The repercussions of COVID-19 are being felt the most in the construction industry.

Some construction projects had to be delayed, while some got canceled due to the shortage of supplies such as structural steel and glass that usually comes from Asia.

Also, unlike other industries where the workforce can work remotely, construction projects required workers to work on-site.

Typically, construction companies do not rely heavily on digital tools as they are risk-averse and fragmented in nature. However, the pandemic has compelled them to leverage technology more. For example, McKinsey observed that designers and engineers are increasingly using Building Information Management (BIM) to manage projects and speed up project delivery.

With vaccines being delivered and the industry preparing for post-pandemic recovery, we foresee technology playing a central role.

Role Of Technology In Post-Pandemic Construction In The USA

1. Cloud-based collaboration tools

Due to social distancing, companies had to resort to using collaboration tools to exchange data and communicate in real-time. An integrated cloud platform enables all stakeholders to share data and information on one platform. It allows them to streamline processes and improve their productivity. The best part is the stakeholders can continue working from remote areas. They do not have to be present at the site. This saves their time and effort in completing the project. Considering that all the information is shared on a unified cloud-based platform, stakeholders can save time in to-and-fro communication and manage enterprise-wide project communications efficiently.

2. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Contractors can address specific design and inspection tasks remotely by using AR and VR. To begin with, AR can be used to walk the contractors through the site to review it even if they are not present at the site. Onsite too, AR also helps contractors view the finer details of the project. All they have to do is hold a smartphone or tablet with the camera facing the site. They can see the scaled-up version of the site and see things that cannot be viewed through the naked eye. VR, on the other hand, helps contractors to remotely train workers even as they work on the site. Most importantly, AR and VR help companies to save money on costly mistakes by detecting errors ahead of time.

3. BIM The World Economic Forum praised BIM for its contribution to transforming the construction industry during COVID-19. Although BIM has been used by the industry for decades, its benefit became even more apparent during the lockdown. It enabled the stakeholders to continue progress even though they were working from remote areas. They were able to plan projects better, mitigate risks, and streamline operations and maintenance. All the information from the

field was updated in real-time into BIM models, making it easier for the stakeholders to monitor the project’s progress. We anticipate an uptick in the usage of BIM models for smarter planning and designing of the buildings.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation

Like every industry, the construction industry also reported productivity concerns due to social distancing norms and lockdowns. Post-pandemic, the construction industry will be under immense pressure to improve its productivity. That’s where AI and automation will help. Companies can leverage AI to automate many of their processes such as scheduling tasks. So, the work can continue even without human intervention. The tasks will be completed on time without any error. AI can also be used to streamline process workflows, do safety inspections, and ensure the overall quality of the project. In a nutshell, AI can help improve the overall process management in the project. According to Accenture, AI can increase industry profits by 71% by 2035.

5. Data analytics

Data analytics empowers companies to gain a competitive advantage. It enables them to analyze historical data and current data and use it to predict important future outcomes. Using data analytics will help companies to anticipate issues and prepare for them to mitigate risks. Given the enormous losses faced by the industry during the pandemic, data analytics will be a perfect option to help companies streamline their processes and fix problems proactively to avoid further losses. It enables the stakeholders to take proactive decisions instead of reactive ones like they are accustomed to doing normally. Apart from that, data analytics helps stakeholders to determine better budgets and schedules aligned with the scope of the project.

Technology will reshape the way the construction industry functions. According to the United States Chamber of Commerce, 70% of contractors believe that using technology will help them improve productivity and the safety of workers. It will enable them to reduce costs, manage projects efficiently, streamline the construction process, and accelerate the speed of delivering the project. With the right choice of technology, support from an expert partner, and the commitment of the workers, construction companies will be more future-ready and better prepared to face situations like the pandemic. A digital transformation could be coming for a so-far traditional industry like construction.

Digital transformation has swept into the construction industry, with powerful solutions like BIM experiencing widespread adoption. Reports state the BIM market may grow at a CAGR of 15% in the next 4 years. In a sector where challenges across profitability, project management, worker safety, and risk management are rife, BIM opens up new ways of approaching the design and documentation of various types of building projects. By delivering an intelligent digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility, it empowers designers, installers, and cost consultants to take a comprehensive view of the actual elements of a construction project. This has long been known to help companies optimize material costs, plan (and deliver) projects better, and be more sustainable. This post isn’t about that though. It’s about how BIM can help them win more bids!

Read on to find out how!

Opening doors to a new way of project management

BIM is so much more than just a point technology system; it is a complex design and construction platform that provides architects, engineers, and construction professionals the insight and tools needed to plan, design, construct, and manage the infrastructure while creating innovative buildings of the future.

The numerous benefits BIM offers are well known, but bear repeating just the same for the impact they could have on bid preparation and economic success:

• Improves communication and collaboration between construction workers and managers while paving the way for greater efficiency making time estimates easier and more predictable.
• Enhances estimation across materials, shipping, labor, and more – making costs more predictable and manageable
• Eliminates on-site rework, saves time thereby keeping committed schedules on track, budgets in check, and maximizing ROI
• Streamlines the construction workflow while reducing the chances of human error, project delays, and costly repairs making it easier to bid with confidence
• Supports easy interoperability and flexibility, and facilitates customization for higher quality results thus increasing the transparency of progress monitoring and providing early warnings of things going off track and the reason for the delay
• Aids in the timely and successful execution of complex construction projects by improving communication between all the stakeholders and establishing a single frame of reference

Shorter project lifecycles = more opportunities to close

Of all the capabilities that modern BIM systems offer, the key promise of the solution in the context of making plans and estimates is the same: to shorten the construction project lifecycle and bring predictability to the process. This means many things:

• Better collaboration: BIM technology is key to bagging more projects in an increasingly competitive industry. Cloud-based BIM solutions allow designers and engineers to unlock efficiencies through a centralized project management system.   By always staying on the page, they can be updated about the latest timelines and budget, work together to resolve errors in real-time while avoiding costly mistakes and reducing rework. Fewer errors and rework can help construction companies project a more professional image and build customer trust that can lead to stronger ongoing relationships.
• A single source of truth: Since all relevant information, including models, estimates, and design notes are stored in a single repository, architects and engineers no longer have to engage in back-and-forth calls and emails to discuss issues and opportunities. They can refer to a single source of truth to make critical decisions and improve the speed and efficiency with which they bring projects to closure. Providing this degree of transparency about ongoing work to the project owners (developers, government agencies, etc.) can be a great differentiator.
• Standardized workflows: Through streamlined workflows, BIM helps in creating and managing all of the information on a project – before, during, and after construction. Such standardization eliminates the need for engineers to depend on manual or repetitive tasks to progress the project through its lifecycle, helping accelerate the speed and accuracy with which projects are completed. The project owners get access to the most complete and updated information at all times in an easy to visualize manner, showing you in the best possible light.
• Streamlined risk management: The ability to construct buildings based on the most up-to-date plans and workflow makes visualizing problems easier. Since BIM allows contractors to virtually construct projects, they are in a better position to identify roadblocks and plan for workarounds – before construction starts. You can not only predict potential construction hazards; they can also prevent them by adjusting the design. This is an obvious advantage for project delivery, but highlighting problems early in the cycle in such a transparent manner can also help the project owners make decisions on project expansions, future phases, etc., and open up new opportunities.
• Faster construction: Because BIM allows companies to create interactive models that clearly state how the project will look in the real world, it enables better visualizations and transparent project details. Because these models are a true reflection of the actual project, it helps in removing doubt while enabling faster decision-making. Companies can accelerate the design process while saving substantial time in construction. What’s more, finishing a project on time (or before time) speeds up eventual ROI as the structure can be used immediately. Your reputation improves, resources get freed up, and cash flows get unlocked, all of which can help in getting more business.

Obviously, there is no doubt about the fact that BIM delivers immense value to construction companies: right from improved quality and function of design, increased understanding of solutions, better collaboration and documentation, better planning, improved productivity, and more. BIM 3D models and real-world representations make it easy to visualize the project. These benefits help in eliminating the chances of construction issues, delays, and rework, and allowing companies to finish projects faster, but BIM also helps companies win more bids, and set themselves up for success.

COVID-19 has hit the US construction sector hard. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Marketing Index showed a steepest monthly decline among home builders in thirty years. But even as states open up and others designate construction as “essential” there are other problems looming.

According to the AGC survey, the construction sector is hit by a labor shortage. As it becomes necessary to ensure that the workers follow social distancing norms, it may become harder to staff project completely. Then, there is also a significant disruption in the supply chain that could impact projects.

In the face of such challenges, companies will have to think of ideas to compensate for the lost time and accelerate the speed of completing the projects. Construction companies would do well to turn to technology for help. But is there anything more they can do? Is there a solution out there that can add as a force multiplier for their efforts? Perhaps, yes.

Companies can leverage remote teams for work that does not require an on-site presence on the construction sites to ensure accelerated completion of work.

How Can Remote Teams Help In Accelerating Projects?

Remote working in the construction industry might seem like an unlikely setup. But with communication, collaboration, and project management tools at the company’s disposal, remote working has become a reality for construction companies. Here are a few things that construction companies can do to accelerate the completion of their projects while working with remote teams.

1.      Adopt the tele-building concept

Way before COVID-19 compelled construction companies to think of new ways to work, a company called OpenSpace used a photo-documentation solution to enable builders to walk through the construction site with a camera in hand. These photos are then uploaded and organized in a Google Street View type of a vista. That allows remote workers to view the construction site from anywhere. OpenSpace has also come up with a solution called tele-building, which is akin to telehealth where the inspectors, superintendents, and project managers can view the high-quality images of the site, thus reducing in-person visits and saving time and money for the company.

2.      Leverage BIM

BIM, as most know, is a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility. It provides the designers, installers, and consultants with a comprehensive view of the project. It provides support with interoperability, flexibility, and customization, which can help companies to build better plans, organize the efforts of teams better, estimate material requirements more proactively, and drive more clearly aligned on-site delivery. This will help them save their time and lead to successful execution – an imperative in the current times. With BIM, companies can create comprehensive construction documentation, which can guide the designers, architects, and contractors to follow the sequences and ensure an error-free execution. And of course, the BIM models could be created by remote teams. For small and mid-sized construction companies, this is an even more significant benefit since they can access the top experts in the space without being constrained by location. In fact, this opens up promising collaborative avenues for such small and mid-sized construction companies. In areas like BIM, they can choose to ally with partners who have the expertise and experience to support them. This team can support the on-site construction remotely and amplify the overall impact.

3.      Use next-gen technologies

Rapid innovation is the order of the day, and technology is one enabler that can make it possible. Apart from BIM, construction companies must use next-gen technologies such as AR, VR, and Drones to stay ahead of the curve and to reduce the need for going onsite. Technologies such as AR and VR can help the offsite extended construction team to detect errors early on and resolve them before they become expensive mistakes. It also helps optimize the workforce as these technologies can create scaled virtual models of the site, which can be evaluated easily by the remote team.  Drones can fly around to monitor and deliver supplies. Some construction companies are also considering using robots to automate basic tasks at the site. As is the norm today, these high-tech devices can be operated and controlled extremely effectively from offsite locations.

4.      Comply with safety standards

While a lot of work can be done remotely, workers will always be needed on the site. Companies have to ensure that these workers are safe and that they comply with the safety guidelines laid down by the government. Companies can provide project managers and directors with access to software that can provide them with data on safety procedures followed in the site and maintain safety remotely based on the data received. On-site information could be gathered by smart wearables using the latest Internet of Things (IoT) technology that enables these remote managers to access the most current information to enable better monitoring, tracking, and compliance.

These are strange times. But that will not prevent companies from starting construction work again. Companies have to adjust to the new normal and find ways to complete the projects. It’s now crucial to embrace digitization. But no one believes that this will be easy. We would recommend choosing collaboration tools that will help the architects, designers, engineers, and other important stakeholders to collaborate with each other while working remotely. Companies will also need to train employees to adapt to digital tools and learn to use them to their advantage. Considering that technology may well be the primary driver of productivity, bringing about a mindset change may become imperative to ensure the smooth functioning of routine tasks. Of course, this is hard to do without expert support. We, at Excelize Services, have been helping companies to embrace the power of BIM so that they can complete their projects on time in a cost-effective way. We offer a winning combination of onshore and offsite support to enable construction companies to adopt the best technology and kick off their own technology initiatives to achieve challenging business goals.

Technology has transformed the way industries and companies operate. The construction industry is one of the biggest sectors globally with an expected output of $12.7 trillion by 2022. As it happens, the sector is being hit by a new wave of technologies that could transform construction.

Yet, the sector has been somewhat slow to adapt to technological advancements. And this shows in the results too. Unfortunately, the construction industry has gained just 1% productivity in the previous 20 years. That’s compared to over 3% for other major sectors in the economy. The low growth in productivity could be attributed to the inability to adapt to technology. Don’t believe us?

A McKinsey report on reinventing construction says, “Productivity, or the total economic output per worker, has remained flat in construction. In comparison, productivity has grown by 1500 % in retail, manufacturing, and agriculture since 1945. One of the reasons for this is that construction is one of the most under-digitized industries in the world and is slow to adopt new technologies.”

So, why this reluctance to adopt technology? Some issues faced by the U.S. construction industry are:
• Shortage of labor
• Shortage of technology talent willing to work in construction
• Archaic processes that hinder collaboration, reporting, and analysis

Issues like these are making it hard for construction organizations to keep up with the technology wave. Here are three technology waves that will pass you by if you don’t address these issues in your organization:

1. Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has revolutionized the way the construction industry executes projects. BIM is more than just 3D modeling. The 7D BIM caters to both physical and functional aspects of a structure along with considering the cost and schedule of the project. It also helps in streamlining and collaborating information and making it available in real-time for all the involved parties. The easy accessibility of the data – the blueprint, design, 3D model of the structure, as-built; helps in saving valuable resources during construction and in the maintenance phase too. Companies are saving big, delivering on time, and building better projects with implementing BIM. Owing to this, many countries like UK, Germany, and Norway have mandated the use of BIM for public infrastructure projects.

Implementing BIM successfully depends upon the ability to understand and leverage the technology. It would help if you had experts to work on the software and to give you maximum impact. The benefits of BIM could be lost to you if you are unable to build up a team of skilled professionals who are equipped with BIM knowledge.

1. Automation and Robotics

As the construction industry is slowly moving towards digitization, one cannot overlook the role of robotics and automation in this field. The U.S. construction industry reported over 200,000 unfulfilled construction job positions (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Companies are focusing their attention on robotics and automation to try to reduce the dependence on human workers.

Robotics and automation will help companies cut operational costs, increase efficiency in repetitive tasks, and improve output and productivity both on-site and off-site during a construction project.

Of course, automation and robotics demand a sound data framework for the construction site with comprehensive, accurate, and current data about what’s going on. Proactive planning becomes key. And many of these demand a stable and reliable model to function effectively.

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence is the term coined for machines that mimic intelligence and human cognitive functions. Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that uses statistical techniques to allow computers to learn from the data they are fed. There’s a humungous amount of data generated in a construction project, and the future success of such projects could depend upon the efficient utilization and execution of this data.

There’s a vast potential for machine learning and artificial intelligence in the construction industry. Machines can act as smart assistants that can analyze and scrutinize the copious amount of data and alert project managers about issues that need immediate attention, thereby saving time on on-site changes. AI can help drive better planning by factoring in an array of conditions that are difficult to build in manually. Resource mobilization, estimates, schedule planning, etc. are other areas that AI can play a key role in.

Of course, AI and ML demand data. Comprehensive data is essential to train the models for ever-greater accuracy. Without that, the models could fall flat in the real world.

The construction industry has always sailed close to the wind. The overruns and rework during the construction phase have been robbing construction companies of their profits. But today, companies that are successfully adopting and implementing technological innovations are seeing improved productivity and profitability. Are you ready to adopt technology to improve your results too?

The USA construction industry is facing labor shortages. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 200,000 positions in the construction industry lie unfilled. This happened after the industry went through a cycle of shrinkage over the past decade. A report by Deloitte states that the labor shortages are reaching crisis proportions and are expected to continue through 2019 as well. Also, the productivity growth in the construction industry in the past two decades averaged just about 1%. This is 1/3^rd of the growth which the rest of the global economy averaged during the same period.

And that is not the only issue with the industry. A report from McKinsey & Co. finds that “While many U.S. sectors including agriculture and manufacturing have increased productivity ten to 15 times since the 1950s, the productivity of construction remains stuck at the same level as 80 years ago.”

In this scenario, construction firms run the risk of responding late to market needs, losing essential project bids, and being unable to innovate.

This is where BIM enters the stage. BIM offers a ready answer to make construction planning and execution more proactive and data-driven.

And yes, the use of BIM is on the rise in projects in the country. But given the lack of skilled resources companies in the USA are adopting an onsite + offshore model for successful BIM implementation. The BIM models are created offshore, and the onsite team consumes them as the project gets built. Feedback loops and regular communications ensure timely updates and always accurate models.

Here’s why it works:

1. Time-Saving – Going for an Onshore and Offshore Model for BIM projects helps provide quality work within the stipulated timeframe. This can be achieved by distributing the resources between the onshore and offshore teams and assigning them special subtasks in the project. Companies can save valuable time by assigning the work to offshore consultants instead of finding new resources and training them, which can take several weeks, months, or even years.

Moreover, the construction industry may take time to understand and adopt new technologies. Offshore teams would be well-versed with the latest technologies, accelerating startup time.

1. Cost-Effective – This one is a no-brainer. By outsourcing BIM projects to an offshore expert, the design and development costs can be reduced significantly. Think of it this way, companies don’t have to hire additional resources comprising of trained experts or, hire fresh talent and spend time and money to train them for bringing them up to speed. Moreover, the outsourcing firm will provide services and dedicated resources at a transparent rate. This helps construction firms budget well by taking other costs into consideration. Of course, there is also the benefit of scalability. Offshore teams typically have the capacity to add resources, if a project needs to be accelerated or if more work needs to be done. This team can be ramped down after that phase if accomplished. That’s much harder to do if the resources are in-house.

Another reason for going for an offshore team is to save on the purchase of expensive special-purpose software licenses. By partnering with leading BIM consulting firms, firms may be able to avoid investing in certain software/tools/technologies that are required for model creation.

1. More Expertise and Reduced Errors – Increasing complexities of projects can make construction design harder and more involved. Offshore firms that possess the relevant BIM expertise can cut through this complexity and create a comprehensive, transparent, and actionable model. This model can then become the basis for collaboration between a variety of teams onsite. This will help make construction more efficient, hand-offs smoother, collaboration more seamless, and improve overall safety.
2. Focus on Core Business – Next up, the onshore + offshore business model can help firms focus more on their execution strength. A construction project demands extreme degrees of project management capabilities and an evolved execution skills. This is where construction companies can get maximum bang for the buck. This is the area that has the greatest impact on project profitability and it makes sense for the construction company to focus on that.

With the global population predicted to hit 9 billion by 2050, two out of three people will be living in a city. It stands to reason that the demand for construction will always be high. Especially in evolved economies like the USA, the question is not whether there will be growth. The question for construction companies is, will that growth be manageable and profitable?

An onshore + offshore BIM model may be the way forward to achieve that. The model offers increased productivity, reduced costs, better collaboration, and access to expertise. This is the easiest way for construction companies in the USA to scale. And to thrive.

Did you know that one out of five or about 20% of the fatalities in private work professions for the year 2019 was in the construction sector?

Construction is one of the deadliest industries for its workers in the USA. With more innovative and ambitious projects kicking off at different cities and towns as the fears of the pandemic taper off, more and more construction professionals are deployed to work at sites. The rush to complete projects fast, make up for a lost time, and deliver projects may be posing danger to their lives.

There’s little doubt that the first focus should be to make the construction sector a safer place to work. As it happens, one of the most powerful options to minimize safety risks in the construction sector could be turning to Building Information Modeling or BIM tools.

What we know of BIM is that it comprises a range or suite of software applications that help streamline a construction project by visualizing a construction project in 3D (or more dimensions) and enables easy management of construction activities as per a project plan. It allows managers or contractors to break down construction activities into modules, assign staff, visualize renderings of plans, share data on construction activities, timelines, and various other parameters with all stakeholders. It empowers project managers to effortlessly manage the lifecycle of a construction project and enable it to comply with client requirements as well as with local and regional compliance policies by regulators.

We also know that more construction companies are now relying on BIM to manage their work and predict outcomes in daily operations. In fact, the global BIM software market size is expected to grow to USD 8.8 Billion by 2025. This is a testimony to the success that construction companies are enjoying.

While all those benefits are well-known, one of the most far-reaching impacts of BIM could be to ensure that the project site becomes safer for work.

By modeling all the requirements, it is easier to predict exactly the conditions workers will be exposed to during the construction. This allows BIM to become a vital component in ensuring safety at the worksite.

Let us examine the top 4 ways in which BIM can prove to be the enabler of a safer construction job site:

Identify potential hazards

BIM can help in identifying potentially hazardous environments within a construction project that may pose risk to a worker. By modeling the construction process in 3D or with advanced options, it is possible to identify areas where collisions between moving construction items are more likely to occur, spots where risky maneuvers are required for completion of work, etc. Once such hazardous work locations are traced and noted in advance, it is possible to prepare a work plan to model construction activities that take into consideration extra care in these hazardous areas, including worker training and best practices.

Reduced on-site activities

With BIM, it becomes easier to plan construction by incorporating a lot of prefabricated structures and elements. These prefabricated elements can be built separately at other locations and transported to the final construction site thereby reducing workloads within the actual project site. When work is less, there are fewer chances for collisions and other hazardous activities that may be endured by workers when different works such as pre-fabrication, etc. are done at the project site itself. Other components like plumbing, ventilation and cooling systems too can be built on pre-manufactured shared racks and then finally integrated into the construction site easily reducing the need for manual intervention for hoisting and installing them on tall buildings individually all the time.

By leveraging BIM for planning and scheduling, it also becomes possible to reduce the number of people onsite by adopting innovative models like offshore+onsite for greater efficiency and safety.

Autonomous safety checklist

With BIM, it is possible to model all sorts of risks within the construction environment. Once all risks are identified, then it becomes easier for creating a safety checklist for workers to follow in their daily tasks. Every day these checklists can be autonomously verified to ensure that only the right personnel with the right credentials and protection standards are allowed to work on each designated area of the project. This can also set the stage for better compliance with government regulations on workplace safety.

Of course, one of the key benefits of using BIM for planning is clash detection at the planning stage. This allows more efficient work schedules to be created and effort wastage reduced. Of course, it also reduces the need for “on the fly” changes to be made onsite as workarounds to such clashes. This also helps prevent accidents and unsafe compromises.

Knowledgeable workers

When work hazards are identified and checklists for staying safe are prepared with the aid of BIM, then it becomes easier to train staff on following safety norms. Workers are provided with better insights to carry out their individual tasks while adhering to safety norms. Real-life simulations of events like collisions failed safety norms, and other faulty work routines can be demonstrated using modern technologies like Virtual Reality that feed off the BIM models to show the staff how to be cautious and controlled.

15% of the total cost of the private sector for fatal and non-fatal injuries is being incurred by the construction sector. The construction sector is an industry where the safety of workers is often a matter of controversy with lawsuits and legal ramifications aplenty. Hence, to build a long-lasting and sustainable business model, construction companies must make employee safety a key focus of their strategic plans as well. With BIM, it becomes easier to pre-plan all construction activities and thereby ensure that workers are protected always.

The construction industry is one of the largest sectors in the world economy, yet its challenges are gaping. The sector is labor-intensive and has processes deeply set in the physical realm. Low efficiency, delayed construction and high costs are a few aspects that offer opportunities for optimisation. Digital transformation is the lever that can catapult this sector into its next wave of growth. This is where Building-Information Modelling (BIM) comes into the picture.

BIM offers the potential to view the entire project in full glory, covering all elements of design and construction, right at the pre-construction stage. Access to information at every phase has deep repercussions on the time taken for completion and overall costs incurred. Real-time information on the project fosters deep collaboration between stakeholders, helps them foresee risks, and reduces the possibility of errors.

Implementation of BIM is possible at different stages covering eight dimensions, which translates to information for all stakeholders at various depths.

The case for a BIM mandate in USA

With expenditures reaching over 1,293 billion US dollars, the United States is one of the largest construction markets worldwide. Post the pandemic-led pause, the sector is expected to bounce back with anticipated growth in the healthcare, commercial, and transportation sectors starting in 2021. The demand for housing is on a steady rise, with multi-family complex, residential projects picking up pace.

Managing this increase in workload with no significant drop in productivity would need the right technologies. Quite evidently, BIM can offer solutions for many of these incumbent challenges. Construction firms in the USA had started implementing BIM in the 1970s yet the adoption rate has been rather slow.

Even at a projected growth rate of 15.6% in 2021, the sector doesn’t yet have a national-level BIM mandate. In 2003, the US General Services Administration created the National 3D-4D-BIM Program that included a BIM adoption mandate for public building projects. Among the states, Wisconsin was the first to implement a BIM mandate for public construction projects for over a USD 5 million budget or more.

BIM mandate in the US has been challenging because there is no single federal agency that can plan and mandate BIM for all public projects. Without a mandate, BIM adoption is likely to be slower as it will be dependent on the association between construction firms, contractors, architects and other stakeholders.

For BIM adoption to grow, we must think of BIM beyond its use as a design tool and explore the depths of information that BIM models provide. The information at every stage of construction enables enhanced control over the entire project, reduced errors and risks, optimized costs, better safety and logistics and faster completion. Besides, BIM can be used in diverse construction arenas including highway and road engineering, rail and metro transportation engineering, landscape and land development, tunneling and subway architecture, offshore and marine architecture, heritage building conservation to name a few.

Even if a universal mandate is not feasible, a gradual implementation would work in the nation’s favour with federal buildings leading the way for BIM implementation. The government should refine the mandate based on its own experience with BIM. Besides, a mandate governing construction projects in the private sector may also be worthwhile, especially based on the building height, size or complexity or environmental impact. The regular revisions of the National BIM Standard-United States (NBIMS-US) will propel the adoption of BIM as a comprehensive tool for visualization, construction simulation, and facility management for any project.

While mandate implementation may take its time in the US, having defined BIM standards can facilitate faster adoption.

Adoption of BIM across the globe

With the increasing demand for urban planning and smart cities, many countries are moving faster towards BIM adoption.

The Scandinavian countries Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark have been among the early adopters of BIM. In 2007, Finland implemented IFC compliance and BIM adoption for all public construction projects. Similarly, Norway adopted the BIM mandate for its state projects in 2010, followed by Denmark in 2011 and Sweden in 2015. In 2016, Norway shared an open BIM certification.

The Swedish Standards Institute has published a series of guides with the aim of promoting BIM in the country since 1991, while starting from 2014 the BIM Alliance Sweden has brought together the main public and private stakeholders, to find more resources and support construction innovation.

UK has also been a forerunner when it comes to BIM adoption. In 2011, the UK government aimed at digital transformation of the construction industry that would eventually project UK as the leader in the sector. Thus in 2016, the UK implemented a BIM Level 2 mandate for all its public construction projects. While Portugal and Spain are already going strong on BIM, France and Germany have scheduled a phased-out introduction of BIM in the last couple of years.

In Asia, Singapore was one of the first countries to adopt BIM, followed by Japan, Korea and China. In 2015, the Building and Construction Authority in Singapore had made BIM obligatory for all construction projects over 5,000 square metres. Since then, the Singapore government has witnessed a significant increase in construction productivity. In fact, the government estimates that productivity increases by up to 30% when using BIM. Australian state governments see similar benefits and some have introduced similar mandates.

These leading countries share a common goal: digitizing the construction industry to help minimize costs and ensure sustainability. A strong BIM mandate is helping them achieve this goal and build a smart nation.

Shouldn’t USA be then acing BIM too? What do you think?

Building Information Modeling. (BIM) is getting rapidly established as an innovative method to design virtually and manage structures. An AGC survey revealed that nearly 1 in 3 organizations see technology as an appropriate response to address the growing labor shortage by driving up productivity and improving planning.

A growing number of construction organizations have made initial investments and are adopting the practice of including BIM in their projects. For those that came in late, Building Information Modelling or BIM is a method of working in the construction industry that helps firms plan better, execute faster, and manage resources optimally. The key benefits of BIM include:

· Faster and more effective processes
· Better design
· Better production quality
· Automated assembly

While adoption is growing, it’s, perhaps, fair to say that the rise of BIM has been slower than it should be.

Even as the crescendo builds around the benefits of BIM, it is still proving difficult for some organizations to quantify the value of the benefits it brings. Many organizations have implemented pilot projects with BIM. Quite a few have seen benefits too. But they have stopped short of rolling out the initiative across the organizations.

1. Shortage of skilled tech talent

It’s no secret that the construction industry suffers severe worker shortages. In many ways, the situation is even direr for specialized skills like technology. The number of qualified tech people is quite low to start with. To add to that, attracting these folks to the construction business is proving hard in the face of more glamorous options in the tech sector. The problem is even more severe for the small and mid-sized tech companies located in the smaller towns and locations away from the major tech hubs. What’s the scalability of an enterprise-wide BIM initiative if you don’t have the people to make it run seamlessly for a sustained duration?

This is a challenge that can be addressed by partnering with a company that has the BIM expertise and the people available to scale up a BIM initiative. But is that enough?

1. Cultural changes in the construction industry

The lack of experience of BIM within an industry as traditional as construction creates hindrances in the proper utilization of the software. This is not a comment on their inability to use the software properly. It’s more a commentary on the rigidity of current processes and ways of working. The introduction of advanced technologies and ideas in the workplace can be a daunting change. The implementation of BIM can benefit the company in the long run. However, such solutions increase demands for transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communications. In adopting these changes, employees may face problems. They may find it difficult to change their way of working. They may be apprehensive about the impact on their jobs. They may also worry about their ability to learn new solutions and be confused about how to utilize the BIM models in the context of their specific roles. Organizations and project managers need to consider the possible mitigation strategies to address these challenges before implementing BIM to overcome the hurdles. While introducing BIM to the employees, issues such as experience, culture, support, training, and education need to be clearly addressed. Therefore, companies must educate their employees and provide effective training to ensure everyone is on board.

So, apart from pulling in the BIM experts, what a construction company needs is hand-holding as the BIM adoption challenges work themselves out. The people in these companies need the ear and hand of someone who has “been there, done that” with BIM to show them the way and to drive home the positive impact BIM could deliver to their own performance. But what next?

1. Return on Investment calculations

Adopting BIM can show a positive impact at all stages of the construction lifecycle from design and construction to maintenance. However, the perception of ROI is always shifting. Some impact is quite easily provable. For instance, the savings that can accrue because of better material estimates that the BIM model provides can be enumerated quite easily when compared to previous gut-feel estimates. But organizations that are unused to the technology sometimes struggle to quantify the impact in broader terms. For instance, schedule adherence may result but how much of that is down to BIM and how much just better execution?

It’s true that many organizations that incorporated BIM in their projects reported a positive ROI. Organizations that invest more in training and in the full adoption of BIM also see a positive effect. It seems that BIM helps organizations to construct better structures and increase profitability. But how can that be measured for the CFO? An organization implementing BIM could find it difficult to define the financial models that show the impact BIM is having. Many of these assessments are driven by the experience. At such times, turning to a partner who has that experience could help drive more reasoned assessments of the ROI.

It’s in situations like this that small and mid-sized construction firms across the USA partner with Excelize. We are BIM specialists with an unbeatable mix of modeling and demonstrating expertise and knowledge of building codes and standards. Our experienced consultants have knowledge of BIM and have seen a large number of BIM-driven projects, including some of the largest and most complex projects out there. Being located in the USA helps them provide better support to organizations too as they look to kick off their own BIM initiatives. That may be the easiest way for you to get the most out of your own BIM initiative.