Construction is an exciting changeable  industry that constantly reinvents itself with new products and techniques. Cameron Butcher prides itself in being at the forefront of change and recently we met with Jim Hart and Chris Tweed of The West Hart Partnership Architectural Practice to discuss the benefits of Building Information Modelling or BIM for short.

What is BIM?

Well, in short, it’s quite the impressive game changer.

The construction industry, sadly, is widely known for delivering projects late and over budget with the finished product not quite living up to the expectations of its visionaries. BIM aims to introduce reliability, effectiveness and efficiency through a better planned and more predictable approach to both building design, operation and execution.

BIM is a collaborative method of working which uses one digital model that everyone involved can view and understand without the added frustration of any undesirable outcomes. It’s a means by which information can be applied and managed within a team of all the experts and contractors involved, where team members will be measured and expected to work at the same high standards.

It’s a one-stop-shop for all the information that you could ever possibly need to complete a complex construction project, and everyone who needs to have access to it, does. BIM provides a database that carries you from the very beginning of the project, the concept, all the way to the conclusion of the project and how it is ultimately used following completion.

Jim Hart – “One major benefit of BIM is the way different aspects of the design can be easily co-ordinated and integrated into one place, consequently achieving faster production, fewer mistakes and much less opportunity for an overspend”.

BIM can help us to save money but also carbon by carrying out embodied carbon calculations, linking energy costs to carbon outputs and ultimately reducing wasteful processes. It won’t just help us save money, it will help reduce carbon waste by carrying out embodied carbon calculations, linking energy costs to carbon outputs and successfully minimising loss through wasteful and unnecessary processes.

Adoption of BIM is now mandated in the UK as of April 2016. This affects all Government funded projects, which are to be approved at Level 2 as a basic national minimum requirement.

Like to know more, call us on 0845 9005762 to discuss the options.