by Brianna Crandall — April 9, 2014—A “cultural change” is required if building information modelling (BIM) is to be properly implemented across the U.K. built environment ahead of the British government’s 2016 deadline for its use on all centrally procured public sector projects, according to a survey of industry representatives undertaken at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) annual BIM Conference recently.
As part of the BIM4FM group, RICS is working with the wider industry and its own membership to encourage greater awareness and ultimately adoption of BIM by FM professionals. RICS is also working to influence government policy to encourage investment and understanding from the sector. BIM4FM is part of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) Task Group created to help deliver the objectives of the U.K. Government Construction Strategy, with the aim that all central government departments will be adopting, as a minimum, collaborative Level 2 BIM by 2016.
In response to the survey, over half (53%) of the 260 delegates, working in a variety of sectors, identified culture change as one of the biggest issues they are faced with when implementing BIM in the workplace. This was up by a significant 30% compared to the previous year.
A full 72% also believe it is imperative to invest in BIM technology within the next 12 months, with a further 22% seeing it as essential in the next one to two years, suggesting the vast majority of delegates are acutely aware of the looming 2016 deadline.
The survey results showed a hunger for such education among delegates, with 79% being interested in a certification to demonstrate their BIM skills. A good 65% also said they currently invest in BIM training.
Minimal client demand was also viewed as a major barrier to BIM by 31% of delegates. However, this is down from 46% the previous year, reflecting the growing number of clients demanding BIM on projects in 2013.
Other results from the survey include:
- 27% identified BIM’s relevance to be performance efficiency, while 24% identified life-cycle management, and 18% growth and innovation.
- Only 24% of delegates said their organizations currently use BIM as a default solution.
- 54% of delegates had worked on a project where BIM was used in the last 12 months.
- 50% believe emerging standards in the U.K. are suitable for a global construction market, while only 12% believe they are not (38% were undecided).
“People are at the heart of BIM, but the vast majority will not be persuaded by a ‘good idea,'” said Sarah Davidson, one of the speakers at RICS’ BIM Conference and head of research and development at Gleeds Corporate Services Ltd. “They need evidence—how will BIM help me to be more efficient? How will BIM help deliver energy and cost savings for a project?
“It is critical in any business that there is support at the highest levels for change. Shifting the way we work takes time, and a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to be successful. Given evidence, clear leadership and direction, plus industry support, the cultural change needed for BIM can happen. It’s important that all organizations make a start now. 2016 is not that far away.”
For more information on RICS’ BIM activity and the conference, visit the organization’s Web site.
