The shift from manually designing drawing boards to using CAD-assisted design marked the first major transformation in the engineering industry. Currently, the transition from 2D to 3D design represents a second significant evolution, with the adoption of BIM (Building Information Modeling) in the construction sector becoming unstoppable. Before 2010, BIM was often referred to as BLM (Project Lifecycle Management) in China.
The year 2010 is recognized as the first official year of BIM in China. Since then, many major domestic construction firms have started experimenting with BIM technology, particularly for complex and specialized projects. However, at that time, BIM was still rarely developed beyond the design phase, especially within architectural design.
In May 2011, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued the “2011-2015 Outline for the Development of Information Technology in the Construction Industry.” This document emphasized the need to promote the application and expansion of BIM technology from the design stage all the way through construction. It highlighted the importance of reducing information loss during data transfer and encouraged research into BIM-based visual construction technologies for construction projects. This outline officially opened the door for BIM adoption in China’s construction industry.
Since then, BIM has become increasingly familiar to engineers and builders. Today, most major design institutes and large construction companies in China utilize BIM technology to varying degrees, and a growing number of BIM consulting firms have emerged. Overall, BIM technology is rapidly advancing in China.
The Policy Environment Supporting BIM Technology
The Chinese government has issued a series of documents to support BIM development, and some local governments have even mandated BIM usage for specific government-funded projects. Following the release of the 2011-2015 IT development outline, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued a 2013 draft guidance letter recommending BIM application in construction projects. This draft clearly stated that BIM should be used in the design and construction of large-scale government-invested projects.
In May 2014, the ministry began drafting the “Guiding Opinions on the Application of BIM Technology in the Construction Field.” Later that July, it released several opinions encouraging the promotion of information technologies like BIM throughout all engineering construction phases.
With strong support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in 2014, local governments have increased their focus on BIM. Notably, the Shanghai Municipal Government’s “Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Application of BIM Technology in Shanghai” have played a major role in BIM promotion. Starting in 2017, it mandated that projects with investments exceeding 100 million yuan funded by the Shanghai Municipal Government must apply BIM technology during design, construction, and other stages. Other local governments have also implemented policies and regulations to encourage BIM adoption.
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