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Crystal Clear BIM conference tackles the real BIM issues
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With its focus on ‘what BIM should be about’ and its commitment to sweeping away ‘BIMwash’, the Crystal Clear BIM Conference on the 17th and 18th June proved to be a great success. Organised and hosted by Amtech, the conference enabled over 260 delegates from across the built environment sector to listen to and engage with a wide range of speakers from government departments through to facilities managers.
In his opening address Amtech CEO Mark Tindall observed the importance of cultural change to the successful implementation of BIM, along with the efficient management of data. He also stressed the importance of interoperability between software platforms to enable information to be shared and updated throughout the life of the asset.
A recurring theme throughout the conference was the need to understand the end user’s requirements, ensuring that aspects of operation and maintenance are considered from the very early design stages. As Roy Evans from the BIM team at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills noted, it’s essential to move away from the ‘bucket of keys’ handover process.
Professor David Philp, Head of BIM at the Cabinet Office, noted that technology is an important enabler for BIM, facilitating the management of growing volumes of data as the built environment enters a ‘digital revolution’.
To demonstrate this a number of projects were referenced to illustrate some of the uses of BIM technology and the role that a true BIM database can play in this. Delegates heard about BIM data being transferred to tablet PCs for ease of use on site and the tracking of materials as they arrive on site through the use of RFID tags. Amtech also provided a demonstration of how laser scanning can be used to create a BIM for an existing building – in this case, the recently completed Crystal Building!
Delegates also heard from Ismena Clout, Chair of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) on the importance of BIM data to the ongoing operation and maintenance of built assets.
In all, 18 speakers presented different perspectives on BIM and while some views differed all agreed that BIM is primarily about people collaborating, processes working together and technology enabling the efficient sharing of information.
This was a refreshingly different conference with honesty, straight talking and even a little humour!
Amtech will be announcing dates for next years conference very soon and if you can’t wait that long then look out for their free Crystal Clear BIM Workshops being held at major race tracks alongside British Superbikes.
Presentations from the conference can be accessed at www.amtech.co.uk/conference
