nima is the new identity of the UK BIM Alliance, which has powered the buildingSMART UK & Ireland chapter (bSUKI) since 2015. The aim of Nima and bSUKI is to promote better information management across the entire built and natural environment. They also seek to create a more efficient and aligned industry, with improved management of assets across the built environment for travel, energy supply and consumption, and emergency response.
Casey Rutland, Vice Chair of nima and Chair of bSUKI, recently delivered an insightful presentation at the BIM & Digital Twins Saudi Arabia 2023 Conference & Expo, held in Riyadh on 14 and 15 February. The seminar’s theme was Open BIM & Digital Twins: The key to Industry 4.0.
The event, organised by ITP Conferences in collaboration with the Saudi Contractors Authority and buildingSmart International, showcased the newest digital technology applications in the global AEC sector.
Rutland’s presentation titled buildingSMART: Infrastructure & Process Plant (Oil & Gas) began with an introduction to bSUKI and its strategic vision. He also highlighted that project activities of nima and bSUKI will now be much more visible, integrated, and accessible, with the aim of achieving better information management across the whole of the built and natural environment.
Rutland pointed out that the construction industry has traditionally been an inefficient, misaligned industry. However, over time, managing assets across the built environment and coordinating its use, operation and maintenance has become possible and easier.
How did we get here?
Continuing, Rutland’s presentation focused on how bSUKI has evolved to deliver its vision. He emphasized the evolution from BIM to IM.
What is IM? Information Management helps drive better outcomes for all those involved in the construction and management of physical assets throughout the whole of the asset’s life. Rutland noted that while the focus has always been information management, it is now time to reach the masses, pointing out that BIM is still relevant, and information management is served by BIM.
Rutland also discussed new relationships and ventures that bSUKI has formed with companies, including RED Foundation (new collaboration), Glodon (new international platinum patron), and ZERO (new affiliate member and collaboration) resulting in bringing IM to decarbonization, real estate, digital twins, machine learning, AI, smart anything, Proptech, IoT, Robotics, and Contech.
The presentation then moved on to the International Foundation Class (IFC) 4.3. Rutland provided a brief history of IFC 4.3, from its conception to its final establishment by buildingSMART International.
Finally, Rutland highlighted that IFC 4.3 can now be used for rail, road, bridge, tunnel, and port infrastructure, providing a standardized digital language for use throughout a facility’s lifecycle. With IFC 4.3, there is a more agile process, full transparency of the live schema through development, updated online documentation, much clearer definitions, and a new search function, he added.
In conclusion, Rutland D Rutland’s presentation on the UK BIM Alliance provided valuable insights into bSUKI’s strategic vision and goals, as well as how they have evolved to improve information management across the built and natural environment.
By harnessing the power of information management, the construction industry can become more efficient and better aligned, delivering better outcomes for all those involved in the construction and management of physical assets throughout the whole of the asset’s life.