by Brianna Crandall — September 18, 2013—Following the headline results announced in July 2013, the U.K.-based BIM4FM collaborative group released on September 9 a full summary from its BIM survey that reveals current views and perceptions about building information modeling (BIM) from the perspective of facilities managers (FMs), building owners and occupiers.
Geoff Prudence, chairman of the BIM4FM group, said, “It was encouraging to see that 65.0% of respondents had heard of BIM, but overall we were surprised to see that 26.5% state that they have already used it within a project. On discussing these findings with the individual organizations which make up the BIM4FM group, we have felt that this did not necessarily reflect the conversations we have had with our members. Therefore, we felt it important to consider and establish why this might be.”
“After discussion, it was felt that this finding could either [sic] indicate some form of misunderstanding about what BIM is and its full capabilities. For example, BIM is certainly more than a 3-D computer modeling program. Therefore, this finding in particular has presented BIM4FM with an opportunity to address this issue and where necessary support, educate and inform the industry. Another possibility is that other non-FM areas within large organizations, for example those with a construction division, may already use BIM. However, it was felt in this instance that BIM is likely to be used by other disciplines within the built environment supply chain.”
The BIM4FM survey polled individual members of the organizations that make up this forum of FM-related industry bodies. The BIM2FM group will hold an ongoing open discussion on the topic via its LinkedIn page.
Prudence continued, “The survey clearly highlighted that facilities managers, owners and occupiers identified that BIM provides them with the potential and opportunities for ‘better information management.’ It was felt that this information will support on-going performance improvements post occupancy and handover. The scope of opportunity highlighted specific benefits for the FM area around lifecycle management (74.5%), improve efficiencies (68.1%), and better reporting data (62.0%).”
The survey document also highlights the planned actions that the BIM4FM group wishes to undertake over the coming months. As a first step, the group is working together to produce some practical guidance for FMs on the basics of BIM, which the group hopes to release later this fall.
The BIM4FM group is a steering committee made up of leading institutes, trade associations and professional bodies representing the U.K. built environment and supported by the British Cabinet Office Government Property Unit. Its purpose is to champion facilities management’s involvement in BIM and Government Soft Landings (GSL) projects.
BIM4FM member organizations are: Business, Innovation and Skills BIM Task Group (BIS), British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM), Building and Engineering Services Association (B&ES), Building Research Establishment (BRE), Business Services Association (BSA), BSRIA, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), Facilities Management Association (FMA), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
