Building information modelling (BIM)

BIM is the start of a new era in the construction and infrastructure industries and in the not too distant future it will be the standard approach on most or all projects.

BIM is the creation and maintenance of a database of information relating to a building or built asset, based upon a computerised model of the building or built asset.

The adoption of BIM is changing existing work flows and business relationships, and may in the future completely restructure how organisations interact and how data flows between companies. This process has been highlighted by the changes to working practices that have become necessary because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working processes required for BIM raise issues around liability and intellectual property and copyright that should be considered carefully and included in the contract. The process should be aided by a BIM Information Manager from an early stage, and it is important to determine what level of definition is required.

This section is maintained by Peter Barnes of Blue Sky ADR Ltd. 

The pages on BIM legal issues are maintained by Andrew Keeley of Charles Russell Speechlys.

RICS standards: BIM for cost managers: requirements from the BIM model

RICS standards: International BIM implementation guide

RICS journal article: How new protocol helps make sense of ISO 19650