The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is progressing BIM adoption in Scotland with the award of a contract to oversee and review the country’s BIM pathfinder projects to Glasgow Caledonian University, a programme to train Scottish civil servants in BIM, and the development of an assessment tool to determine a project’s suitability for BIM.
GCU will help the Scottish construction industry gain familiarity with BIM by working with industry clients and a number of pathfinder projects – a similar appointment to the role Constructing Excellence played in overseeing and mentoring BIM pathfinders in England.
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The SFT will also be providing training for up to 500 civil servants acting as construction clients, in a programme conducted with support from the Scottish government, in various locations around the country.
And it’s understood that the SFT is currently beta-testing a “BIM opportunities” tool that will guide public sector clients to a decision on whether or not to deploy BIM on particular projects.
The tool will assess a variety of project features, including monetary value. If BIM is indicated, the tool will then caculte the targetted Return on Investment, then guide clients throught the relevant BIM standards and processes.
Scotland’s construction industry is aiming for adoption of Level 2 BIM by April 2017.
Paul Dodd, associate director at the SFT, told BIM+ he was enthused by the new partnership and looking forward to the work over the coming year.
He said: “We have commissioned Glasgow Caledonian and they’ll work alongside us and other partners. We’re keen to work with them and to offer relevant case studies for BIM adaptation and help in the overall take up.”
Colin Murchison, associate dean for business development at GCU’s School of Engineering and Built Environment, told BIM+: “Although the government has generated a lot of interest in BIM, there is still a degree of uncertainty in what it actually means.
“There are some who see it as an opportunity, but others who are more conservative or reluctant. By setting up demonstrations and developing a common language, we believe most people recognise the long-term benefits of BIM.”
Although Scotland’s construction industry has more time to adapt to the new BIM standards than its English counterparts, Murchison acknowledged that some in the market, and particularly some smaller SMEs, have shown nervousness at the upcoming changes.
He sees this new project with the SFT as the perfect way to ease any doubts the market might have and to make the whole process clearer so there is a smoother transition over the coming year.
There are some who see BIM as an opportunity, but others who are more conservative or reluctant. By setting up demonstrations and developing a common language, we believe most people recognise the long-term benefits of BIM.
– Colin Murchison, Glasgow Caledonian University
