Data and BIM: A symbiotic relationship

In the construction industry, data and BIM were always meant to work in harmony. However, according to a recent bulletin from The BIM Engineers, over time, these two essential disciplines have drifted apart within organisations. This disconnection is creating a challenge that needs addressing. The BIM Engineers believe that resolving this issue will be crucial to unlocking the full potential of digital construction.

Not all data is BIM, and not all BIM is data – but they rely on each other. You can’t truly implement BIM without accurate data, and it is increasingly impractical to build without BIM and data working together. Yet, despite this interdependency, many organisations artificially separate these two functions. Data often gets lumped together with IT and BI (business intelligence), while BIM is split between engineering teams and the supply chain. This creates silos, leaving teams that need both BIM and data isolated.

In an ideal future, we envision digital construction departments that bring together a mix of experts including engineers, BIM specialists, data professionals and more. This multi-disciplinary collaboration is essential for bridging the divide, but for now, these partnerships must be built through consensus rather than formal hierarchy.

Unlocking the value of BIM

When organisations treat BIM and data separately, the two teams often become only vaguely aware of the other’s importance. This can cause friction. For instance, IT departments don’t appreciate being handed decisions without their input, and BIM teams grow frustrated when they have to repeatedly justify their need for better tools. The introduction of Common Data Environments (CDEs) only magnifies these dependencies and adds to the costs.

This means that owners and construction firms need to ask some critical early-stage questions, like: – Where will BIM and digital technologies create the most value for our industry? – What is the minimum viable product to get started with? It is essential to take a pragmatic approach to digital construction, setting aside the marketing hype. There is enormous potential here, but investments should focus on people, process and IT infrastructure