UK experts question BIM targets

Most UK construction industry experts believe that a target set for the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in construction projects procured by UK central government is “unachievable”, according to a survey by law firm Pinsent Masons.

The government has previously outlined its ambition to achieve BIM Level 2 for all central government construction projects by 2016.

However, 64% of the 70 construction experts across the infrastructure industry surveyed by Pinsent Masons said the target could not be met.

A BIM system uses a computer-generated model to collect and manage information about the design, construction and operation of a project centrally.

Pinsent Masons said it was especially useful where various parties, such as different sub-contractors, provided input on the same project. Any changes to the design of a project made during its construction are automatically applied to the model.

The law firm explained that BIM was used to different levels of sophistication, and that Level 2 BIM was a term that broadly referred to a fully-collaborative 3D environment where all project information, documents and data were electronic, and where software and interfaces allowed for the management and integration of that material.

Almost all of the people Pinsent Masons surveyed (94%) said that clients and their construction team partners needed to collaborate better on the use of BIM in projects. More than a quarter (27%) identified a lack of collaboration as the main barrier to their organisation meeting Level 2 BIM capability.

Contracts

Pinsent Masons found that the types of contracts used within the construction industry, and the approaches taken to contracting, were not fit for purpose in a BIM-enabled world, according to 66% of respondents to the survey. A similar proportion (69%) said existing contracts did not adequately address how collaboration could occur.

Infrastructure law and BIM expert at Pinsent Masons Chris Halam said, "This may not make pleasant reading for the publishers of standard form contracts – particularly the NEC and PPC2000 forms, which are generally considered to be at the more collaborative end of the spectrum.

"We believe this is evidence of an industry crying out for a different approach – for contractual arrangements that work in a collaborative environment."

He said, "Many believe that the Alliancing model – a no-fault-based procurement route where parties share in the success or failure of a project – is where the industry should be heading. Indeed, several sectors, including rail and utilities, have embraced Alliancing, and we are starting to see other sectors dip their toes in the water."

He said that in many sectors, for example manufacturing, retail and IT, the widespread sharing of information and know-how had become the norm.

“It could be that BIM and associated technological advances are fostering a more connected, communicative and joined-up approach. This could be a catalyst that finally drives the construction sector towards a truly collaborative way of working.

“If so, it is inevitable that forms of contract will need to change to accommodate new ways of working," Hallam added.

Transparency

Martin Roberts, also an infrastructure law and BIM expert at Pinsent Masons, said, "The benefits are clear and the construction industry acknowledges that it can achieve better efficiency and transparency on infrastructure projects.

"It is, however, inevitable that there will be some concern when adopting different approaches, particularly one which by necessity requires greater collaboration and connectivity between members of the construction team.

“But the potential benefits that can be gained from BIM should far outweigh the dangers, and in the round will probably operate to reduce the overall risk profile," he said.