The BIM Conference is organised by the Association for Construction Industry Digitalisation (BÅ«vniecÄ«bas Industrijas DigitalizÄcijas asociÄcija), a public, non-governmental organisation. This annual event brings together experienced professionals in the construction and technology sectors who understand the difficulties and challenges of the built environment and are able to find the right solutions. The association also cooperates with a number of academic institutions to deliver the event.
Representatives of the Latvian state, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and representatives from other countries speak at the conference, sharing their experiences of the benefits of using BIM in both public procurement and production, design and construction processes.
The conference generally consists of three parts: presentations, discussions and practical workshops. While there is usually a fee to attend the conference, the organisers make recordings of the sessions, which are available free of charge after the event.
VNI (Valsts Nekustamie Īpašumi) is the most active customer of construction projects in the public sector and is working to promote the digitalisation of construction in Latvia. In accordance with the priorities of the BIM Roadmap, VNI developed guidelines for BIM in public procurement (including standard customer information requirements) and established a training program that allows other public sector organisations to be educated on the use of BIM.
The BIM Competence Centre’s website shares VNI’s guidance and templates in addition to information regarding BIM seminars, organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Economics and National Standards Body. The site also collects case studies from VNI’s BIM projects.
Part of an ongoing programme of research, summary descriptions, results presentations and key reports are published on subjects such as, for instance ‘identifying the investments required for the implementation of building information modelling (BIM)’ and ‘Evaluation of benefits from the use of BIM in construction projects and operation of buildings and collection of good practices in the use of BIM’.
Further research is planned to be published on subjects such as the cost of implementing BIM, construction classification systems for BIM projects and providing free common data environment solutions for public procurers.
Latvian Standard (LVS) is the national standards body for Latvia. It organises seminars and training courses on standards and standardisation in Latvia and Europe to help entrepreneurs, experts of technical committees, students and other target groups to get involved.
LVS created an e-learning platform for unlimited free access to courses and training materials related to standards and standardisation (registration via email is required).
The courses are designed to provide basic knowledge in BIM to a wider range of specialists. The e-learning platform includes subjects such as standards and standardisation, BIM management, BIM coordination, BIM modelling, risk management and information security management systems.
An archive version of this information article has been created if the original is no longer accessible (Archive information from January 2024)
The Global BIM Network hosted its inaugural General Assembly on 2 December 2021, bringing together representatives from public sector organisations to hear how the growing global digital construction sector is bringing benefits to people and places across the world – helping to build back better from COVID-19 and meet net-zero targets.
Attendees heard from members of the Global BIM Network in three knowledge exchange panel sessions, where the experience of regional and national digital construction initiatives was shared providing lessons learned, best practice and valuable insights for implementing BIM-based digital transformation strategies in public sector-funded projects.
The Construction Digitalization Center (BÅ«vniecÄ«bas digitalizÄcijas centrs, BDC) is a structural unit of Riga Technical University (RTU). BDC has been established to promote the acquisition of digital processes in the construction industry.
The BIM training programme was organised by RTU’s Construction Digitalization Center in cooperation with the CMB Engineering Competence Centre and procured by the Latvian National Standards’ body.
The programme provides live in-person and online training for the practical implementation of BIM in Latvian construction companies and the application of BIM on projects. It covers a wide range of subjects from general BIM awareness through to practical classes in working with specialised BIM software and BIM modelling. Participant feedback on the training has been shared with the Ministry of Economy to inform further development of the Latvia’s BIM Roadmap.
IBIMI is an association of professionals who aim to spread the digitalisation methods and professionalism of the international construction industry in Italy. BIM (Building Information Modelling) was introduced in public works in Italy with the Law 50/2016, based on the European Directive 24/2014. By 2025 all public works in Italy will have to be planned, executed and managed through BIM.
The association is a national and international reference point for the promotion of Open BIM is the ability of all professionals involved in the design, construction, management, maintenance and disposal of a building and civil infrastructure, to integrate with each other. This will allow the sharing and exchange of technical data through the use of interoperable software based on international standards.
The BICP (BIM Innovation Capability Programme) has pulled together a selection of case studies in order to share current knowledge and lessons learnt on BIM projects. A number of case studies, focusing on best practice affecting BIM on Irish projects in the Irish and international markets, are provided. The BICP aims to release a case study bi-monthly.
BIM case studies are grouped under the following headings:
- Design- Focused
- Construction Focused
- Client/Facilities Management Focused
- SME Focused.
The document’s full title is Concept for the step-by-step introduction of modern, IT-supported processes and technologies in the design, construction and operation of structures – step-by-step plan for the introduction of BIM – final report (Konzept zur schrittweisen Einführung moderner, IT-gestützter Prozesse und Technologien bei Planung, Bau und Betrieb von Bauwerken – Stufenplan zur Einführung von BIM – Endbericht)
Everyone involved in the planning, construction and operation of construction projects – including public and private builders, architects, planners, software manufacturers, contractors, suppliers and operators – should have a common vision and strategy for the implementation of integrated, model-oriented working. This vision and strategy should include short- and long-term goals in the form of a step-by-step plan. This phased plan must address the weakest links in the supply chain and give the market sufficient time to prepare.
The former Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure has taken up this recommendation and, based on international examples, it published a phased plan for the introduction of BIM in the transport sector, which covers the use of BIM in new projects to be planned in Germany from the end of 2020. Prior to 2020, the skills, capacities and foundations should be created through collaboration. For this purpose, BIM pilot projects have been carried out and scientifically evaluated.
At the strategic level, the step-by-step plan proposed in this final report includes a guiding approach, principles and a vision for the German construction industry in the digital age. For the operational level, the plan describes in detail an initial performance level for the application of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) method in projects. It then defines a basic reference process for the creation and transfer of digital data in construction projects. By consistently applying this process, the advantages of the method, such as increased planning security, transparency and efficiency, can be achieved in a cost-effective manner and with little risk. This final report also proposes to give the overall market sufficient advance notice of what to expect.
An archive version of this information article has been created if the original is no longer accessible (Archive information from January 2024)
The Digital Building Transition Plan (Plan Transition Numérique dans le Bâtiment, PTNB) was presented for the first time by Sylvia PINEL at the Council of Ministers on 10 December 2014. It aimed to modernise the construction sector, promote the skills’ development of professionals, improve quality and reduce costs in new builds and renovation.
Its mission was the deployment of digital technology throughout the construction sector and in particular in small structures, around three areas of work:
- Experiment, capitalise, convince all actors.
- Support the skills’ development of professionals and stimulate the creation of tools adapted to small projects.
- Develop a trusted digital ecosystem.
This final PTNB report identifies the following key priorities:
- BIM for all: development of digital office and construction site tools for small- and medium-sized structures;
- the digital notebook for monitoring and maintaining a dwelling;
- standardisation of processes and exchanges;
- the digitisation of existing builds for the renovation and operation of the works.
An archive version of this information article has been created if the original is no longer accessible (Archive information from January 2024)
