The Scottish BIM implementation plan was officially launched in Edinburgh yesterday by the Scottish BIM delivery group, set up by the Scottish Futures Trust and the Scottish government.
The new BIM delivery group, chaired by David Philp FCIOB, a BIM director at Aecom, was set up to implement recommendations from a review of Scottish public sector construction procurement.
The new implementation plan sets out the pathway for public sector projects within Scotland to adopt BIM Level 2 by April 2017.
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At present the delivery group is recommending that BIM Level 2 be required for all projects above the current OJEU threshold of £4.32m, with projects under this value undergoing an assessment to determine whether BIM will offer benefits.
The plan assumes that this assessment will be a requirement for relevant procuring authorities, and that a BIM decision matrix will be developed for them to use to understand if their project would benefit from adopting BIM.
The document sets out five stages, or “horizons”, in BIM implementation. Following a planning stage, set to be completed this month, there will be a mobilisation phase, delivery of pathfinder projects, development of Scottish government guidance and finally the launch of BIM Level 2
Philp, who was appointed in July this year, told BIM+ that the pre-assessment process was designed to determine what type of projects should aim for BIM Level 1 or 2.
He said: “We need to make sure that projects are implementing BIM at an appropriate level, whether that is Level 1 or 2. The aim is not that different to England, but there is an explicit number set [£4.32m] to ensure that these projects achieve an appropriate level.
“For every project there needs to be a value test to ensure a positive return on investment. We need to improve build capacity and capability. For some projects Level 1 may be the appropriate level.
On the launch of the document – available here – he said: “Today was an important milestone on the journey. It is an exciting time for the Scottish construction industry as we have a great opportunity to to change the industry. I have no doubt in my heart that we will be successful.
“People have been talking about improving the industry for the last 40 years, but this is the first time we genuinely make a chance of making a change.
“Scotland will be able to build on the strong foundation laid down in the British Standards. We will also learn lessons from others internationally, both in and outside the construction industry, such as the oil and gas industry.”
The core aims set out in the plan are to:
- Provide a roadmap to the implementation of BIM Level 2 by April 2017 on public sector projects;
- Address the recommendations of the Review of Procurement in Construction report in relation to BIM;
- Support the public sector and demonstrate the benefits of adopting BIM. Provide experienced leadership and direction nationally, in the adoption of BIM for public sector projects within Scotland;
- Prepare and publish guidance for procuring authorities to better equip them in adopting BIM Level 2;
- Demonstrate to procuring authorities the benefits of adopting BIM.
Today was an important milestone on the journey. It is an exciting time for the Scottish construction industry as we have a great opportunity to to change the industry. I have no doubt in my heart that we will be successful.
– David Philp
