BIM is a powerful process for smart buildings and for developing smart grids and smart cities

It’s simple: studies show that BIM offers major benefits, in particular its ability to significantly expedite construction, a crucial advantage in the effort to house the fast growing global population. BIM also allows us to fit out buildings and infrastructure using fewer natural resources and to drastically reduce energy consumption. What's more, using BIM can save project developers between €2 and €3 per square  metre in operating and maintenance costs, which represent 70% to 80% of the total cost of a building.

BIM data provides users with access to a variety of new services. Take a hospital for instance: users can find their way around using an application connected to the BIM model of the site. 

I can see three potential issues. First, financial obstacles, with the additional costs of purchasing software and training teams. Second, the challenge of recruiting qualified people trained in BIM and the associated new skill sets. And third, addressing resistance to change among employees and companies.

Time savings, greater efficiency and the ability to provide additional services to customers. SPIE can use BIM to carry out highly precise simulations to identify the ideal location for installing equipment in a new building or to optimise its energy performance. It is also a powerful tool when it comes to developing smart grids and smart cities. For example, in partnership with local players, SPIE could use a virtual model of a city to run “live” tests of a proposed smart traffic management system. 

BIM will continue to transform the way we design and build. For example, prefabrication and modular design – methods SPIE is already using – will see strong growth. But above all, artificial intelligence and big data processes will be used to exploit BIM data for other purposes. For example, we could pinpoint in advance potential weaknesses in buildings or infrastructure. Maintenance operations could be carried out more efficiently through the use of virtual reality headsets showing a BIM model of the location. We can also be sure that BIM services will provide enhanced energy performance in many different ways in the coming years.