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Continuing Professional Development Building Information Modelling • The potential benefits of BIM • Delivering the benefits • Putting together a BIM execution plan

and tangible benefits that derive from the fact that BIM incorporates a 3D geometric model, with design now taking place within a 3D environment, giving designers the freedom to explore elements that would previously not become apparent until a much later in the design process. Clients, stakeholders and the project

team can review 3D geospatial, data-rich virtual project representations. The result is a far earlier level of engagement with an improved decision-making process based on richer, more robust and accessible information that is more easily and readily communicated.

BIM is poised to become the driving force behind future construction projects. Gillian Breen of Aecom company Davis Langdon on how to make it a reality

BIM: creating a platform to build on

The recent rise in awareness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has left many in the industry wondering what it means for them as individuals and professionals and for their organisations. The subject has so far tended to focus

on the realm of possibility rather than tangible benefits. But the construction industry must now respond to the challenges being laid down, initially by government, to ensure that clients’ needs and objectives are at the forefront and at the same time to encourage innovation through the supply chain to deliver efficiencies and savings over the full lifecycle of a building. Workflows, information formats and management styles will evolve as project delivery adopts an increasingly integrated approach and the full benefits of BIM are realised through more efficient design,

construction and operational management of buildings. The government has already outlined its vision of harnessing the benefits of BIM to the long-term asset management of the UK’s real estate portfolio with the Cabinet Office recently confirming that all central government projects will be expected to use level 2 BIM by 2016. Private clients are starting to express not just an interest but a genuine desire to do the same. The surge of interest in BIM is being

reflected in increasing numbers of pre- qualification enquiries and invitations to tender asking about BIM experience and approach. There have also been some instances of clients mandating some level of BIM capability and the Ministry of Justice is to pilot mandatory BIM on new projects. Anyone involved in live BIM projects

today will know there are already very real

Potential benefits The main benefits of adopting BIM can be summed up as follows: n Improved design co-ordination. Clashes are detected and resolved in the virtual environment before construction starts, leading to fewer requests for information and less change during the post-contract phase. This, in turn, means that contract programmes and costs are proving to be more robust than previously. Clients are benefiting from more competitive prices as the supply chain’s confidence in and reliance on BIM increases. Laing O’Rourke’s use of BIM in securing the contract for British Land’s Leadenhall project in the City of London is an example of BIM driving innovation and competitive edge. n Sustainability. Carbon dioxide efficiencies, running costs and waste analyses can be all be simulated with specialist plug-in applications using data embedded in the model. n Quantities can be extracted from BIM and associated parametric data, which can be used for cost modelling and optioneering. At Davis Langdon we believe that the skill of the cost consultant and estimator will adapt from generating quantities to harvesting quantities. This means greater emphasis will be placed on the reviewing and validating process with the added benefit of liberating cost consultants and estimators to concentrate on where they can deliver real value. Clients will see a closer alignment with

> CONSTRUCTION MANAGER | MARCH 2012 | 31

CPD

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