Five predictions for the future of BIM, standards, and certifications
April 20, 2022 | 5 minute readIn engineering and construction, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an increasingly important part of project delivery, and as adoption increases, it’s important to adhere to industry standards and be mindful of certifications. Complying with BIM standards and certifications can speed software selection and procurement, mitigate project risk, and ultimately save time and money.
That’s why Oracle is proud to share that Oracle Aconex, our tool for integrated project controls, achieved British Standards Institution (BSI) Kitemark certification last year. The certification includes the full DIN SPEC 91391 requirement and the ISO 19650 framework for BIM, underscoring Oracle’s commitment to driving best practice around design and construction coordination.
But as the technology evolves, so will BIM and its related standards and certifications. To prepare for the future landscape, companies will need to look ahead on how these standards and certifications will shape the industry.
Five predictions about the future of BIM, standards, and certifications
Prediction 1: BIM standards and certifications can help accelerate digital transformation
Digital transformation has been critical to most industries for years. For engineering and construction (E&C), BIM standards and certifications can create a “level playing field” as companies in the industry continue to integrate BIM into more activities. For example, these certifications and standards can ensure software maximizes information management efficiency and accuracy, and define processes to improve the building modeling practice.
Prediction 2: Digital twins and automation will continue to shape BIM projects
When building a physical asset—be it a building, parking garage, or airport runway—the development of a digital twin, or a detailed virtual representation of the physical asset, can help anticipate any potential flaws in the building design, which can then be mitigated to reduce risk. This digital landscape opens up all kinds of possibilities to “virtually stress test” your project for any potential issues before breaking ground.
In the future, the development of digital twins will become more prevalent as companies continue to automate many of their building development processes through consolidated solutions. This layered approach will not only improve efficiencies in the building process, but it will help provide a more complete and accurate representation of the building information that can be used throughout the life of the asset.
Prediction 3: Organizations will need to comply more with both local and global standards
Players in the construction space using BIM tools should aspire to comply with standards at the international level and not just comply with standards at their local level. Since there are a variety of BIM solutions available in the market, selecting one that already complies with multiple standards and has achieved certifications of industry excellence can be advantageous to your business.
One notable global BIM certification is the BSI Kitemark. The certification has been created to “assess the functionality, security, and support of BIM software.” Under this certification, companies can improve BIM management to help de-risk their projects and facilitate the software procurement process, for example.
One notable global BIM certification is the BSI Kitemark. The certification has been created to “assess the functionality, security, and support of BIM software.” Under this certification, companies can improve BIM management to help de-risk their projects and facilitate the software procurement process, for example.
At the country-wide level, organizations like the National Institute of Building Sciences focus on standards to be followed in the US, and the UK BIM Framework focuses purely on BIM standards to be followed in the UK. As the construction industry continues to globalize, it will be critical for your business to follow BIM standards and certifications at both the global scale and for your business’s home country. For example, the ISO 19650 framework for BIM is recognized as a global standard and can help keep your business following best practices globally.
Prediction 4: Global sustainability pledges and mandates will influence BIM projects
As government entities around the world call for climate change response, sustainability mandates at multiple levels of government will continue to be implemented in the future. The Paris Agreement, which has been signed by nearly 200 parties around the world, is an international treaty to help fight climate change to help ensure a more sustainable future.
At the U.S. state level, the California Energy Commission, for example, has adopted a mandate that requires new residential homes in California to be built with solar panel technology. The mandate went into effect in 2020 and continues to be the standard in California today. In another example of action by government entities, the city of Copenhagen has pledged to become the first carbon neutral capital by 2025.
What does this mean for E&C? It is certain that more global sustainability pledges and mandates will be implemented, which will directly impact future building projects. In October 2021, the International Energy Agency released a report to provide a roadmap to G7 Members on how to reduce CO2 emissions from electricity generation. The report reflects the broader commitments of G7 leaders around goals to reach net zero emissions across their economies in the coming decades. These pledges and mandates may determine what materials should be used for new buildings or what technologies should be incorporated.
Prediction 5: Data growth will help bolster BIM projects
The digital age continues to produce more and more data, and this trend will grow exponentially in the future as Internet of Things initiatives continue to be adopted across industries. To prepare for this data deluge, it’s important to not only harness that data effectively, but to utilize it more efficiently for BIM projects. This is why the E&C industry will need to connect to more data sources in the future.
Less traditional construction data from drones and other IoT devices, for example, can all be centralized in a common data environment (CDE) along with the more traditional types of data such as models and specifications that are typically used for BIM projects. A more comprehensive digital infrastructure to capture and exchange this data will better position construction project teams with what they need to develop a new BIM project more efficiently in the future.
Tackling the future of BIM today
Ready to learn more about the impact of BIM standards and certifications? Check out this recent webinar hosted by buildingSMART.
Oracle Construction and Engineering, the global leader in construction management software and project portfolio management solutions, helps you connect your teams, processes, and data across the project and asset lifecycle. Drive efficiency and control in project delivery with proven solutions for project controls, construction scheduling, portfolio management, BIM/CDE, construction payment management, and more.
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Nathan Stump
Product Marketing Director
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