BIM gaining popularity in New Zealand

Survey indicates Kiwis are beginning to realise the benefits of Building Information Modelling.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is creating efficiencies and opportunities in construction industries worldwide. While the technology is in its early stages in New Zealand, steps are being taken to increase its acceptance and use.

What is BIM?

According to design specification expert Masterspec, which carried out the 2013 survey, BIM is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a building. As such, it serves as a shared resource for information about a building, that can be used to make decisions relating to it during its lifecycle.

Andrew Reding from the Productivity Partnership, a public-private initiative, believes BIM can do more to improve productivity than anything else.

“It provides a digital one-stop shop of informative for collaborative use by architects, engineers, owners and users through design, construction and operation,” he says.

“It extends beyond just the 3D shape of a structure. It takes into account time and cost, and can accommodate a number of elements that may be important, such as spatial relationships, light analysis, geographical information, sustainability data, building component information – such as manufacturer details and warranties – and construction sequencing.”

For builders, Mr Reding says it can also be used as a show home for clients and allow them to make changes during the visual design stage rather than during the construction process. However, he says it could be a few years before BIM becomes applicable at a residential level.

“In my view, we’ll see it move into the commercial area, which will then demonstrate the benefits to the group home builders,” says Mr Reding. “Over the next few years, when the technology becomes more commonplace, it will most likely cascade into general use.”

Government support

The Minister for Building and Construction, Maurice Williamson, is one of BIM’s vocal supporters.

“BIM promises to be a game changer in lifting the productivity of New Zealand’s building and construction sector,” said Mr Williamson, who was impressed by the productivity BIM has delivered on a recent trip to the UK.

“There has been an 18% improvement in productivity on UK government projects using BIM. We can learn from [that].

“BIM is a proven transformative technology for the built environment.

We know it is the smart way to go, providing for a more integrated and collaborative approach to design and construction. This digital tool enables all project partners to step through the construction process in a virtual environment, thereby reducing risk, project timeframes and costs.”

Mr Williamson has also commissioned the Productivity Partnership, which is spearheading progress in this area, to work with the National Technical Standards Committee to produce an online BIM handbook for New Zealand.

Survey results

The second national BIM survey shows that it is gaining traction. In 2011, only 38% of survey respondents were currently using BIM, in 2013 this increased to 57%. There was also an increase in those expecting to use BIM in a year’s time, from 68% to 77%.

However, the survey results also show that a number of roadblocks to BIM implementation still exist. The three most significant barriers are lack of expertise, lack of standardised tools and protocols and lack of collaboration.

Despite these issues, Mr Reding believes there is enough desire between Government and industry to overcome them.