting BIM. The National Building Specification (NBS 2016) defines
BIM as a way of working by undertaking information modelling and
information management in a team environment.

This encourages all team members to be working to the same

standards as one another. BIM therefore creates value from the
combined efforts of people, process and technology.

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 What is BIM?

So, why is BIM such a hot topic and why is it being

adopted now?
The UK government has specified some goals for the construction
industry and does not believe that the set targets can be achieved
without the use of BIM – which is designed to help drive the process,
produce more reliable and quantifiable data, to understand the issues in
greater detail and to begin to resolve them.

With this in mind, the UK government has outlined a staged approach to

the issues, with targets to be achieved at each stage.

The current target to achieve Level 2 BIM on all publically procured

projects with a value greater than £5m by 2016 is perhaps not going to
be achieved.

According to a recent survey, less than a third of construction firms in

the UK have adopted BIM (Out-Law.com 2015).

What’s next?
Level 1 has already been achieved by the majority of the construction
industry, and is being used as the foundation to move on to Level 2.

Level 2 involves the production of additional standards and codes of

practice, along with advisory documents.

Whilst there are answers to what Level 2 BIM is, or will be, Level 3 is
not yet fully defined. Also little work has been carried out regarding
Level 4, other than identifying that a progression will be required to
reach the more challenging goals specified.

With BIM now clearly defined, and the relevant standards, codes of
practice and guidance either available, or in production, it is now
possible to begin to use the tools provided to deliver the savings
outlined in the government strategy as goals.

References
BSI (2013) PAS 1192-2:2013: Specification for Information
Management for the Capital/Delivery Phase of Construction Projects
Using Building Information Modelling, London: British Standards
Institute. Available at: http://shop.bsigroup.com/forms/PASs/PAS-1192-
2/

NBS (2016) ‘What is building information modelling (BIM)?’ [online].

Available at: www.thenbs.com/knowledge/what-is-building-information-
modelling-bim

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 What is BIM?

Out-Law.com (2015) ‘Construction industry’s BIM adoption stalls ahead

of UK government deadline’ [online]. Available at: www.out-
law.com/en/articles/2015/december/construction-industrys-bim-
adoption-stalls-ahead-of-uk-government-deadline/

[All websites accessed 21 April 2017.]