Monday, October 17, 2011

National BIM Guide Released

The future of design and documentation for all but the simplest projects is the “Integrative Design Process” or IDP as described in the Building Green Training Program delivered this year by BEDI in partnership with ecospecifier. IDP involves a design and documentation team made up of people who have synergy, education, enthusiasm, expertise, experience and who are risk managers rather than risk avoiders.

Another key component of IDP is the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) with an integrated platform for information sharing between design and construction stakeholders for the project.

NATSPEC has announced that the NATSPEC National BIM Guide has been released for the building and construction industry and is freely available from www.natspec.com.au. (Once in the site click on the NATSPEC BiM logo.) This project has been the result of industry-wide collaboration and the support of the Built Environment Industry Innovation Council.

BIM (Building Information Modelling) has the potential to provide a platform for integrated project delivery; improve sustainability outcomes through modelling; increase productivity through decreasing variations during construction; and provide a tool for facilities and asset management.

The objective of the NATSPEC National BIM Guide, used in conjunction with a Project BIM Brief, is to clarify what is meant when BIM is required on a project.  Too often a Client has talked about wanting BIM on a project without clarifying their requirements in a consistent manner.  The Guide will reduce confusion and wasted effort.  The Guide can also be used as a planning tool by consultants to clarify the services they propose to provide when preparing bids for projects.

NATSPEC is a not-for-profit organisation with the objective to improve the quality of construction in Australia.  NATSPEC believes that digital information, including 3D Modelling and Building Information Modelling will provide improved methods of design, construction and communication.