BIM capabilities allow contractors to contribute technical input into bidding processes by advising on BIM requirements and providing information to complete procurement documents. This information becomes an asset for obtaining projects and allows clients better returns. However, realizing benefits takes time as every new technology requires a maturity period. Contributions also include work sequencing, programming, eliminating waste, and capturing data at stages to aid in operations and maintenance manuals. Key challenges include social issues of commitment to the process, technical issues of required information and system compatibility, legal issues of access rights and standards, and involving the supply chain based on cost versus competency.

1. Building Information Modelling

2. Contributions and work flow requirements
A contractor with strong BIM capabilities and expertise will be in the position to contribute the following to the company’s
competitiveness
Technical input into the bidding processes :
 Advice the business development team on responding to BIM specific ITT and enquiries.
 Providing practical answers to complete BIM related PQQ’s
“ BIM provides a [selling ] power with better information to take into the market.”
source: Scott Sanderson of PRP Architects in the construction Magazine June , 2013 pg. 32.
Thus the information provided in these ITT’s and PQQ’s becomes an asset for procurement which allows the client to get better
returns on quality, price and risk ; and for the contractor’ provides that single competitive advantage necessary for gaining the
maximum market share in a very competitive construction market.
However, the process requires time for the benefits to be realised – “Every technology needs a maturity period”
Model Source: Communication, Collaboration & Visualization with BIM model (NIBS,2008)

3. Contributions and work flow requirements
Work sequencing & programming will help :
 Eliminate waste and ensure good quality of construction work
 Material choice and availability
 Remote site working
 Data capturing process at various stages to aid conclusiveness of the process e.g. data necessary for preparing O+M
manual, H+S file , Cost –in –use data etc.
Research Between the University of Salford and John McCall Architects (TMA) using the UK KTP, showed how management
and communication hurdles during construction can be mitigated by the contractors’ contribution to the BIM process and
methodology.
Source: Arayici et al in the journal of information Technology in construction (IT Con) 2012, Vol. 17 Pg. 90
The key challenge is that, this process requires exchange of high level information necessary to generate solid work
components. The question is how much information is needed and what is the commitment level of other parties to the BIM
process? Will they be willing to share their expertise with other BIM working team members in the interest of collaborative
working or will they rather provide sketchy technically sensitive information in order not give away their competitive
strength?
What is the information holding capacity of the IT infrastructure and how compactible are they?

4. Key Challenges
Source: IT con (2012) vol. 17., Arayici Pg. 80
Conceptual underpinnings:
 The social challenge (who will collect the data? Are they committed to the process? When will the data be captured?
Collection process and timely application of knowledge into the creation process are profoundly important in order to address the ‘was’ problem in
preconstruction and construction . Koskela, LJ (2004)
 Technical challenge ( how much information is required, how will it be managed, who are the key participants, any special training required, difficulty
of the technological diffusion process bot internal and external)
e.g. Demand matrix, short –medium term IT infrastructure strategy, system compatibility and right balance i.e. Auto desk retrofit for design components,
Auto desk Naviswork PM suit for review + design co-ordination and Nemteschek’s AllPlan for building co-ordination , programming and clash detection.
All this packages need to be compactible in order to work together or achieve the right balance.
Source: Gillian Breen , AECOM- Davis Langdon in the Construction Manager Magazine March 2012

5. Key Challenges
Legal challenge
 Patent and copyright issues ( access and editing rights)
 Confidentiality agreements and trade secrete strategies for employees and participating tenants who may rely on the
technological innovation/model for specific use?
 Knowledge and understanding of the relevant BIM industry standard codes of practice by all
e.g. BS1192 : 2007 (Collaborative production of Architectural and Engineering Construction Information: Code of practice)
ISO 29481-1 : 2010 (Building Information Management : A standard Framework Guide)
Source: Gillian Breen , AECOM- Davis Langdon in the Construction Manager Magazine March 2012
And finally,
Early involvement of the supply chain posses profound challenge in itself
 What will be the criteria? Cost V competency (Profit V quality) , specialist s or in-house
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6. Arayici, Y. , Egbu, C. and Coates P. (2012) : Building Information Modelling (BIM) Implementation and Remote
Construction Projects : Issues, Challenges and Critiques. Journal of Information Technology in Construction . Vol.
17 pp. 80-90. ISSN 1874-4753
Breen , G ( 2012): CPD: Building Information Modelling. The Construction Manager Magazine , March, 2012. Atom :
London.
Koskela, L.J. (2004): “ Making do- the eighth category of waste”- In 12th Annual Conference of the International
Group for Lean construction, 3-5 August 2004, Helsingborg, Denmark.
NIBS, (2008): The National Institute of Building Sciences online and available from www.nisb.org. [Accessed
15/06/13]
Sanderson, S (2013): Russian Revolution. In The Construction Manager Magazine. Knutt E. (ed.) June 2013 pp. 32-
34. Atom :London