10 predictions for the future of Building Information Modelling (BIM)

What will Building Information Modelling do to our development and construction landscape?

In three, five and ten years’ time, the industry will no doubt look very different thanks to the evolution and use of BIM across the property industry. But what specifically will have changed?

These are our 10 predictions about BIM in the future…

1. Construction companies and clients will be saving money

Constructors and clients will experience improved cost and time savings during the construction process. This will in turn drive greater demand for use of BIM from early stages of designs.

2. FM Models will be actively demanded

Improved user-friendly software and widespread adoption of BIM will have asset owners asking for Facilities Management (FM) models for management of their assets. This will drive greater demand for BIM use on existing buildings and new builds.

 3. Round table networks and teams will emerge

Consultant “round table” networks will naturally emerge who will bid for projects as a group rather than individually, passing on the collective benefits to developers.

 4. People will get better and faster at BIM

Levels of skills in the industry will gradually improve, reducing the initial inefficiencies of designing in BIM, and encouraging clients to demand more.

 5. One software giant will reign

One dominant software package will have gained marketshare and become ‘Industry Standard’, making collaboration between consultant teams of specialist disciplines much easier and less technical.

 6. Those who use BIM will deliver faster and more efficiently

The delivery and performance gap will widen between consultants that use BIM and those that don’t.

 7. The improving economy will allow developers more choice of suppliers

An improving economy will shift the project risk back to the delivery and quality of design and documentation, enabling developers to confidently select the best team for the job, rather than the cheapest.

 8. New legal and contractual frameworks will emerge

New legal and contractual frameworks will emerge that manage and balance risk of construction and design, as the design and development processes become more collaborative.

 9. Focus will move from BIM to IPD (Integrated Project Delivery)

The tighter and more collaborative design processes of BIM will change the way buildings are delivered. We’ll see consultant networks joining contractors and partnering clients to deliver their projects together. True integrated project delivery will emerge.

 10. Government requirements will also drive uptake

Government will see the benefits in Facilities Management and construction time/cost and set their benchmarks for technology in design and FM higher. This in turn will drive the integration of BIM as a critical requirement as we have seen in the UK.

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Scott Whiteoak is a Partner at Ellivo Architects, a Brisbane-based Architectural firm that is experienced and revered in commercial, mixed use, residential and retail architecture.  They have been working throughout Australia from their local base for over 14 years.   Ellivo Architects have moved all of their architectural design to BIM technology and offer their modern, impressive technology based design processes to their clients at no additional cost.