PM Africa Magazine Issue 02 | Page 11

BIM & CIOB Professional Review PM Africa Editor, Michelle Geel, attended the Cape Town leg of the Introduction to BIM talks, hosted by CIOB at the Belmont Square Conference Centre in Rondebosch, Cape Town, on Monday 1 December 2014 to present BIM to Cape Town CIOB members. The main focus of the afternoon was to introduce BIM to Cape Town CIOB member, pertinent questions such as • • • • • • What is BIM Software or Process, and how to tell the difference How to get the most out of BIM  Virtual construction: A better way to deliver projects Challenges and Government intervention  Value add proposition  Engaging the attending CIOB members in an enlightening talk, Chris Allen, Director of A3D and CIOB board member, provided real life senarios where BIM has been used successfully and has added valuable insight to projects. For details of membership of the CIOB please contact: CIOB Africa • PO BOX 896 • Rivonia 2128 • South AfricaTel: +27 11 234 7877 • Fax: +27 11 234 8354 • Email: [email protected] • Web: www.ciob.co.za Speaking afterwards, Michelle posed the some questions to Chris: “What is the relationship between BIM and CIOB?“ BIM is seen as a way to address issues in the construction industry including the likes of low productivity levels and high claims. The CIOB, as a member organisation, is constantly identifying trends that may be of most benefit in increasing the level of professionalism within its membership and providing alternative thinking to the industry. BIM therefore aligns with both of these threads and is seen as elevating the role of the professional construction manager within the built environment professions, which will be of benefit to both the CIOB and its membership. “Why is BIM relevent to the modern contractor?" Many projects in the built environment are carried out in an adversarial environment due to poor information flows, poor planning and lack of communication between parties to the contract. This creates a situation which leads to increased risk being apportioned to the contractors employed to carry out the work and inevitably, a delay in completion or overrun in the cost of the project. Any means to reduce these factors is viewed as being beneficial to the construction manager either in the role as consultant or contractor. BIM, as a tool, has the ability, when combined with alternative delivery methodologies and contract types, to bring far reaching benefits to all the participants to a project contract, including the owner/developer and professional team.