What is a BIM Design Model?

In their recent report [1] into Building Information Management or BIM, construction law experts May Winfield and Sarah Rock gives reason to state that the UK architectural, engineering and construction industry or AEC, is hindered by the absence of a clear definition of Level 2 BIM. ISO 19650-2:2018:2018 is based upon the PAS 1192-2:2013 standard[2]. The intent of ISO 19650-2:2018 is to provide a roadmap to facilitate the standardisation of BIM process in a uniformed fashion. A key pillar of ISO 19650-2:2018 is the “information cycle” and central to this is a federated set of design intent models, commonly referred to as the design model. The design model underpins the Level 2 BIM process, however different interpretations by BIM practitioners, impacts the collaborative process leading to disagreement and conflict. This paper will research the design model, focusing on design-bid-build or “traditional” projects, where the main contractor is required to develop the design model into a project information model or PIM. With the publication of the ISO 19650 standard, the AEC industry is obliged to abandon the familiarity of the PAS 1192 suite of documents. However, as was the case with the PAS 1192 suite, the new ISO 19650 standards are not intended to, and do not, provide a definitive definition of Level 2 BIM or the design model. Using a mixed methodology, this paper investigates the design model from the perspectives of different AEC industry stakeholders. A selection of engaged professionals were selected to participate in an online survey, this was followed by interviews with a selection of willing respondents to the survey. The online survey and interview findings were triangulated with a comprehensive literature review and discussed. The paper concludes with valuable insight into BIM in the Irish AEC industry at a time of transition