Having worked at various levels of Building Information Modeling (BIM) on projects over the past 10 years here are our top 5 tips to Clients on what to do to get the best out of the BIM process.

1. Keep it simple!

2. Work out what information you need to maintain and service your building/ project once complete; in what format you would like this information (.pdf .dwg .rvt .ifc, cobie or hard copies) and how you would like that information to be presented to you (on disk, hard copies, on an online server).

3. Work out what information you need during the design and construction phase of the project, in what format you would like that information and how you would like that information to be shared with you (cost appraisals, 2d drawings, 3d drawings, specifications, schedules, photo realistic images, building design clash reports).

4. Write all this down as concisely as possible in an Employer’s Information Requirement (EIR) document and appoint a suitably experienced person to implement and oversee it.

5. Keep it simple! (Yes we know we’ve repeated this from step 1. but it’s to emphasise the point).

 

BIM is a process not a software platform.

The outcome of the process should be that as clients you have a building or project to be proud of and the information that you require to run, service and maintain that building in a format you can use.

 

Image source Creu Architects