Alan Muse, Director of Built Environment Professionals Groups at RICS, explains why and how the UK must develop leadership on BIM.
At RICS we believe Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the essential link between land, property and construction. If used correctly, it can deliver better information and project management, thereby driving efficiencies in the construction process and throughout the lifecycle of a building in terms of cost and improved sustainability.
One of the central aspects to a BIM-enabled future is collaboration. It is vital that all sectors in the property industry embrace BIM from design and build through to occupation and management if it is to be successful in delivering the process and financial efficiencies it is cable of. It is clear that currently this cross-industry collaboration is not happening. Results from our recent UK Construction Market Survey clearly demonstrated a disparity in usage of BIM across different sectors, with 26% of respondents reportedly using BIM in design and 24% in cost management in the final quarter of 2012, compared with just 1% using it in Facilities Management (FM). Something must therefore be done to support the use of BIM across all sectors and to ensure collaboration of the entire industry.
Our Mandate
RICS is the only institution that offers integrated support and expertise across every sector of the property industry and at every stage of the project lifecycle - from defining a site, building a scheme through to occupying and managing a building. Given this unique perspective and wide ranging influence, we are well placed to initiate the pan industry collaborative approach needed to realise the benefits of BIM.
One group of companies that needs particular support in embracing a BIM-enabled future are SMEs. The current market is a challenging place for small, local firms, with cost, time and resource considerations becoming a barrier to the usage of BIM. However, by providing the necessary education and awareness to businesses we can help to demystify BIM and breakdown these barriers to the benefits of these business’ bottom lines.
Here to help
We are already activity taking steps to represent all of our members and the industry at large in terms of progressing to a BIM culture through our representation on the CIC, the government-initiated Taskgroup for BIM and the Government Trial Project Support Group. This provides us with the platforms from which to influence government policy to encourage understanding and investment in BIM.
We are also offering support to the industry and members with the introduction of a BIM accreditation. This will support professionals in delivering consistency in drawing, cost scheduling and provision of time and cost information. This will subsequently mean construction professionals will become more efficient in delivery of service – thereby delivering a positive knock on effect for clients in terms of improving profitability.
In addition, we are directly contributing to the improvements in information and project management through RICS’ QS and Construction Standards (Black Book) and New Rules of Measurement (NRM) 1, 2 and 3. These provide consistency of education and training and a total project lifecycle cost management system.
If fully embraced, BIM will be a Trojan horse for revolution and change in the construction industry here in the UK and globally. RICS is enabling the realisation of this potential. However, there is still a long way to go if we are to succeed in establishing a BIM culture here that will cement the UK as world leaders.
