An agile process modelling approach for BIM projects

International audienceIn the domain of Building Information Modelling (BIM), the open standardisation of methods for product and process modelling is undertaken by the buildingSMART association. Currently, buildingSMART recommends the use of Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) for creating process models in Information Delivery Manuals (IDMs). This paper argues that BPMN is closely linked to the waterfall nature of today’s BIM projects, leading to a number of issues including long project durations, lack of stakeholder involvement, and disconnect of processes and data. Subject-oriented Business Process Management (S-BPM) is introduced as an alternative modelling approach for IDMs, based on its support for agile development that has the potential to address the above issues. Specifically, it is shown that S-BPM supports key concepts of agility, including stakeholder involvement, individual creativity, collaboration, rapid prototyping, and iterative design. The increased agility of S-BPM based IDM development can help make BIM projects faster, more flexible and better adapted to the needs of BIM users