FM awareness of building information modelling (BIM) : August 2017

The adoption and use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the whole life process of designing, creating and operating buildings, assets and infrastructure projects is a worldwide growing trend. The research findings presented here aim to establish a benchmark of the current perception and awareness of BIM by facilities management professionals. BIM and other digital trends such as big data and sensors have potential wide-reaching implications for many industries including facilities management (FM). In April 2016 BIM became mandatory for UK government procurement projects in line with the Government Construction Strategy (2011). Its adoption and use was seen as a critical step to help achieve the ambitious cost, sustainability and trade targets set out in the Construction 2025 strategy (2013); - 33% reduction in the initial cost of construction and the whole life cost of built assets - 50% reduction in the overall time, from inception to completion, for newbuild and refurbished assets - 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment - 50% reduction in the trade gap between total exports and total imports for construction products and materials The Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industries have already started to adopt BIM as the new norm for procuring, designing and creating assets. There have been regular surveys in these sectors by NBS and other professional organisations regarding the awareness and development of BIM. However, to date the level of awareness and perception of BIM from a FM professional’s perspective has not received the same level of attention. This presents a critical gap in research as clients and FM professionals are key to the start of the BIM process in terms of defining the OIR, AIR and EIR. It is essential that academia works closely together with professional organisations such as BIFM to help FM professionals in practice and to better understand how BIM might affect and help the FM industry. This has never been more important as the role of FM in the BIM process is increasingly recognised as critical to realising the much talked about potential benefits of BIM. Awareness of BIM is growing across the industry, but there are disparities in the level of sophistication, maturity and application of BIM in FM across specific organisations, sectors, industries, and countries. The growing importance of appropriate standards, professional guidance and academic research to bridge such gaps have never been more important. There is a growing body of international academic literature and industry reports pointing to the importance, and criticality of the involvement and integration of FM in the early design phase. In order to ensure the FM industry is well prepared for engaging with other key stakeholders in BIM projects it is essential that the level of awareness of BIM and how facilities management professionals see BIM impacting on the FM industry are well understood. The results of the recent ‘FM awareness of BIM’ survey jointly undertaken between Liverpool John Moores University, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and BIFM are published here to better inform industry. The aim is to help us understand how we can develop further BIM guidance material for BIFM members. Some guides have already been developed and published on the knowledge section of the BIFM website. These include the ‘operational readiness’ (BIFM 2016) of FM to implement BIM, the ‘employer’s information requirements (EIR): template and guidance’ (BIFM 2017), and ‘the role of FM in BIM projects’ good practice guide (BIFM 2017)