In transitioning from the design and construction phases to the operation and maintenance (O&M) phase of a built asset, the landscape of information management undergoes notable shifts. While systems like CDEs are instrumental in earlier phases, the tools utilized for O&M phase management, such as Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM) and Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), offer distinct requirements and functionalities.

Unlike their counterparts in design and construction, CAFM and CMMS systems are tailored to address the specific needs of asset management in the O&M phase. Insights from industry practitioners underscore the multiplicity of information sources utilized concurrently in this phase. For example, tools such as Cylon and Concept Evolution can be used for Building Management System (BMS) and CAFM functionalities. Additionally, Autodesk’s BIM 360 Ops was mentioned, albeit with reservations regarding its efficacy compared to established CAFM tools.

In the face of the increasing amount and complexity of information produced in BIM models, there is an increasing need for principals and asset owners to use a structured, repetable and automated validation process to ensure the quality of the model and the extraction of data they can rely on over time.

The automatic compliance verification of the Level of Information Need is also a turning point for Public Administration regarding the BIM-based building permit processes: the introduction of new technologies will enable the analysis of BIM models, read the OpenBIM formats and be able carry out automated building code checks.

The virtual construction site follows BIM, BEP, and PSPG norms, while the real construction site adheres to construction standards and safety and assembly instructions. Both environments are regulated by a set of guidelines and standards that ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of processes.

Virtual Construction Site (BIM):

• 3D modeling standards
• Data exchange protocols
• Guidelines for simulation and analysis

Real Construction Site:

• Occupational safety and hygiene standards
• Construction regulations and local regulations
• Quality standards and execution control

The article “New Year, New Easy BIM – For Everyone!” represents our next step in popularizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) among various groups: from private investors, through small architectural firms, to large corporations. We have attempted to simplify and visualize the concept of BIM to make it more understandable to a wider audience, including those outside the industry. We focus on education and simplicity of communication to make BIM a widely accepted and used tool in the construction industry and beyond.

That’s why we propose a different interpretation of BIM: as a “Virtual Construction Site”, which is a more pictorial representation of this methodology. In this way, BIM ceases to be a complex set of technologies available only to specialists and becomes a useful tool supporting the entire lifecycle of a building.

In conclusion, the virtual construction site, represented by BIM, focuses on the use of digital technologies for modeling, analysis, and planning. It provides accurate simulations and models that can be used to optimize the project and the construction process. We emphasize that BIM integrates guidelines, rules, standards, and various engineering departments, which is crucial for managing the construction investment process. On the other hand, the real construction site focuses on the physical realization of the project, requiring direct supervision, physical labor, and compliance with safety regulations and construction standards. Although these two spheres are different, they are complementary and together create a comprehensive construction process.

And why not? BIM is, among other things, a database about the building, and who is an architect if not the person responsible for collecting, selecting and organizing this information? It can be said that, in a nutshell, the BIM model is a geometric model armed with information contained in the technical description and 2D documentation. Regardless of whether you choose to follow the path of a visionary architect, master of architectural details, modeler or project manager, knowing this methodology will be useful and competitive.

If after reading this text you google “what is BEP?” I consider that I have done a very good job. BIM is still evolving and shows no signs of stopping. It doesn’t matter what modeling software you choose, because it’s really just a program, and any program can be learned. It is also not important whether you decide to take up, for example, postgraduate studies or not, because this way of education has no end (yet) and there will always be something that may surprise you. What is important is enthusiasm, determination and passion for implementing ideas. Because in a difficult moment, these factors will affect whether you throw the keyboard on the floor screaming that it can’t be done, or take a deep breath and launch the search engine on BIM Corner.
Look around and verify what kind of people you have next to you. They will involuntarily shape you by awakening or extinguishing your passions. Knowing this, you can let them do it or not. A supportive environment is a key factor for effective development, so take care of it first.

P.S. If you are looking for answers to difficult BIM questions, please contact me on LinkedIn – we will look for them together.

When it comes to design work, it is worth using an example based on the REVIT program by Autodesk, as many companies in Europe and around the world design Electrical, MEP, Structural, and Architectural installations in this program. The basic PSPG for the REVIT program should include:

The main goal of the PSPG documents is to:

• Assist in the proper and effective implementation of employees into project work and company practices
• Facilitate communication within the team and reduce ambiguity, problematic issues, and errors
• Minimize time and financial losses associated with a lack of agreement, by not reinventing the wheel every time
• Maintain models in the same standard through appropriate procedures and guidelines so that every employee opening a file can easily understand what they see, where they are, and where to find what they need.

BIM and 3D design are already rapidly advancing, and this is just the beginning of introducing new technologies in construction. Construction companies face the difficult task of keeping up with trends and clients’ expectations in a narrowing market with increasing competitiveness. Anything that helps us stand out from the competition is a good bargaining chip because ultimately economic and financial aspects matter most for companies. We save when we implement standards, procedures, and guidelines that will help in daily work and meet the needs of employees. We gain when we eliminate chaos, stress, and anxiety because it does not promote efficiency and creativity, and we aim to create a friendly work environment, reduce costs, and reduce turnover among specialists. We follow the spirit of time and technology, believing that a satisfied and calm employee is a happy and more productive employee.

Let’s look at the IT industry as an inspiration and an example to make it easier for us to keep up with progress and increase work efficiency. Do you have any interesting examples or experiences when PSPG documentation would have been useful in your company? When replacing someone on a project was so difficult or impossible that you had to wait for the person who handled it to come back?

Detailed strategies, standards, procedures, and guidelines based on a simple model of a house will be discussed in upcoming articles! We will take a closer look at the benefits of having documentation in the company that reduces the “Bus Factor” risk.

This plan indicates that a period of time after the ICE-meeting was reserved for any corrections or alterations that may have been necessary as a result of the interdisciplinary control (as illustrated in activity number 24 on the schedule above).

Early preparation is the key! This ensures that the required members of the design team reserve the time. It is of utmost importance to have everyone available at the same time in order to fully check out all the interdisciplinary issues at hand. It is definitely an advantage to send out a meeting request early on in the project, without/despite not having a specific running plan for the day, in order to ensure that time is allocated to this event.

Here is an example of a meeting invitation:

As design manager it is important to perform a systematic review of the designed product, in order to ensure that all solutions are worked through to an interdisciplinary consistent concept that may be used as a basis for choices, decisions and later detailed design of the building. The manner by which the IDC is done may vary from project to project. Some are done as ICE-meetings, some as paper or model-based controls consisting of passing around technical models/drawings between disciplines who signed a check box to show that their control was complete. This article has described how an IDC may be conducted in the format of an ICE-meeting.

When planning the IDCs to be performed in your project, it is important to:

• make the process visible in the project schedule from the beginning
• ensure that all relevant disciplines and issues are addressed
• define the level and content of each IDC clearly
• describe the preparations to be done in advance by each participant
• communicate the level of involvement expected from each participant clearly

Remember that the follow up and proper documentation of the IDC is legally required, so make sure to allocate sufficient time to finalise this when the IDC is complete.

During COVID, I performed several IDCs as digital ICE-meetings on Teams. I will never forget one such meeting in particular. We were about 2 hours into the meeting, and had already changed from sharing the check list to sharing the BIM-model and back several times. At this point we were about to change from one discipline to another and there were around 15 participants in the meeting. The BIM-model was on the shared screen and my intention was to change the common screen in order to share the check list on my screen with the group. I was mid-sentence when I managed to click on the red “leave” button rather than the black “share” button!

The meetings are conducted “live” in the Teams Planner App by displaying the app on the screen in the meeting room, or on the digital meeting screen in the event of a Teams or Zoom meeting. Each task item is opened and the information is used as a basis for discussion and decision-making during the meeting. During the meeting, the minutes of meeting for each task is entered directly into the task in question. As they are entered in, a notification is sent to each interested party registered to the task item.

Working in this manner means that there is no need to spend valuable meeting time on task items that were closed or resolved between meetings, as the parties involved in the task have already been informed of its conclusion via the Teams automatic notification function. By using this method of work, we were able to use the time we actually had together in meetings on unresolved items, rather than spending time discussing items already completed.

Measuring if people come on time gives some psychological effects. As seen in the graph above, not many meetings took place before all attendants made sure they came to my meetings on time. As a result, we were able to end the meetings earlier than expected at later stages in the project.