In the third and final piece ahead of u003ca href=u0022https://www.internationalwomensday.com/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eInternational Women’s Dayu003c/au003e on 8 March, Abarna Krishnakumar reflects on what’s driving BIM and digital construction in North America. She is VDC project manager at u003ca href=u0022https://harder.com/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eHarder Mechanical Contractors u003c/au003eand the u003ca href=u0022https://womeninbim.org/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eWomen in BIMu003c/au003e regional lead in Phoenix, Arizona.
BIM and digital construction technologies have been reconstructing the AECOO industries around the world in various capacities. As projects grow in size, complexity and purpose, adopting digital tools is fundamental to improving efficiency, enabling greater collaboration, reducing costs and enhancing sustainability.
BIM has become a cornerstone of various small and largescale construction projects. BIM facilitates better collaboration, data-driven decision-making and streamlined workflows, from infrastructure projects to commercial and residential developments.
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Government agencies and industry leaders in North America are increasingly advocating for the adoption of BIM. Stakeholders in largescale projects have been encouraged to implement policies that support digital construction methodologies, particularly in public infrastructure. Private sector BIM adoption is also on the rise, driven by the need for improved prefabrication capabilities and sustainable building practices.
Integrating BIM with emerging technologies such as cloud computing, AI, machine learning (ML), prefabrication and modular construction further pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in digital construction. With these advancements, the industry is witnessing a shift toward more automated and datacentric processes.
In the past few years, several trends have accelerated BIM and digital construction across North America.
AI and ML for design and data analytics
AI and ML are revolutionising BIM by enabling creative minds to push the limits and maximise efficiency. More and more companies are integrating AI into their internal project management tools and leveraging AI to save hours of parsing through piles of documentation.
AI-driven models are also being used to analyse historical data to predict potential project risks, optimise scheduling and enhance resource allocation. Incorporating AI is opening more doors for increasing numbers of stakeholders (those who are less design-tool inclined) to become part of the conversation.
Digital twins for asset management
Digital twins are not just a trend, but a gamechanger in facilities management and construction. By integrating IoT sensors with BIM models, digital twins allow for real-time monitoring of building performance, predictive maintenance and lifecycle management.
In North America, digital twin technology is increasingly being used in large infrastructure projects to prevent downtime thanks to more firms embracing standards from agencies like the American Institute of Architects and National Institute of Building Sciences to help define, standardise and enhance operational efficiency and sustainability.
Cloud-based collaboration and CDEs
The shift toward cloud-based platforms is not just a change: it’s a significant improvement that has redefined collaboration in the AECOO industry. CDEs enable smooth communication and live data sharing among stakeholders. This is particularly important in large projects with multiple members on multiple teams working across multiple locations.
Cloud computing has also allowed companies that work in different regions to bid, win and work in growing employment areas. They can work on projects with file sizes that they may not have deemed possible in previous years, creating lucrative options to add more metadata and content into as many models as necessary.
Prefabrication and modular construction
BIM is driving the adoption of prefabrication and modular construction techniques, which offer significant cost and time savings. Designing components in a digital environment before fabrication can minimise waste and improve quality control.
Digital construction doesn’t have to end at clash detection. Companies can work with bills of materials like never before. Being able to extract a specific pick list from a model, send it to a fabrication shop, create spools based on predetermined designs that are clash-free, ship them from the fabrication shop that may be hours away, and install onsite like a puzzle piece has started to increase BIM’s return on investment – better returns on hours, money and safety on the construction site.
The digital transformation of the AEC industry in North America is gaining momentum, driven by advancements in AI, digital twins, cloud collaboration, prefabrication and sustainability initiatives.
The next decade will see even greater integration of digital technologies, ensuring that North America remains at the forefront of BIM and digital construction advancements.
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