Anyone working in the industry knows that we’re far behind any other; updating EU legislation, utilising technology, and finding modern ways of working, just to name a few. To say construction as a whole is ‘stuck in its ways’ would be simultaneously a harsh but fair analysis.
The manufacturing industry, as an example, have modernised and automated in as many ways as possible to optimise the production scale and increase profits.
Even in our personal lives, we use what the world has to offer to make our lives easier to manage and prevent us from forgetting or making mistakes. Our cars can turn on cruise control; our home assistants send reminders and timers; and our phones wake us up in the morning.
So why aren’t we finding ways to do a better job at work? Just like those conveyor-belt style manufacturing warehouses, are there processes that we can enhance in the Construction industry to help diminish mistakes, reduce risks, grow profitability and provide answers to all the other issues we’re having at the moment.
The answer is already here; it’s BIM.
How BIM is modernising Construction
Building Information Management is the streamlined process of digitally storing and managing your project data, allowing you to track, share and update throughout the lifecycle of your built assets, and thus maintaining the Golden Thread.
Storing and managing your data digitally is the first step. You’d be surprised at how many people print things because it’s ‘easier’ – which is fine, as long as any notes or edits you make are also recorded digitally, and that systems are in place notifying you of any updates, revisions and comments. This makes it possible for others involved in the project to have real-time information, reducing any communication failure or out of date information being used.
Following that, the possibilities are endless. Similarly to how you receive notifications from one of your phone apps, you can be notified of any updates, data inconsistencies and inaccuracies, or even clash detection of design elements.
Processes that are usually time-consuming can be accelerated up or be done at the click of a button – designs can be analysed, updated site plans can be shared and project data can be checked against the plans. Central documents can be stored and shared for easy access for all parties; version history can be labelled and tracked; and models and programmes can be modified before construction begins.
Imagine trying to do all of that without the help of technology. There aren’t enough filing cabinets in the world to store all the data for every construction project out there.
So, digitalising the entirety of your project data can open endless opportunities that can improve your business’ processes and construction projects’ requirements. Why wouldn’t you want to utilise the modern ways of working to make your job not only easier, but your projects more successful, profitable and without fault?
We just need to stop doing it the way we’ve always done it. Drag ourselves from the past and move with the times.