Today, we will discuss The Development Status and Future Trends of BIM at Home and Abroad. In recent years, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has gained rapid traction in the global construction industry. Given BIM’s promising future, it is essential to develop localized strategies and visions to lay a strong foundation for its advancement.
1. The Development Status of BIM in the United States
The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages the real estate assets of the U.S. federal government, has been a pioneer in promoting BIM adoption in public projects. Since 2003, GSA has been developing the Building Information Modeling Guide Series, focusing on spatial validation and facility management within federal asset programs. The guide is continuously updated based on practical experience. In 2007, GSA mandated that large-scale projects receiving design subsidies submit BIM models during the design phase (GSA BIM Guide, 2007).
The primary goal of BIM promotion in the U.S. is to improve construction productivity while encouraging energy conservation and waste reduction. Agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Department of Veterans Affairs, along with various state governments and universities, have incorporated BIM into their procurement strategies. Most construction-related departments develop BIM work standards from an operational perspective.
The National BIM Standard (NBIMS) is overseen by the semi-official National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS). NBIMS version 1 was released in 2007, followed by version 2 in 2012, and version 3 in 2015. NBIMS covers three main areas: Core Standards (including ISO and information exchange standards), Technical Publications (reference processes and examples), and Implementation Resources (contract templates and best practice guidelines).
Professional associations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) have published BIM standard annexes that serve as references for practitioners. Notable documents include the E202 Building Information Modeling Protocol Exhibit (2008), Digital Practice Documents (2013), E203-BIM and Digital Data (2013), G201 Project Digital Data Protocol Form (2013), and G202 Project BIM Protocol Form (2013). In 2013, AGC, AIA, and CSI published the BIMFORUM Level of Development (LOD) Specification. Additionally, AIA and AGC have developed contract provisions related to integrated project delivery, supporting the professional vertical integration driven by BIM. Hence, American professional bodies have played a significant role in BIM’s development.
2. The Development Status of BIM in the United Kingdom
In May 2011, the UK Cabinet Office announced a five-year plan to implement Collaborative 3D BIM for all public sector projects by 2016, marking the beginning of the UK’s journey towards widespread BIM adoption. Beyond government mandates, official organizations and civil society groups actively promote BIM development.
The Cabinet Office’s 2011 “Government Construction Strategy” aims to advance BIM technology, stimulate growth in the UK construction industry, increase the UK’s share in international markets, drive economic growth, and achieve a Government Soft Landing (GSL) through improved public sector facility management (HM Government, 2012).
The UK’s BIM strategy includes a “push and pull” approach: mandating BIM use in public works while creating an environment conducive to BIM adoption. This involves cultivating technical skills, removing industry barriers, and fostering collaboration clusters. The BIM Task Group, organized by the central government, works alongside public agencies, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Construction Industry Council (CIC), the British Institute of Building Research (BRE), and the British Standards Institution (BSI) to promote BIM.
They have developed the B/555 Roadmap and established a suite of national BIM standards, including BS1192, PAS1192-2, PAS1192-3, and BS1192-4. Other professional organizations have also contributed, creating BIM annexes and component libraries such as the CIC BIM Protocol and RIBA’s NBS annual National BIM Reports, BIM Object Standards, Component Libraries, and toolkits.
3. The Development Status of BIM in China
China officially included BIM in its 12th Five-Year Plan in 2011. The following year, the Chinese Academy of Building Research, alongside other entities, launched the BIM Development Alliance. This alliance focuses on advancing BIM technology, establishing standards, and fostering software innovation across mainland China.
Inspired by the U.S. NBIMS, the concept of Professional BIM (P-BIM) was introduced, emphasizing the enhancement of existing construction technologies and operational management software through BIM. Under the “Unified Standard for Building Engineering Information Modeling Application” initiative, the BIM Development Alliance mobilized resources to prepare 21 P-BIM association standards.
In 2014, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine jointly issued the BIM Design Information Model Delivery Model Standard and a draft “Unified Standard for Building Engineering Information Model Application.” On July 2, 2015, the Ministry issued “Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Application of Building Information Modeling” (Jianzhihan No. AI_SC_0_159), setting ambitious goals:
- By the end of 2020, Class A survey and design firms, along with special and first-class construction enterprises, should master BIM integration with enterprise management systems and other IT technologies.
- By 2020, 90% of newly approved projects should integrate BIM in surveying, design, construction, operation, and maintenance phases.
Local governments have also introduced BIM standards between 2014 and 2015. For example:
- Beijing issued the “Beijing BIM Local Standard: Beijing Civil Building Information Modeling Design Standard” (2014).
- Shanghai’s Municipal Government promoted BIM through various notices and action plans, including the “Three Year Action Plan for Promoting BIM Technology Application (2015-2017).”
- Shenzhen released guidelines and management standards for BIM application in public works.
For more detailed policies, please refer to BIM-related documents published in the first half of 2018.
4. The Development Status of BIM in Singapore
Singapore’s BIM strategy focuses on creating demand and guiding BIM adoption through public construction projects. The second edition of the “Singapore BIM Guide” aims to support BIM use as a foundation to integrate with the government’s CORENET system.
Key initiatives include:
- Industrial training: The BCA Academy offers specialized training to develop BIM talents, with a future focus on integrating BIM with building facility management through technologies like RFID and GIS.
- Incentives: The government provides funding subsidies for training, consulting, software and hardware procurement, and labor costs related to BIM implementation in companies and projects.
In summary, this overview briefly introduces BIM’s adoption in China and other leading countries. While China still faces significant challenges in BIM development compared to some developed countries, there is a strong commitment to closing this gap. Together, we can work towards a brighter future for BIM.
That concludes our discussion on The Development Status and Future Trends of BIM at Home and Abroad. I hope this article proves helpful to everyone!
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up