OVERVIEW
Suppliers may be suing BIM technologies to deliver infrastructure projects, but are they applying the full BIM framework for effective information management?
DIGITALISATION IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR
The infrastructure sector has undergone significant digital transformation over the last 20 years. Digital technologies are being used in almost every aspect of infrastructure development to make built structures safer, more sustainable, more intelligent, and to generate more value.
DIGITAL INFORMATION
Digital technologies generate huge volumes of digital information. Digital information is valuable because it’s easier and quicker to access than paper-based documents. In business, quick and easy access to the right information improves efficiency and productivity. People can utilise quality digital information to understand and inform, to problem-solve, to make decisions, and to facilitate innovation.
To maintain the value of digital information, effective processes must be in place to ensure the information remains:
- Accurate,
- Relevant for your requirements
- Complete,
- Up-to-date
- Quickly accessible to authorised users
- Secure (to prevent unauthorised access)
MANAGING DIGITAL INFORMATION
Organisations may have skilled employees who can develop and implement effective digital information management strategies. However, do these people know what infrastructure information needs to be captured to support an organisation’s business plans, or to facilitate long-term asset management strategies to increase the longevity and value of an infrastructure project?
If not, then help is at hand with BIM (Building Information Modelling).
BIM (BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING)
The BIM framework is fast becoming the industry standard for managing digital infrastructure information. The BIM process starts with the client documenting the information they need to:
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- Facilitate the smooth, efficient, safe, and timely completion of the infrastructure project.
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- Facilitate the smooth handover of the built structure to facilities managers so they can operate and maintain the infrastructure efficiently and safely.
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- Gather knowledge about the condition and performance of the built asset that will help clients plan how best to manage it in the long term to generate even more financial value.
So, what is BIM exactly?
The acronym ‘BIM’ is misleading because BIM is not just about buildings. Nor is BIM only about 3D models (an annoying misconception that just won’t go away)!
The BIM framework (which includes processes for effective digital information management), actually caters for all types of infrastructure. In fact, with the publication of the international BIM ISO 19650 standard1 in 2018, the BIM framework can be applied on any type of project where there’s a requirement to deliver digital information to the client.
The powers-that-be who came up with the ‘BIM’ acronym didn’t foresee the confusion they would cause when they included ‘Building’ in the name. These days, many people have rebadged BIM as ‘Better Information Management’, which makes a lot more sense.
BIM is a toolkit of information management standards, processes and digital technologies that a project team decides to use on a project to ensure the right digital information is captured and shared with the right people (at the right time), which enables all members of the project team to complete their various activities efficiently and safely.
No two projects are the same, and so no two BIM implementations are exactly alike (in terms of the digital information that needs to be captured, the digital technologies that will be used to capture, store and manage the information, or how the digital information will be used). The BIM ISO 19650 standard provides guidance on what best practice looks like when deploying BIM on a project.
The BIM framework fosters collaboration between all members of the project team. In the case of an infrastructure project, this means the Client, the designers, the construction team, the facilities management (FM) team and asset managers. BIM champions the whole life cycle of an infrastructure project.
The BIM framework encourages standardisation of processes. It supports the use of available industry standards and/or current best practice. This means project teams have the opportunity to adopt best practice at key stages of project delivery and operations, creating opportunities to generate more value from the infrastructure project through increased efficiency, safety, cost-savings, and longevity of the built structure.
BIM begins and ends with the client!
The client is responsible for specifying the digital information that needs to be generated to support its business objectives. This includes information relating to infrastructure design as well as the ‘As-Built’ information needed to operate and maintain the infrastructure. The client sets the information requirements, even if project delivery and operations activities are outsourced to 3rd party designers, contractors and FM teams.
DO YOUR CONTRACTORS SAY THEY ARE USING BIM?
Clients: Do potential contractors bidding for tenders state they use BIM technologies (such as 3D models) to deliver your projects?
If so…great. But did you specify what information you wanted to have linked to those 3D models? Are the 3D models only still capturing the geometry of the built structure?
What about the other As-Built information, such as specifications, asset inventories, commissioning & testing results, warranties, safety certificates, operation & maintenance (O & M) manuals, health & safety files? Are these being delivered to you digitally, or are they still be delivered ‘old-school’ as paper files? If you are receiving them digitally, are the files in suitable digital formats that allow them to be easily uploaded into your CAFM (Computer Aided Facilities Management) system, CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management) system or asset management systems? Is there additional As-Built information you would like to receive that would support your business objectives and help improve business productivity?
Whilst your contractors may be delivering your projects using the latest BIM technologies, are they applying the full BIM framework that would help you generate even more value from your built asset?
Whilst digital technologies are key to BIM implementation, technologies alone will not guarantee a successful BIM deployment. There are three additional cornerstones of the BIM framework:
- Using the correct PROCESSES to facilitate effective digital information management;
- Using appropriate INFORMATION STANDARDS (again for effective digital information management);
- PEOPLE working on the project (including the client) who continually collaborate to ensure the requested information is generated and shared so the correct decisions can be made at the right time, so that the project is delivered safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
BIM technologies are only successful when the correct processes, information standards and levels of collaboration are in place to capture the digital information needed by the client.
APPLY THE FULL BIM FRAMEWORK ON YOUR NEXT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT!
BIM is the industry standard for specifying, handing over and managing infrastructure information. Applying the BIM framework will help generate even more value from your infrastructure project.
Clients specify the information they need to:
- Facilitate the delivery of your infrastructure project safely and efficiently, and create opportunities for cost-savings.
- Help your operations teams to manage your built asset safely and efficiently, in the most cost-effective manner.
- Support your long-term business plans, and provide opportunities to improve the performance, reliability and longevity of your built asset.
Visit www.Six35Consulting.com to learn more about BIM
REFERENCES
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BIOGRAPHY
Dr Medina Jordan is the Owner and Director of Six35 Consulting.
Six35 Consulting works with clients that own, invest in, or manage physical infrastructure, and aspire to implement the BIM (ISO 19650) framework to generate more value from their infrastructure assets. Six35 Consulting specialises in the process-side of BIM.
I identify and implement the correct processes for your business to effectively manage digital information captured from project activities. I cover the full life-cycle of an infrastructure project: Design > Construction > Operations & Maintenance > Disposal.
Effective information management facilitates maximum return on investment (ROI) from the digital technologies used to collect and store information from your infrastructure projects. Quality digital information can be trusted and used to develop long-term asset management strategies for your built assets, prolonging asset life and increasing asset value.
Visit my website at: www.six35consulting.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/medina-jc-jordan