BCSA working group to aid BIM awareness

Following the government’s announcement that it will require collaborative 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) on its projects by 2016, the BCSA has established a BIM working group.

The aim of the group is to develop a simple working definition for Level II BIM and identify the software, competence and systems needed to comply with this level.

“The awareness of BIM has been increasing but there is still a significant part of the construction supply chain that is unaware of it, doesn’t fully understand it and feels the cost of implementing it is too high,” said Dr David Moore, BCSA Director of Engineering.

“However, the vast majority of our members in the steel construction sector are already using BIM techniques.”

The group consists of representa-tives from clients, main contractors, consultants, steelwork contractors and software providers (AceCad, CSC, FabTrol, Graitec and Tekla).

Andrew Bellerby, Managing Director of Tekla (UK) said the software required to achieve Level II BIM exists, but the main problems are seen as cultural and systems related.

“Although the software for BIM implementation is available, our job at Tekla is to make sure clients are using the software to its full capability.

“The steel construction sector has led the way for quite a while in this field, with its use of models and the sharing of information. Although the BIM Group is an educational forum, it will also be a good way of promoting the steel industry’s innovative way of working.”

The BIM working group will hold its next meeting on 6 February. For more information contact the BCSA.