BIM use in construction projects will rise
A study conducted by McGraw Hill Construction and Autodesk predicts a rise in the use of building information modelling (BIM) in construction projects across Australia and New Zealand.
The SmartMarket Report on BIM for Australia and New Zealand states that the next two years will see an increase in the implementation of BIM.
BIM, a 3D design process for buildings and infrastructure, reduces errors and rework, and improves collaboration according to its advocates. It also has a positive influence on return on investment (ROI), according to the report.
Three-quarters of all firms using the process have positive ROI, with 30% citing ROI of 25% or more. The data also shows that ROI tends to increase as the level of implementation deepens. This places the Australasian region at the forefront of the architecture, engineering and construction industry worldwide.
“Australian firms are already benefiting from their current implementation of BIM, and more than half of users surveyed for the report believe they still have more to gain,” said Rob Malkin, director of Architecture, Engineering, Construction & Infrastructure for Asia Pacific at Autodesk.
“New solutions that take advantage of cloud, mobile and social technologies can help firms speed up the delivery of better project outcomes and improve cross-function collaboration, as they deepen their engagement with the process.”
The report indicated that within two years, 77% of the firms in the architecture, engineering and multidisciplinary design sectors and 66% of the contractors currently using BIM in Australia and New Zealand will be doing so at high or very high implementation levels.
More than 90% of owners surveyed for the report indicated that BIM expertise already influences their selection of project teams, says Malkin.
Stephen A Jones, senior director of McGraw Hill Construction, believes it’s an ideal time for Australasian firms to press their ‘close follower’ advantage by learning from more experienced countries while remaining ahead of the rest of the world.
“For non-users, now is also the time to start engaging with BIM, as data suggests that the longer they wait, the more challenging it will be for them to close the gap with competitors,” Jones added.
According to the report’s findings, factors that could encourage BIM adoption include greater evidence of the value of BIM for small projects, and increased demand from owners, including a government mandate.
Download ‘The Business Value of BIM in Australia & New Zealand: How Building Information Modeling is Transforming the Design and Construction Industry’
