BIM Revolutionizing Construction in Europe: Comprehensive Guide

BIM technology emerged in the early 1970s, but it was not until the late 1990s that it began to gain traction in the construction industry. Europe was one of the early adopters of BIM, with countries such as the United Kingdom and Norway leading the way. 

Current State of BIM in Europe: 

BIM adoption in Europe is still in its early stages, but it is growing rapidly. According to a recent report by Mordor Intelligence, the European BIM market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.7% during the forecast period 2022-2027. 

BIM is being used in a wide range of construction projects in Europe, from small residential buildings to large infrastructure projects. Some of the key players and stakeholders in the European BIM landscape include: 

• Government agencies: European governments are playing a leading role in promoting the adoption of BIM. Many countries have introduced BIM mandates and regulations for public sector projects. 
• Construction companies: Construction companies are increasingly recognizing the benefits of BIM and are investing in BIM technology and training. 
• Architecture and engineering firms: Architecture and engineering firms are also adopting BIM in order to improve collaboration and efficiency. 
• Software vendors: A number of software vendors offer BIM software solutions to meet the needs of different users in the construction sector.

According to NBS statistics, 73% of businesses used BIM in their projects and were familiar with the technology in 2020.  A decade ago, only 13% of developers used BIM, and 43% were not even aware of it, according to statistics from 2011.

Only 1% of UK businesses did not know about BIM in 2020. This indicates that although BIM has been around for a while in the UK, most awareness and adoption have occurred in the last ten years. Small firms are less likely to utilize BIM for a variety of reasons; in the UK, just 62% of small businesses with fewer than 15 employees use BIM, compared to 80% of large businesses that actively use it. 

The building industry’s digitalization is becoming more widely acknowledged as a possible game-changer that might greatly advance sustainable development under the European Green Deal and the “Europe fit for digital age” goals.

Global cost savings of EUR 0.6 trillion to EUR 1.0 trillion (13% to 21%) in the engineering and construction phases and EUR 0.3 trillion to EUR 0.4 trillion (10% to 17%) in the operations phase41 are predicted to result from full-scale digitalization in non-residential construction within the next ten years.

Fred Mills from The B1M provides a concise overview of the essential BIM Protocol, a seemingly mundane yet pivotal document for Building Information Modeling (BIM) projects, developed by the UK’s Construction Industry Council. 

The Protocol serves as a standardized legal agreement easily incorporated into professional service appointments and construction contracts. Its primary goal is to facilitate information model production at defined project stages, fostering collaboration, appointing an Information Manager, and ensuring common standards.

The Protocol introduces additional obligations and rights for Employers and contracted Parties, emphasizing the direct contractual relationship. It crucially requires inclusion in contracts for all contributors to guarantee consistent standards and working practices.

The video highlights the need for careful consideration of version consistency, unaltered wording, and proper listing of information models. While effective at BIM Level 2, the industry may need to reassess contracting methods as it progresses to BIM Level 3 and further digitization.