SUMMARY BIM WHITE PAPER BIM according to ArcadisBuilding Information Modelling (BIM) is a trendy topic, and rightly so. It is a new approach for the use of data and information in the construction industry which will have a huge impact, affecting not only how built assets are designed and constructed, but how they are operated too. As the application of BIM is evolving rapidly, perspectives on BIM vary and may cause confusion. The whitepaper that we have produced aims to address these concerns and clarify the key benefits of BIM according to Arcadis.

“The processes and collaborative behaviours associated with the creation and sharing of object orientated databases of an asset in its environment, relevant to all stages of the asset’s life cycle including design, construction and operation.”

A first encounter with BIM may be with a 3D model, however BIM is much more than that. BIM is increasingly about teams working intelligently with a shared knowledge resource for information about an asset that will form a reliable foundation for decisions during its life cycle.

For centuries the construction industry has recorded and exchanged information about construction on paper documents, either drawings or reports.

BIM changes this, bringing a disruptive technology to the industry that has huge potential to improve performance in design, construction and operation. By enabling teams to handle information and communication differently, new ways of creating, managing, and exchanging information will be adopted. As a result this will encourage new ways of managing projects and managing assets.

ABOUT ARCADISArcadis is the leading global natural and built asset design & consultancy firm working in partnership with our clients to deliver exceptional and sustainable outcomes through the application of design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services. Arcadis differentiates through its talented and passionate people and its unique combination of capabilities covering the whole asset life cycle, its deep market sector insights and its ability to integrate health & safety and sustainability into the design and delivery of solutions across the globe. We are 28,000 people that generate €3 billion in revenues. We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world.

Please visit: www.arcadis.com

The benefits are enormous and in some projects already being achieved. We have compiled a list of the top immediate benefits of working in the BIM environment:• Increased efficiency due to the sharing of

information;• Better quality (de-risk) design through improved

coordination and more effective use of analysis tools;

• Reduced risk of any inaccuracies on the project;• Reduced production time with dynamic updates,

based on relationships and constraints and reflected throughout the process;

• Lower cost related to more accurate design, reduced duplication of work and better coordination;

• Reduced transactions costs, such as the exchange of information with contractors or the creation of operating and maintenance documents;

• Adoption of open and transparent information exchange processes with clients and stakeholders;

• Lifecycle benefits due to the availability of information regarding how things were designed, specified, built and maintained.

BIM has, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the industry and will challenge clients and their supply chain. Despite these potential challenges, simple steps can be taken towards early adoption of BIM. The maturity model developed for the UK BIM Strategy describes these very clearly. The model has been adapted in other leading BIM countries and therefore also used within Arcadis.

In this model four key stages of BIM use are identified:• The conventional approach of CAD or paper based

(level 0)• Introduce an object based approach in object

orientated models or parametric design (level 1)• Create a joined up view of multiple separate models

in a federated BIM (level 2)• Bringing external partners together in a

collaborative or integrated BIM (level 3) In a technically driven environment like the construction industry, BIM is initially being approached as a technical challenge. Nowadays we recognize that the implementation of BIM will offer new business models, and that the implementation or evolution to working in the BIM environment is more of a cultural - rather than technical - challenge.

BIM has not been fully developed in the industry and this is an area where Arcadis can use its impressive track record of designing and implementing business change programmes to accelerate effective adoption. Arcadis differentiate from competitors in the market due to our capability of working closely with clients and conducting the Business Transformation programme to ensure that the BIM systems and processes are aligned with their transformation blueprint, as well as with existing ‘as-is’ business processes.

Arcadis N.V.“Symphony”Gustav Mahlerplein 97-1031082 MS AmsterdamThe Netherlands

P.O. Box 78951008 AB AmsterdamThe Netherlands

For other offices across the globe please visithttps://www.arcadis.com/en/global/where-we-work/

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