Specialist software provider to the landscape designers, architects and contractors, Keysoft Solutions has developed a library of free Building Information Modelling (BIM) assets, including a practical guide, jargon buster, checklist and webinar to help them to prepare for compliance by January 2016.
The UK Government has mandated that level 2 BIM must be used on all centrally-funded construction projects by 2016, including landscape. This means that to work on these projects landscape professionals need to be able to collaborate with central government departments and ensure their technology and processes are BIM compliant.
Yet with just six months to go, there is still some concern about how to apply BIM principles and the library of resources has been developed to give practical advice and guidance to organisations large and small that are struggling with the implications.
At a recent BIM focus group, hosted by Keysoft Solutions and attended by representatives from the Institute of Highways Engineers, local authority, landscape professionals and major infrastructure construction companies, most of the concerns raised were as a result of uncertainty about what extent BIM would be needed, on what projects and how much involvement and investment would be required.
The 2015 NBS survey showed that despite awareness of BIM remaining at a very high level (95%), adoption has dropped from 54% to 48%. Cost and lack of expertise and training were identified as barriers to BIM adoption. With the improved economy leading to increased workloads, half of those questioned in the NBS survey also cited lack of time as a reason stopping them from getting up to speed with BIM.
Mike Shilton, product director at Keysoft Solutions explains: "The focus group, together with talking to customers has helped us to identify a need for some simple, easy to use practical tools to assist in the journey to BIM compliance. A lack of training was also identified. Our free webinar recording provides the practical steps you need to consider when considering BIM, completing the range of tools on offer.
"Anyone already using our software is working to at least BIM Level 1 but it is also Level 2 compliant, enabling customers to prepare the necessary data, so it is just a matter of ensuring they have the right collaboration and information sharing processes in place. The most important thing about applying BIM Level 2 is the impact that it has on business processes rather than software and this is where the new library will add most value."
