Pop quiz: What is one of the most widely adopted technologies in design and construction?
Answer: building information modelling, also known as BIM.
BIM has firmly cemented its place in the construction sector. With the U.S. construction industry valued at over $1 trillion annually, the transition to BIM has been considerable, to say the least.
As Geoffrey Jennings, Director at the global BIM consultancy firm BIModular, points out, "Most disciplines now utilize BIM in their design process. Over 98% of large architecture firms in the U.S. have adopted BIM, and over 30% of small firms use it for some modeling and documentation." He adds that the collective BIM adoption rate in the design industry is reaching 80%.
All this to say that BIM is no longer just a cutting-edge option—it's virtually the industry standard.
Of course, the success of your initiatives is only as good as your implementation, which is why it's vital to craft a solid BIM execution plan (BEP).
In this guide, we'll cover the ins and outs of creating a BEP. You'll learn what information to include, the benefits of an effective BEP, and how to start the process.
A BEP is a comprehensive document that outlines the processes and protocols for implementing BIM at a firm or for a specific project. Think of it as a roadmap that details how and when BIM technologies will be used.
The BEP also defines the roles and responsibilities of the people involved in the project. As such, the BEP is critical for ensuring team members understand where and how they come in.
In addition, the BEP outlines BIM project timelines, deadlines, and deliverables, ensuring consistency and clarity throughout the project's lifecycle. That way, everyone stays aligned on expectations, and teams can minimize potential miscommunication.
Your BEP can be as exact or general as you want—as long as it is actually implemented. In short, BIM execution is project execution.
Creating a BEP requires aligning with different stakeholders, setting the right expectations, and adopting new tools.
As such, you may run into some challenges when getting your plans off the ground. To make sure your BEP goes smoothly, consider taking these steps early on.
Obtain staff-level buy-in
Ensure that everyone—from top management to on-ground staff—understands the value of BIM and is committed to the transition.
With that in mind, remember that the BIM can benefit teams in different ways.
For example, architects and designers often use BIM for more accurate spatial planning and visualization so they can easily create models. Meanwhile, construction managers benefit from BIM because it streamlines various projects and keeps everyone on track.
So when obtaining buy-in, ask yourself: What's in it for them? (i.e., the person or team implementing BIM). Use the answer to that question to tailor your approach.
Identify the team members who will lead the change
Too many cooks in the kitchen can lead to chaos.
So, make sure everyone is clear on which team member(s) will lead the charge in crafting your BIM execution plan.
For best results, appoint change-embracing individuals with strong BIM knowledge who can act as champions for the initiative.
Present BIM as a work process
Rather than presenting it merely as a tool, emphasize BIM as an integral part of the project workflow. You can do this by highlighting its potential to enhance efficiency and collaboration.
Doing so makes it easier to craft and roll out a BIM execution plan everyone is on board with.
Now that we've covered the fundamentals of the BIM execution plan and how to navigate the challenges of crafting a BEP, let's look at the information to include in the documents.
While the BEP can vary from one company to the next, it's best to have a general framework that ensures your BIM execution plan addresses its key objectives and provides clear guidelines for the team.
An introduction and overview of the BIM project
This section should contain an executive summary of the project and how BIM will be used. You should also include the specific BIM models that the project will utilize. Don't forget to specify the acceptable BIM authoring software and versions.
How and when model data will be exchanged
Your BEP should also detail your processes and guidelines for data sharing. Indicate the frequency of data exchanges, as well as your preferred platforms or tools. The goal is to ensure that the correct information is shared in the most efficient and secure way.
Goals and objectives
Outline what you want to accomplish from this BIM project. What does success look like? What outcomes would you like to achieve? Beef up this section by listing specific metrics or KPIs that you'll use to track progress and measure results.
Meeting schedules
BIM projects require regular touchpoints, so your meetings must be scheduled beforehand. This part of the BEP should detail the frequency, agenda, participants, and format of these touchpoints. In some cases, you should specify the meeting platform you'll be using, especially if you have team members across different locations.
The work setup of your teams
Your BEP should also show where teams (multidisciplinary or not) will work. Will they be running things in a shared office? Will they be working remotely? Whatever your work setup, see to it that everything is documented in your BEP.
Quality control processes
How do you make sure that BIM is implemented correctly? What standards do you have in place for your BIM models? This section should detail the procedures and checks to ensure data accuracy and adherence to industry or company-specific standards.
Training resources
Some individuals in your team may not be too familiar with BIM, so provide them with the support and resources they need to get up to speed. Your BEP should include a list of available training documentation and other resources. And if people are unsure of how to do certain things, see to it that they know where to get help.
Crafting a BIM execution plan takes time and resources. Still, when done right, you'll see the payoff in the form of streamlined processes, better communication, and the ability to correct issues before they become major problems.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are far more nuanced benefits to having a BEP.
A clear understanding of team structures
A well-defined BEP enables teams to better understand their role, their colleagues' roles, and how everything fits together—both visually and conceptually. This reduces overlapping functions, double work, and miscommunication. Not to mention, teams will be able to coordinate better when they know their (and each other's) responsibilities.
A solid BEP also makes onboarding easier for new stakeholders who might join the project midstream.
Improves transparency
Your BIM execution plan can improve data and process transparency, so it's easier to establish priorities and deadlines.
Plus, the BEP helps teams establish and monitor key metrics to track the progress of BIM projects and correct course if needed.
Ready to start crafting your BEP? Follow these best practices to maximize your success.
Start early
Kick off your BIM journey as soon as possible to get ahead of potential challenges and leverage the technology's full potential.
The sooner you implement BIM, the sooner you can reap efficiency and productivity gains. Just ask Taller Dua Arquitectos, an architecture firm that adopted BIM with the help of Autodesk partner Solinco.
Taller Dua Arquitectos wanted to connect its internal and external teams (i.e., design suppliers, material vendors, subcontractors, etc.) so they could collaborate on a centralized project.
To that end, Solinco helped the firm implement new workflows and tools—including Revit and BIM 360—for efficient cloud collaboration.
The result? Taller Dua Arquitectos improved their workflows in less than 15 days; the team gained the ability to create and manage projects using centralized and collaborative workflows, so project efficiency improved and communication gaps narrowed.
Communicate
Successful BIM implementation can't happen in a vacuum. Multiple teams must be looped in throughout the process, and there's a ton of information that needs to be shared. From new workflows and processes to BIM best practices and software training, transparency and open dialogue are must-haves in your BIM execution plan.
Standardize
Technologies like BIM are meant to make your life easier, but even the best tools can fall short if you don't have standardized processes for using them.
As you develop your BIM execution plan, iron out the standards for managing project information. That way, everyone is speaking the same (BIM) language.
BIM standardization takes some work, but the effort is more than worth it. Case in point: a UK-based engineering firm was grappling with inconsistent output across its offices due to a lack of BIM standardization.
To resolve this, the company worked with Autodesk partner Man and Machine to help its teams reach their desired level of BIM/Digital delivery competency.
Man and Machine helped the firm update working documents to reflect the newer ISO-19650 suite of standards. Man and Machine also delivered BIM training and helped deploy the necessary software solutions.
In doing so, they ensured consistent quality across the client's projects and locations.
Update as needed
Your BEP isn't a one-and-done exercise. It should be a living document that evolves along with BIM tech changes. After all, staying updated ensures your processes remain effective and you're able to get the most out of BIM.
Having a great experience with BIM starts with a solid foundation—and that’s where your BEP comes in. Remember, it’s more than just a document; it’s a roadmap to seamless collaboration, streamlined processes, and successful project outcomes.
