The use of building information modelling (BIM) could be a game changer for African firms, allowing them to accelerate their project planning and compete effectively with well-resourced international firms by tackling the number one issue in construction: a lack of coordination and communication between teams.

An ever-increasingly important element within construction and infrastructure projects, BIM is an interconnected, intelligent, three-dimensional (3D), model-based process that provides architecture, engineering and construction professionals with the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct and manage buildings and infrastructure projects.

BIM enables greater insight into designs and more accurate data, as well as delivering confident forecasting, as the process helps construction professionals to plan, coordinate and control project outcomes more effectively.

Speaking to Engineering News, Autodesk Africa territory manager Simon Bromfield explains that a project designed using BIM reduces the time spent on projects, optimises budgets, ensures transparent communication between all stakeholders, allows for a faster design process and execution time, unlocks cost savings and increases productivity significantly.

The process of BIM supports the creation of intelligent data that can be used throughout the life cycle of a project and every detail of a building is modelled using BIM, he tells Engineering News.

Information management systems lie at the core of BIM, which is used to foster collaboration among architects, engineers and construction teams, enabling real-time decision-making.

Traditionally, data silos, disconnected teams and poor visibility into real-time information affect project performance, ultimately causing delays and unnecessary costs, and leaving teams working with outdated data and plans that are riddled with errors and omissions.

BIM’s collaborative nature, while requiring a real shift in mindset from traditional silos to new ways of working, unpacks the project’s models for entire project teams in a coordinated manner to accelerate reviews and identify and resolve clashes earlier.

However, recognising the complexity of infrastructure and building projects, Autodesk supports professionals in the use of BIM data and software applications.

“We have had a lot of conversations around BIM. “There is a lot of interest; however, many firms battle to translate the need into their own business,” he says.

While BIM has been widely used in architecture and engineering for more than 20 years, its use in construction has only started gaining momentum in the past few years.

This means that BIM is not yet used universally among construction professionals, which can disconnect the models from various involved parties.

There is a perception that BIM is complex and deploying it costs a lot.

Bromfield explains, however, that the software is not expensive, but that the process change – implementing the software requires change management – takes time.

“We work to reduce the complexity and make things simpler; it is not a quick fix, but rather an evolution,” he says.

Autodesk is committed to advancing interoperability, more collaboration, automation and more successful ways of working throughout the construction industry.

One such case was Boogertman & Partners’ (B+P’s) R1.8-billion Menlyn Maine Central Square project, a mixed-use development that forms part of the greater Menlyn Maine, in Pretoria.

“BIM has great benefits for early-stage designs. “Visualising a project in 3D is not a new concept in architecture, but software allows us to analyse our buildings during design stages to give clients the most effective buildings,” B+P BIM manager Marelise Dann outlines to Engineering News by Autodesk.

Being such a large, fast-paced project, comprising a boutique shopping centre, a commercial office building and a hotel, it served as a great development to make the case for BIM, the study shows.

“Because of the size and complexity of the project, our team had to push the limit of processes and protocols to deliver a highly coordinated outcome in a short period of time,” states Dann.

There is reluctance to embrace BIM technology, owing, in part, to changing construction techniques, increasing complexity, tight budgets and volatile, often-tight timetables; however, failing to adapt and absorb the pain of learning will leave many companies flailing and uncompetitive.

“The organisations that have implemented BIM have realised that there are a lot of opportunities to use technologies to improve what they have,” says Dann.