Even though BIM is widely used in the design phase, its application throughout the entire construction lifecycle is still pretty fragmented. While it’s become a standard tool for designers, it’s not yet being fully embraced in areas like preconstruction, site construction, and operations and maintenance. The future of BIM needs to be established across the full lifecycle of a project till the decommissioning process.
Maximizing BIM (Building Information Modeling) across the entire construction lifecycle is one of the most exciting opportunities in the industry right now. Over the last 20 years, BIM has become a powerful tool for design and construction teams, helping with coordination, clash detection, risk reduction, and improving scheduling and sequencing. But here’s the catch: despite all these amazing benefits, BIM isn’t being fully utilized across the entire lifecycle – especially during preconstruction, site construction, and operations and maintenance.
While BIM has become the standard during the design phase, many teams are still not tapping into its full potential in other phases. Think about it: the technology exists, and it’s ready to be used in a way that makes the whole construction process smoother and more connected from start to finish. As new technology keeps coming into play and BIM use cases continue to evolve, the possibilities are only growing, and we have a huge opportunity to do more with it.
Back in 2022, I chatted with Jeremy Thibodeau, AMER Leader for Construction Customer Success at Autodesk, and he had some great insights on this. He pointed out that it’s easy to get distracted by all the flashy new tech around BIM.
People often focus on the coolest, most cutting-edge features without considering the real essence of what BIM is and how it can be used more practically.
Jeremy put it perfectly when he said, “If you boil it down to its essence, BIM is a communication tool.” It’s all about helping teams connect, share information, and collaborate in a more efficient way.
So, when we talk about the future of BIM, it’s not just about exciting new gadgets—it’s about connecting people throughout the process. And that’s where Connected BIM comes in. This involves leveraging cloud technology to make sure the model isn’t just being used in design but throughout the entire lifecycle. From preconstruction to site construction, project closeout, and even operations and maintenance, BIM can help teams stay connected and ensure the entire process runs smoothly.
We dug deeper into this with Jeremy to learn more about how BIM is underused at certain points of the lifecycle and how teams can overcome common obstacles to make BIM a more integrated part of their workflow. In our infographic below, we highlight the current state of BIM and the huge opportunities that lie ahead. It’s time to think about how we can maximize BIM at every stage to build a more connected and efficient future for the industry!
The Current State of Building Information Modeling (BIM)
The Global market for BIM was valued at $8.1 billion in 2022 and will reach $14.6 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3% during the forecast period 2023-2028.
Some of the key players in the BIM market include:
Autodesk, Inc.: A leader in 3D design, engineering, and construction software, Autodesk offers powerful BIM solutions like Revit, which is widely used across the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries to streamline collaborative workflows.
Bentley Systems, Incorporated: A global provider of software for infrastructure design, construction, and operation, Bentley’s BIM tools like AECOsim Building Designer are used for various infrastructure projects, ranging from buildings to complex transportation systems.
Trimble Inc.: Known for its innovative technology solutions, Trimble focuses on improving collaboration and efficiency in construction with BIM tools for project management, data analytics, and collaboration.
Nemetschek Group: Based in Germany, Nemetschek offers a robust portfolio of BIM software, including applications like Vectorworks and ArchiCAD, which provide powerful tools for design and seamless collaboration in the AEC sector.
Dassault Systèmes: A French multinational, Dassault Systèmes offers CATIA and SOLIDWORKS, BIM solutions that are widely used in the AEC industry to design and simulate construction projects, enabling efficient workflows and high-level project visualization.
These companies are helping shape the future of BIM, providing tools that enhance collaboration, streamline processes, and improve efficiency in construction projects across the globe.
BIM in the major countries of the world
The global implementation of BIM (Building Information Modeling) has been rapidly growing, with several countries leading the charge in adopting this game-changing technology.
UK: The UK has become a world leader in BIM implementation, largely due to government support. Since April 2016, all centrally procured construction projects in the UK are required to meet BIM Level 2. This has resulted in successful pilot projects, like the UK Ministry of Justice’s extension of Cookham Wood Prison, which saw significant reductions in costs, project delivery time, and carbon usage.
USA: BIM has made huge strides in the U.S., with 72% of construction firms now utilizing BIM. The General Services Administration introduced BIM for public buildings back in 2003, and since then, it has proven to offer significant cost savings for projects. Many U.S. states, universities, and private organizations are adopting BIM standards to improve efficiency and results.
France: In 2017, France made a huge push for BIM in the housing sector, using it for the design of 500,000 houses. The French government’s BIM strategy aims to enhance sustainability and reduce costs, led by the Plan Transition Numérique dans le Bâtiment task group.
Germany: The German government has been actively promoting BIM technology, focusing on its implementation for both commercial and residential buildings. Their goal is to fully implement BIM across all infrastructure projects by 2020, marking a significant challenge in the country’s construction sector.
Spain: Spain also jumped on the BIM bandwagon, mandating its use in public sector projects starting in 2018, with plans for further adoption in infrastructure projects by July 2019. The Spanish Commission was set up to facilitate the rollout and promote BIM’s implementation.
Nordic Countries: The Nordic countries were some of the earliest adopters of BIM, with Finland starting as early as 2002. The country used BIM to construct complex infrastructures like the Helsinki Metro Line, proving that BIM can handle large-scale, intricate projects.
In summary, while BIM is still a relatively new technology, it’s clear that countries worldwide are quickly realizing its potential. With many nations already adopting BIM as the industry standard, the rest of the world will likely follow suit in the coming years, reaping the benefits of better coordination, cost savings, and enhanced sustainability in construction.
Where does the construction industry stand today with its use of BIM? To illustrate the current state and future of BIM, check out our infographic by Autodesk.
As Manager of Content Marketing Strategy at Autodesk and Editor in Chief of the Digital Builder Blog, Grace has nearly 15 years of experience creating world-class content for technology firms. She has been working within the construction technology space for the last 6+ years and is passionate about empowering industry professionals with cutting-edge tools and leading strategies that improve the quality of their jobs and lives.
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