The level of information need, AI, the handover process, nonsensical contract terms and openBIM dominated the headlines in 2024. The best-read BIMplus stories focused on these topics and more.
Here are the top 10 most popular BIMplus stories of 2024, from tenth to first.
Thomas Ingvaldsen of Cobuilder noted: “The term ‘level of information need’ has been with us in the construction sector for a few years now. When it was introduced as part of ISO 19650 in 2021, its aim was to simplify, rather than complicate, the business of information sharing in the construction industry. Nonetheless, many in the sector are still struggling to fully understand – and therefore put into practice – the concept.”
He concluded: “The ability to set out the level of information needed at the beginning of a project will make the difference between gathering essential data that will improve the quality and sustainability of a project, versus drowning in a sea of information.”
And be aware, this is not the last time that the level of information need will appear on this list.
The handover part of information management is broken, Johnny Furlong of Dalux declared. He analysed the root causes of the issue and proposed some solutions:
ditch subcontracting to produce the handover information;
handover information should be in a useable format;
a platform approach that has integrated tools for the collection and handover of information will enable project teams to collect information once;
establishing company-wide standards for what documentation and data will be handed over, and how and when this information will be collected;
re-energise soft landings; and
change the culture.
Martha Tsigkari and Adam Davis in Foster + Partners’ Applied Research + Development group explained how they’re applying machine learning to disseminate knowledge throughout the business, as well as using AI in design.
To understand digital twins, the business has developed a twin of its London campus. “We have detailed geometric and business data models, which start as BIM models in many cases, verified through 3D laser scans of the premises,” Davis told BIMplus. “We have air-quality sensors deployed throughout the campus and detailed information on energy monitoring. And we’re increasingly bringing online lots of information about occupancy around the campus.”
The business is also making use of a light-ray simulator, with which “we can make visibility calculations. We can do all manner of simulations related to solar phenomena: solar radiation, daylighting, a lot of environmental analysis. We use it when we design towers to understand their views of landscape and landmarks nearby, and for performance venues, where sight lines are critical.”
In May, the BIM objects standard, BS EN ISO 22014: 2024, was published by the BSI. It superseded BS 8541‑1:2012, BS 8541‑5:2015, BS 8541‑4:2012 and BS 8541‑3:2012, which were all withdrawn.
BS 22014 specifies requirements for defining structure and content for library objects to support project inception, brief, design, tendering, construction, operations, use and demolition. It supports the development of information throughout the process, in connection with BIM and the organisation of the objects into libraries.
What is the openBIM workflow? Does it even really exist? Evandro Alfieri of buildingSMART International cleared the confusion.
He wrote: “Here’s a little secret: the openBIM workflow doesn’t really exist. At least, not in the way many might think. It’s become a catch-all marketing term that’s resonating well with people eager for clear definitions and solutions. But there’s a bit more nuance to it.”
BDP has harnessed open-source AI to create a natural language tool that mines the collective knowledge of the practice. Alistair Kell, a principal and chief information officer, told BIMplus about Chat BDP.
Kell had heard throughout his 26 years at BDP: “If only BDP knew what BDP knows.”
He explained: “We have endless document repositories. We have a company intranet with 30,000 pages of historical documents on it, and we have a design process that covers every aspect of every project control across every work stage. We have multiple company policies and much more. But how do we make that easily available to staff? At the moment, it’s all based on SharePoint and keyword searches, and it’s all very ‘of its time’.”
And so, Chat BDP was born.
A job title with ‘digital’ in it offers a better salary than one with ‘BIM’ in it. That was one of the key findings from the Women in BIM Digital Construction Global Work Survey 2024.
Dr Jenni Barrett, principal lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, presented highlights from the survey at the Women in BIM London conference in the summer. She told the audience: “When people have BIM in their job title, they are paid less than those who have digital in their job title.”
Furthermore, she noted that often, those with BIM job titles did the same job as those with digital job titles. “They’re dealing with digital twins, generative AI and other digital technologies, way beyond what a BIM manager or BIM coordinator role actually describes – and they’re not getting the same pay as those with digital in their job titles.”
“I want BIM.” “I want a clash-free model.” “Achieve Level 2 BIM.” “Comply with the BEP.” These are just some of the nonsensical or unachievable contract terms that all levels of the supply chain should be wary of.
May Winfield, global director of commercial, legal and digital risks at Buro Happold, delved into this nonsense in an IM4Legal webinar in the spring.
“Sometimes you will see in scope or in the contract itself, ‘I want BIM’, ‘I want a 3D model’. The trouble with this is, it doesn’t actually mean anything. If you have a room of 50 people, and ask each of them, ‘what does a BIM model actually mean, what should it contain?’, everyone’s going to have a different answer,” she said.
The UK BIM Framework, the overarching approach to implementing information management using BIM in the UK, was revamped in the summer.
The update to the free online resource, developed and maintained by nima and the BSI, incorporated several improvements:
the content of the guidance, including external references, has been updated to ensure alignment with recently released standards in the ISO 19650 series;
enhanced presentation, navigation and search facilities – including an AI capability – improving the user experience; and
the site now offers better opportunities for user and community engagement.
The most popular story on BIMplus in 2024 focused on the international standard BS EN ISO 7817-1:2024. The standard explains the concepts and principles of the level of information need framework. Dr Marzia Bolpagni, the standard’s lead author, explained the changes.
She told BIMplus readers: “The level of information need is moving away from using simple labels as ‘LOD/LOG/LOI’. When using the level of information need, clients (or any information receivers) should instead define their information need in a more specific way to allow effective information management.”
This is the final post of 2024 on BIMplus. Thanks to all our supporters, readers and contributors. Here’s to a safe and prosperous 2025!
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The post Defining digital construction in 2024: the best-read BIM stories appeared first on BIM+.
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