PowerPoint Presentation

1The NATSPEC National BIM Guide

This course is about the NBG which was released by NATSPEC in September 20112Course learning objectivesUnderstand the purpose of the National BIM Guide.Become familiar with the structure and content of the National BIM Guide.Know how to use the National BIM Guide on projects.Appreciate some of the issues encountered on BIM projects.

During this course you will not only learn about the NATSPEC National BIM Guide documents but, in the process, you will also become familiar with many important topics associated with BIM in general.

In this first lesson of the series we will explain why NATSPEC developed it in the first place and give you a general overview of the Guide.

In later lessons we will examine it in more detail and show you how to use it.

Understanding the National BIM Guide and the practical issues it seeks to address will put you in a much better position to manage your BIM projects effectively.

3Why NATSPEC developed the National BIM Guide

Now lets look at the reason NATSPEC developed it in the first place. If you understand the problem it seeks to address, you will have a clearer picture of its purpose and be able to use it more effectively.

NATSPEC developed the NBG largely in response to numerous requests for BIM guidelines that would assist its users to achieve the intended results on their construction projects.

4Other BIM guides

There are plenty of documents that fall under the heading of BIM guide, but none seemed to fit the requirements of those contacting NATSPEC.

Some guides provided information on BIM at a very general level. While this information could be valuable, it was too general to give project stakeholders clear direction about how they should approach BIM on their specific project.

Other guides or standards provide detailed direction on one or two particular aspects of BIM, for example modelling standards or information exchange protocols, and could not be used as a comprehensive, standalone guide for a project.

On top of this, most of the guides were written for building industries outside of Australia.

In summary, none of the available guides quite suited the needs of the Australian construction industry at this time.

We will see later that, rather than ignore these other guides, the NBG makes provision to incorporate them by reference, as required.

5The current state of BIM practice

Returning to the subject of all the enquiries about BIM guidelines, if we look below the surface we will see that they were symptomatic of a broader problem.

This problem was a lack of general agreement within the design and construction industry about what was meant by BIM as it applied to projects.

The background to this problem could be explained something like this:Although BIM has been around for sometime, interest in it has become very intense: many articles have been published and many presentations given on the subject.

On one level, BIM represents a significant paradigm shift in the way we might go about shaping and operating the built environment and seems to offer many potential benefits.

On another level, the realistic 3D images and videos generated by modelling software have captured many peoples imaginations.

Like any emerging phenomenon, interest in, and understanding of, the topic will vary enormously.

BIM has become a buzz word which can mean widely varying things to different people.6The current state of BIM practice

Practical guidance on managing BIM projects not widely available.

Returning to the subject of all the enquiries about BIM guidelines, if we look below the surface we will see that they were symptomatic of a broader problem.

This problem was a lack of general agreement within the design and construction industry about what was meant by BIM as it applied to projects.

The background to this problem could be explained something like this:Although BIM has been around for sometime, interest in it has become very intense: many articles have been published and many presentations given on the subject.

On one level, BIM represents a significant paradigm shift in the way we might go about shaping and operating the built environment and seems to offer many potential benefits.

On another level, the realistic 3D images and videos generated by modelling software have captured many peoples imaginations.

Like any emerging phenomenon, interest in, and understanding of, the topic will vary enormously.

BIM has become a buzz word which can mean widely varying things to different people.7The current state of BIM practice

Practical guidance on managing BIM projects not widely available.

Generally accepted work practices for BIM not well established.

Returning to the subject of all the enquiries about BIM guidelines, if we look below the surface we will see that they were symptomatic of a broader problem.

This problem was a lack of general agreement within the design and construction industry about what was meant by BIM as it applied to projects.

The background to this problem could be explained something like this:Although BIM has been around for sometime, interest in it has become very intense: many articles have been published and many presentations given on the subject.

On one level, BIM represents a significant paradigm shift in the way we might go about shaping and operating the built environment and seems to offer many potential benefits.

On another level, the realistic 3D images and videos generated by modelling software have captured many peoples imaginations.

Like any emerging phenomenon, interest in, and understanding of, the topic will vary enormously.

BIM has become a buzz word which can mean widely varying things to different people.8The current state of BIM practice

Practical guidance on managing BIM projects not widely available.

Generally accepted work practices for BIM not well established.

A lack of common understanding of BIM, especially as applied to projects.Returning to the subject of all the enquiries about BIM guidelines, if we look below the surface we will see that they were symptomatic of a broader problem.

This problem was a lack of general agreement within the design and construction industry about what was meant by BIM as it applied to projects.

The background to this problem could be explained something like this:Although BIM has been around for sometime, interest in it has become very intense: many articles have been published and many presentations given on the subject.

On one level, BIM represents a significant paradigm shift in the way we might go about shaping and operating the built environment and seems to offer many potential benefits.

On another level, the realistic 3D images and videos generated by modelling software have captured many peoples imaginations.

Like any emerging phenomenon, interest in, and understanding of, the topic will vary enormously.

BIM has become a buzz word which can mean widely varying things to different people.9The problem

This means that when a group of people get together to work on a construction project they will often have significantly different ideas and expectations about BIM.

So, after seeing some inspiring presentations on BIM the client might ask for full BIM on their project without having a clear picture of exactly what this means or how much it might cost.

Of two consultants who say they can do BIM projects, one might be an advanced user of BIM with well developed systems for managing model information and sharing it with others, while the other only uses 3D modelling within their organisation.Despite the large differences in capabilities, both consider they are using BIM.

10The problem

If the project gets underway with everyone having different assumptions and expectations, it is inevitable that there will be problems later.

To avoid working at cross purposes, and the inefficiencies that result, everyones expectations need to be spelt out, and where there are differences, they need to be resolved.

All this needs to happen before you can start effectively planning many aspects of the project.

This is especially important when working with BIM because each specific use of BIM, for example: cost planning, thermal analysis, facility management, has significant sets of data associated with it that have to be inputted, managed and updated as the project evolves.

11The solution

This is where the NBG comes in. By providing a common framework for discussions between everyone involved on the project, it can help resolve this issue.

12Purpose of the National BIM GuideTo assist clients, consultants and stakeholders to clarify their BIM requirements for construction projects in a nationally consistent manner.

The NBG has been designed as a tool help everyone define their BIM requirements (for construction projects) so that everyone starts on the same page.

NATSPEC hopes that the NBG will become widely adopted so that a consistent approach to implementing BIM on projects across Australia is developed.This would save a lot of duplication of effort from project to project.Widespread familiarity would also provide a higher level of certainty within the industry, removing one of the barriers to BIM adoption.

During this course you will learn how the documents that make up the NBG have been structured for this purpose and also how to use them.

13Nature of the National BIM Guide

A framework for BIM implementation

Adaptable for use on a range of projects

Supports open global systems

Sets minimum standards

Comprehensive - covers key BIM issues

Outcome focussed - not overly detailed or prescriptive

Now that we have looked at some of the background to the NBG, what type of guide is it, and how does it differ from some of the guides that were already available?

The NBG is pitched at a broad strategic level. This means that while its scope is comprehensive, it does not cover all topics relevant to BIM projects in depth.

It focuses more on outlining the primary issues that should be addressed to ensure a good project outcome than giving detailed instructions about technical issues like modelling standards, data exchange protocols, etc.As we will see later, it usually refers its users to standards or subject-specific guides for these.

The NBG covers the most important elements of BIM implementation on projects without being too prescriptive about how to implement them.

It provides a comprehensive framework that is flexible enough to accommodate the different requirements of projects and the different approaches of project teams.

The NBG is more about reminding its readers of what needs to be done than telling them how to do it.

14Nature of the National BIM Guide10.9 Additional Modelling StandardsIn the absence of existing documented modelling standards mandated by the client, the BIM Team shall nominate the BIM Modelling Standards to be used on the project. Any amendments considered necessary must be documented.When the BIM Modelling Standards and amendments have been agreed by the BIM Team they shall be adopted and managed for consistent application by the BIM Manager.At a minimum, the BIM Modelling Standards shall address the following:Model setup including project templates.Team member modelling protocols including definition of authorised uses.Model naming conventions.View naming conventions.System naming conventions (services, etc).

This is reflected in the language it uses.

You will find more statements like The project team should address the following . than The project team shall ... This is because it is more interested in outcomes than prescribing strict methods.Firmer statements tend to be reserved for things like deliverables.

The NBG places many of the elements of a BIM based project in a common framework for ready reference and the comprehensive list of BIM uses included focuses everyones attention on defining the scope of its use.

In many ways it acts as an aide memoire for the project stakeholders.

This may seem a fairly basic function but, given the widely differing expectations about BIM and the absence of industry accepted guidelines, as mentioned earlier, it is a very important one.

15Structure of the National BIM Guide+++

The NBG is not a single document but a set of 4 documents that are designed for use on a wide range of projects.

The structure of the documents allows the parts of the main guide document relevant to the project to be selected and customised as required.

In the following lessons we will look at each document in more detail and see how they have been structured to allow the NBG to be adapted to the varied requirements of individual projects.

16Using the National BIM GuideUse of the National BIM Guide at 3 stages of the project:

During initial discussionsAs a framework for discussions and a comprehensive list of items for consideration when deciding the scope of BIM use.

How is the NBG meant to be used in practice?

It is not intended that the NBG be simply handed to a project team as the standard to be followed.

The NBG is intended to be used broadly in 3 ways during different stages of the project:

During initial discussions between project stakeholdersProvides a framework for discussions and a comprehensive list of items for consideration when deciding the scope of BIM use on the project. A lead consultant could send it to the client for this purpose, for instance. This is when the NBG fulfils its primary purpose to assist stakeholders clarify their BIM requirements.17Using the National BIM GuideUse of the National BIM Guide at 3 stages of the project:

During initial discussionsAs a framework for discussions and a comprehensive list of items for consideration when deciding the scope of BIM use.

During detailed project planningAs a means of documenting mutually agreed decisions about how BIM is to be implemented.

During detailed project planning, prior to project commencementAs a means of documenting mutually agreed decisions about how BIM is to be implemented on the project.18Using the National BIM GuideUse of the National BIM Guide at 3 stages of the project:

During initial discussionsAs a framework for discussions and a comprehensive list of items for consideration when deciding the scope of BIM use.

During detailed project planningAs a means of documenting mutually agreed decisions about how BIM is to be implemented.

During project executionAs a common reference to communicate and enact decisions made about BIM implementation to project participants.

During the execution of the projectAs a common reference to communicate and enact decisions made about BIM implementation to project participants.

19SummaryThe National BIM Guide was developed to address the lack of a common understanding of BIM.

The purpose of the National BIM Guide is to assist stakeholders clarify their BIM requirements for construction projects in a nationally consistent manner.

Finally, to summarise the key points of this lesson:The NBG was developed to address the lack of a common understanding of BIM.The purpose of the NBG is to assist stakeholders clarify their BIM requirements for construction projects in a nationally consistent manner.20SummaryThe National BIM Guide focuses on outcomes rather than prescribing a fixed approach to BIM.

The National BIM Guide is a framework document with a strategic function beyond simply providing information.

The National BIM Guide focuses on outcomes rather than prescribing a fixed approach to BIM.It is a framework document pitched at a broad strategic level.

21SummaryThe National BIM Guide is comprised of 4 related documents.

The National BIM Guide adds the most value when it is used from project inception.

The NBG is comprised of 4 related documents. The most value can be gained by using it in the early planning stages of a project.

22

THANK YOU

23