Associate Director of Hi-Tech Outsourcing Services, Bhushan Avsatthi discusses the expanding role of Building Information Modeling in the global commercial building landscape. He compares the uptake of BIM across the UK, the Middle East and Australia, and ties the respective government policy from each of these regions to the speed of this uptake.
He concludes by suggesting that while Australia is behind the UK and Middle East in the world of BIM, and is currently at a plateau in its adoption, the drive from Australian construction companies and architects will eventually see its widespread adoption in the country.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) can be defined as a set of structured information that associates with corresponding geometry. Using BIM building construction details and project information can be accessed in a highly visual format.
At the core of 3D BIM - Modelling lies a computer generated 3D replica of the building - its design, construction and operation information embedded into it.
BIM has time and again proven its prowess introducing several benefits and efficiencies to a construction project. This has made this technology expedited process, popular across the world. Its adoption and implementation has become the norm, in several large and multi-story building projects, specifically in countries of US, UK and UAE.
Building Information Modelling - A Global Phenomenon
The UK has proposed a mandate for implementing level 2 BIM on all government projects by 2016. The UK government’s BIM program known as BIM level 2 has in fact managed to achieve 20 per cent cost savings for the government procured construction projects. The amount of benefits in terms of higher productivity, better efficiency, improved project control via collaboration and the cost and time efficiencies, that BIM provides, has placed it, at the heart of the construction sector in UK.
The Middle East region at present, poses as the most lucrative landscape for BIM. While Dubai has made BIM mandatory for huge buildings, skyscrapers, mega structures and infrastructure development projects, other regions like Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia are also increasingly adopting and implementing BIM.
In the Middle East there is over $50 billion worth of BIM enabled rail expansion projects proposed. Projects like King Abdullah economic city are also in the pipeline and these are truly mega projects. The King Abdullah project will see a whole new city of two million people gradually rising from a huge expanse of sandy desert.
The construction industry in Australia, is still mulling over the decision on whether to mandate BIM or not, while the region showed great progress in adapting to the digital revolution, it is somehow come to a standstill. However, here there lies huge potential for BIM.
The Australian construction industry has a clear understanding of BIM and its benefits for both government and non-government construction projects. We are likely to see a surge in the demand for BIM across the construction industry in Australia.
While we look at the three prime regions in world where BIM has or has the potential to drive development, this is only the tip of the iceberg that is visible. Like we mentioned, BIM has created a place in the heart of the construction industry and its effect will be seen worldwide. As construction companies and architectural firms drive for change, we can expect the adoption and implementation of BIM across every project.
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