It is a known fact that BIM is here to stay. BIM provides a holistic approach to construction, design, and management. It is also very beneficial to Facilities Managers, but most of them have not been able to utilize the software to its full extent. But, since 2014, BIM has garnered quite the interest within the FM community.
About 62 % of them have already recognized that BIM provides full-support to the delivery of FM. BIM has now become a mandatory requirement on all of the public sector procured projects; it is no wonder that it is catching up with the rest of the world too.
The challenge lies in the accession, usage, and management of this BIM data. There are still a lot of misconceptions regarding BIM within the FM community.
A lot of them still believe that BIM is merely a 3D modeling system. But, on the brighter side, more and more people are beginning to understand the versatility of BIM, as a software, and how it could be integrated with an Integrated workplace management system(IWMS), to create a live repository of data obtained from different departments to create and operate a centralized database.
Hence, BIM FM contains information such as spatial dimensions, location of the assets, equipment, materials, costs of operations and the impact of time and schedule. This data can be made use of from the beginning of the design work up to the operational phase.
Key Benefits of BIM for Facilities Management
The Master File:
When we integrate IWMS into BIM, we are getting a centralized database which is used to retrieve important information about the building and its contents. This repository guarantees improved documentation and it also allows for increased collaborations among different teams.
Easy Access to Asset Locations and Modified Data:
BIM provides an accurate modeling system that helps avoid costly mistakes and integrates newly-added information to the model which improves the overall efficiency of the model. So, any change in the asset location or other details recorded in the IWMS will be reflected in BIM too, providing real-time information access.
Better Space Management:
We incorporate spatial dimensions into the IWMS, which provides an improved understanding of how space can be utilized. Good space management ensures the reduction in expenses, saves time, and integrates an overall efficient approach to operation.
Sustainable Lifestyle Approach:
BIM helps developers choose from a wide range of energy alternatives, to choose the one option that significantly reduces costs, all the while, reducing its impact on the environment. With FM, we can calculate energy consumption costs beforehand, which helps to improve energy efficiency and promote sustainable environments.
Compare Actual Vs Estimates:
Facilities Managers can use the wealth of information obtained from IWMS to compare the estimated cost to the real one. This comparison helps plan better for future projects.
Greater Project Predictability:
Projects can be visualized at an early stage, giving owners and operators a clear idea of design intent and allowing them to modify the design to achieve the outcomes they want. Facility Management is a field that encompasses multiple dimensions of a construction project.
With BIM, we can create and maintain building data that helps throughout the project operational lifecycle. Facilities Managers, now, find it easier to manage and maintain operations and have been tremendously benefitting from the procurement of the enhanced data.
