The UK’s built environment* sector is on a journey towards a smarter, more efficient and sustainable future – a vital stage of which is adoption of the UK BIM Framework and its guidance.
BSI, CDBB & the UK BIM Alliance have created, and continue to develop and maintain the UK BIM Framework and associated tools and standards – enabling organisations, regardless of size or existing digital maturity, to future-proof their businesses.
As a partnership we are committed to making the benefits of better information management appropriate for all UK organisations. Our goal is to bring everyone along on this journey and we encourage you to adopt the Framework and its guidance.
*built environment: a collection of man-made or induced physical objects located in a particular area or region.
View the UK BIM Alliance’s website
The UK BIM Alliance (UKBIMA) was launched in 2016 as a cross-industry alliance reaching the whole built environment to advocate the adoption of BIM in the UK and wider digital transformation.
UKBIMA’s aim is to ensure that BIM becomes business as usual whilst at the same time transforming and future proofing the way the industry works. Its objectives include the provision of trusted, independent leadership, the mobilisation of communities, support for practical implementation within businesses of all sizes and development of a common understanding and approach.
Its activities include collaborative projects to foster digital transformation, and resources and events to inform, inspire and guide all communities of practitioners.
Alongside BSI and CDBB, UKBIMA is a partner delivering the UK BIM Framework, which offers resources and guidance to implement BIM across the UK’s built environment*.
View the UK BIM Alliance’s website
*built environment: a collection of man-made or induced physical objects located in a particular area or region.
A Smart Object Library provides a bank of CAD objects that are developed in such a way as to enhance connectivity between different datastores for regularly used asset types. The library is a database of frequently used asset types (smart objects) in template form, which allows for the development of 3D models of new or existing assets with relative ease and minimal data input. It also allows for easier sharing of data with third parties.
These modules from the Environment Agency’s BIM e-learning cover the key concepts, benefits and purposes of BIM – from procurement to delivery and stage end.
Watch: Digital Asset Data and Information at the Environment Agency
The Environment Agency as a client is investing in change called Creating Asset Management Capacity (CAMC). The element within this – known as Digital Asset Data Information (DADI) – is a digital programme of work with a whole life focus on how the Environment Agency as an owner operator will digitally create, maintain and operate its asset estate in the future. This video provides an overview of some of the activity that is and will be undertaken.
DADI aims to ensure the Environment Agency can access data regardless of sources or devices, by procuring only the necessary information. A central data repository will be created, which can automatically import information from external sources. DADI will also digitise engineering standards by integrating 3D models.
Watch: Digital Asset Data and Information at the Environment Agency
The Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) is a partnership between the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the University of Cambridge. Established in 2017, it brings together industry, academia and policymakers to further the digital agenda in the UK’s construction sector and investigate its long-term effects on society and the economy.
CDBB’s aim to support and develop a smart digital strategy within the built environment echoes the government’s commitment to transform the construction industry through the adoption of digital ways of working. These will deeply transform the way the industry plans, constructs, operates and maintains built assets.
CDBB is a member of the Construction Innovation Hub, alongside the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), and we collaborate with other partners in the Transforming Construction Sector Deal. It is also home to a number of UK government programmes including the UK BIM Programme, National Digital Twin Programme and parts of the Global Infrastructure Programme.
The Centre funds research and supports multiple initiatives, collaborating with a variety of partners and several working groups at national and regional level.
Alongside BSI and the UK BIM Alliance, CDBB is also a partner of the UK BIM Framework, which offers the construction industry and public clients resources and guidance to implement BIM in the UK.
Founded in 1901, the British Standards Institution is the UK’s National Standards Body. The Group operates in 193 countries at over 128,000 sites, working with businesses of all sizes, from international companies to local small firms.
BSI produces standards, it audits, provides certification, runs training courses and champions innovation and best practices. Its role reaches across the international standards community, improving corporate governance, helping organisations with their performance and boosting their competitiveness worldwide.
BSI collaborates in innovative fields like smart cities, nanotechnologies, cell therapy and Building Information Modelling (BIM). Alongside CDBB and UKBIMA, it is a partner of the UK BIM Framework, which offers resources and guidance to implement BIM in the UK’s built environment.
This guidance was issued in July 2019 by the UK BIM Alliance, BSI and CDDB as a complement to Information Management according to BS EN ISO 19650 – Guidance Part 1: Concepts, published in April 2019.
It aims to help UK businesses and public clients understand the processes indicated in ISO 19650, with a focus on the different parties and their team activities referred in the standard: the Appointing Party, Lead Appointed Party and Appointed Party; the Project Team, Delivery Team and Task Team.
The guidance explains the role of each party by summarising their activities and outputs at each stage of the construction project, for instance how to coordinate information requirements, delivery milestones and information standards. It covers how to establish the information protocol, the management of the common data environment, how the information should be shared, reviewed and eventually archived alongside the lessons learned to help with future projects.
It details how each party fits into a team and across teams, which documents need compiling, which resources need sourcing and/or mobilising, how information models are assessed for compliance and which party is in charge of, say, establishing the delivery team’s capability and capacity.
A summary provides an overview of the Information Management Process, divided in stages, from Assessment and Need through Tender, Appointment, Mobilization, Collaborative Production of information and Information Model Delivery to Project Close-out.
This guidance was compiled in April 2019 by the UK BIM Alliance, BSI and CDDB to help UK businesses and public clients understand the principles of building information modelling (BIM) according to BS EN ISO 19650 Parts 1 and 2.
The ISO 19650 standard is part of an ecosystem of national and international standards supporting information management processes, innovative technical solutions and good practice.
The guidance highlights how BIM can ensure significant improvements in delivery and performance efficiencies, while introducing digital ways of working in the built environment. It shows how benefits go beyond the construction stage into operations and maintenance, key to the vision of smarter cities. The adoption of BIM can improve whole-life economic, social and environmental value and promote human-centric design.
Information requirements and delivery are explained in practical terms, alongside technical, legal and contractual requirements.
Recommendations relevant to the UK are in the National Annex section, which describes the naming standard for information containers within a common data environment (CDE).
The Government Construction Strategy (GCS) 2016-20 aimed to develop the UK Government’s capability as a construction client in order to achieve efficiency savings and further establish best practices developed under the GCS 2011-15.
The overall aim was to provide a coordinated approach to a highly fragmented industry to improve the delivery, efficiency and performance of construction projects in the public, private and regulated sectors.
Key objectives included:
- Supporting the use of digital technology, including Building Information Modelling (BIM).
- Establishing collaborative procurement techniques that allow early contract and supply chain involvement. These include recruiting and upskilling the workforce while promoting fair payment.
- Fostering whole-life approaches to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions across the construction, operation and maintenance of public buildings and infrastructure.
GCS 2016-20 encompassed a collaborative action plan to deliver its objectives involving Working Groups – including representatives of central government departments, the wider public sector and industry – the Strategic Delivery Group and the Government’s Construction Board.
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority was tasked to deliver the Strategy in partnership with major construction spending departments and agencies.
An archive version of this information article has been created if the original is no longer accessible (Archive information from January 2024)
