This article talks about how construction industry is benefited by integrating BIM (Building Information Modeling) with facility management software tools like CAFM to manage facility management activities like space management, capital planning, work orders etc. and reducing on-going costs of building operations and maintenance.

1. Ar. Sonali Dhopte, states “Building Information Modeling and FM is the way forward!!!”
In a news article for “Construction World” on Facility management and its growth in the construction
industry, our Director - Sonali Dhopte, said “The more complex facility management software tools like
CAFM or integrated workplace management systems generate value indirectly,” says Sonali Dhopte,
Director, Excelize. ´These types of applications support many functions and provide value by making it
possible to share information and processes across many functions and departments. Integrating
building information modelling (BIM) with FM is the way forward and will yield tangible benefits, she
adds.” We’d further like to add to her words and elaborate her anticipation about Building information
modeling (BIM) and its future with FM.
FM software makes it possible to improve processes within the facility department. Most of the value is
not derived from direct cost saving or from reductions in effort, but from improved processes, better
services, and better strategic and tactical decisions. Therefore, value of FM software is derived from
intangible benefits rather than direct savings.
There are two general types of FM software. One is software that directly supports the customer’s needs.
The other is software that helps the facility staff provide services to internal customers.
Certain FM software tools (typically transaction-based tools like work order management or preventive
maintenance) are relatively easy to justify with cost savings metrics like reduced staff hours, reduced
downtime for production, reduced energy costs and reduced capital expenditures through planned
replacement. These tools reduce expenditures and therefore permit budgets to be reduced or reallocated.
On the contrary, we all know the wide acceptance of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the design
field of a construction industry. But, now BIM service is extending to facility management circles also. The
term ‘facility management’ conjures up the image of a three-dimensional model of a facility which helps
the construction industry to view the facility at different levels and its various components and parts
including building envelop, piping, framing, furniture, ductwork etc.
Even though BIM illustrates information through a graphical model, we cannot confine it to software. BIM
is an intelligent database that contains a facility’s physical and functional characteristics. It shares
information about a facility and thus helps take credible decisions during a buildings life cycle from
inception onwards.
Most managers in existing buildings have to manage and maintain many facilities. It is their duty to
manage the quality of the indoor environment like lighting, sound, humidity etc. The quality of services
provided such as building operating costs, energy use, waste reduction and recycling etc. are also
managed by them. They use different technologies like building information system (BAS) or building
management system (BMS) and integrated work management systems (IWMS) or computerized
maintenance management system (CMMS) etc. for facility management activities like space management,
capital planning, work orders etc. But, BIM technology and the standards developed around it can club all
these different systems together, with which the managers have several documents providing information

2. about various facilities like specification books, generations of drawings, operations and maintenance
manuals, system test reports, warranties and other project records.
The main challenge faced in construction industry is the loss of essential information, which increases the
on-going costs of building operations and maintenance. BIM for FM gives a solution to this problem. It
provides an integrated store of feature rich data and this data is handed over to facility managers
throughout the lifecycle of the project. It improves operation and management performance, training and
extends equipment life. Even though BIM is widely accepted among FM community, there are some
facility managers, who still are doubtful about how BIM is used for FM effectively. For effective use of
BIM, it should be integrated with FM software such as Computer Aided Facilities Management (CAFM).
Facilities Management requires a vast amount of information to operate facilities effectively. As the
majority of information is stored as paper documents currently, much valuable data is lost during its life
span, when it passes to the facility managers. The main advantage of BIM for FM is that it helps
stakeholders access the information they need when they need it.
The primary use of BIM for FM is asset management and maintenance. Improved inventory and
equipment management, reduction in data acquisition time and cost and availability of information
before commissioning are the major benefits of BIM for FM. BIM is able to bring data acquisition
advantages to FM professionals. However people are yet to acquire the skills to specify the data they
require, which is the main challenge FM professional face. Apart from technology and information
exchange, the success of BIM for FM also hinges on collaborative working practices and well defined
processes. In short, BIM for FM is a fusion of process, technology and people.
Author: Architect and Interior Designer since 1993, Sonali has worked with the top architectural firms in
the US and India. As Technical Director at Excelize (www.excelize.com), she overseas and guides the BIM
technology team and manages project deliveries as per client requirements. As a leading woman
Architect, Sonali is a nationally recognized BIM Expert and has presented and participated in various
panel discussions in prestigious conferences and has published various articles on BIM in prestigious
journals.