The driver of the digital transformation of the construction industry is Building Information Modelling ( BIM ) technologies . BIM is about creating 3D models of buildings & Infrastructure and increasingly about ‘ linking ’ all kinds of data which is recorded in all sorts of data sources during the lifecycle of the building . This includes requirements , time , schedule , specifications , cost figures , environmental data , management , and maintenance data . In this way , all combinations of data are created which can be of value to parties in the construction and infrastructure sector at any given point during the building lifecycle . By digitally representing all aspects of infrastructure , construction companies can cut down on waste and delays by identifying potential challenges before execution in the field . Thus , BIM , which gives construction professionals advanced insight into designing buildings and infrastructure , will be highly useful .
Today , there is a wave of awareness programmes and activities regarding BIM , that is created and supported by technology companies and Industry associations , and aided by the heavy investments in infrastructure announced by many Governments to revitalise the economy after the pandemic . These will provide an opportunity to utilise BIM and related technologies in transforming the construction and infrastructure industry .
In the next 30 years , the number of people living in cities will double and this growth will require the construction of thousands of new buildings , roads , and other utility infrastructure to build “ Smart Cities ”. Combining BIM and a Geographic Information System ( GIS ) will be a game-changer in planning , designing , and executing a Smart City project , where a reliable City Model is prepared .
Apart from large projects , medium and smallscale projects are generally delivered by Small Medium Enterprises ( SMEs ) and they form the backbone of the country ’ s economic development . As productivity is the key issue in construction projects , BIM provides tangible and intangible benefits such as addressing performance problems that have long plagued the construction industry .
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges and on-going uncertainty to many businesses including construction . While it can be difficult to know how conditions will change , the ability to adapt at speed to a new way of doing business is critical . As the pandemic is forcing the adoption of new business models and as many organisations scramble to adapt to these new conditions , some have been hampered by a lack of digital preparedness . Legacy and siloed technologies – always high-cost and slow-moving – are now an even greater liability . Now is the time to make those hard decisions around replacing legacy technologies and assessing new technologies , including Cloud-based & mobile-enabled Common Data Environment ( CDE ), Augmented Reality ( AR ) and Virtual Reality ( VR ), Machine Learning ( ML ), Artificial Intelligence ( AI ), and Internet of Things ( IoT ),
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