Building Information Modeling (BIM) is quickly becoming the industry standard tool for designing and architecting new buildings, public works projects and other structures – and for very good reason. BIM relies on intelligent models to create and manage building and infrastructure projects. These intelligent models serve as the principal means for communication between project activities and collaboration between project teams.

The result of using BIM is accurate, accessible, and actionable information incorporated into models that enable project teams to make better-informed decisions and respond more quickly to project needs.

With BIM gaining such wide adoption across the public and private sector, building models are becoming pervasive and building owners – including government organizations and agencies – are seeing the opportunity to use them for something more than just architecture, design and construction. They’re also seeing the immense potential for BIM models to improve building management.

Owners are starting to reuse BIM models and the information created during design and construction to streamline their own operations. This information can be used in a large number of subsequent processes, such as costing, construction simulation, planning, digital fabrication, commissioning, operations and maintenance (O&M), facility management, and to support future renovations and upgrade programs.

But, as a recent white paper by BIM software provider, Autodesk, explains, there are sometimes challenges keeping owners from using BIM models in these processes.

Sometimes, the models resulting from BIM building design and construction processes lack all of the information necessary for building operations. In other instances, owners incorrectly assume they can simply use the building models and data created during design and construction for their facility management. They fail to realize that the complex fabrication-ready models that are used by contractors can contain everything from duct hangers to structural rebar.

This means that design and construction models often lack even the most basic information required for operations – or that information is cluttered with data that the owner does not need. However, this problem can be solved by recognizing the issue and following some simple steps.

That begins with information gathering. If an owner decides to utilize BIM for their building operations and management, they have to first find out some facts. It’s essential that they speak with their IT and facilities groups to get an idea of the information that they need, and what data streams are essential for them.

To help gather the requisite information, Autodesk suggests owners ask three specific questions, which include:

• Who is going to use the data? (understand the problem)
• What data is needed and how will you get it? (define the solution)
• How will the data be maintained?

To read a detailed explanation of why these three questions are important, how they can help owners prepare to use BIM to better manage and operate their buildings and additional tips for ensuring BIM models meet building management requirements, download the white paper, “Preparing for post occupancy BIM,” by clicking HERE.