Building information modelling (BIM)

BIM is the start of a new era in the construction industry and in the not too distant future it will be the standard approach to all projects. It is the creation and maintenance of a database of information relating to a building, based on a computerised model of the building.

The adoption of BIM will change existing work flows and business relationships and may completely restructure how organisations interact and how data flows between companies.

Working processes required for BIM raise issues around liability and intellectual copyright which should be considered carefully and included in the contract. The process should be aided by a BIM Manager from an early stage and it is important, among other things, to determine what level of detail is required.

This section is maintained Andrew Keeley of Charles Russell Speechly LLP and Peter Barnes of Blue Sky ADR Ltd.