BIM in China

BIM, the Chinese way

In the third instalment of our region-by-region exploration of BIM adoption, Rebecca De Cicco of global training provider Digital Node turns her attention to the world’s most populous nation, China

Awell-known Chinese proverb level of take-up in the early stages was states: “He who asks a ques- minimal. MOHURD has since delivered tion is a fool for five minutes. its thirteenth Five-Year Plan (which runs He who does not ask a ques- 2016 to 2020) and the Chinese BIM polition remains a fool forever.” And when cy now includes provisions for the adopwe consider BIM adoption in China, it’s tion of BIM to be driven by government. clear that exactly the right questions are This outlines key areas for digital being asked there and that the country’s transactions, innovations and technoloknowledge, understanding and usage of gy; it includes various BIM-related poliBIM processes are growing at an acceler- cies, incorporating the need to develop ated rate. In short, the UK may be the guidelines and standards for the indusworld leader in the BIM field, but China try; and guidance on how to apply BIM is not to be underestimated. and assess its implementation, so that by

In this series of articles, we’ve already 2020, BIM should be ‘business as usual’. looked at Australia and the US. And since, at the time of writing, we’re on the Hong Kong moves ahead cusp of Chinese New Year, it seems a As China considers what BIM means for good point to turn our attention to BIM its AEC sector, many there are closely implementation and observing how other understanding in the countries have develworld’s most popu- About the author oped and implelous nation and its mented BIM profastest-growing economy. Rebecca De Cicco is the director and cesses and standards, and continue to

While the picture founder of do so. Since the UK is there is broadly pos- Digital Node, a considered advanced itive, the construc- BIM-based con- in its level of maturition industry in sultancy work- ty, the Chinese are China is fragmented, just as it is in many ing with clients all over the world to educate, manage and support the particularly interested in lessons that other countries, and implementation of a clearly defined pro- can be learnt and enthusiasm for BIM cess, underpinned by technology. adapted from the is by no means even- British to suit their ly distributed. requirements.

For example, the Chinese still have a The fact that Hong Kong was under way to go when it comes to a consolidated British rule for 156 years before reverting approach through government towards to Chinese sovereignty on 1 July 1997, we the development of standards, despite the believe, has some bearing on the opinion hunger for digital construction practices held in China that British standards can within the commercial sector. be considered ‘best practice’ and should

The Ministry of Housing and Urban- be replicated in China today in digital conRural Development (MOHURD) is the struction. And while the country as a key government agency driving BIM whole is certainly moving towards the adoption. In 2011, it produced its twelfth roll-out of BIM, it is in Hong Kong that we Five-Year Plan and this included BIM can see its most advanced adoption, with standards and adoption. However, many government departments in the because the BIM policy was seen as a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region suggestion, rather than mandatory, the (HKSAR) now requesting that training be focused on UK BIM Level 2 standards.

Take for example, Hong Kong’s Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD); this is the government body department responsible for inspection and enforcement of operation and safety of electricity and gas installations, railways and trams, lifts and escalators and amusement rides, among other machinery. In December 2017, Digital Node partnered with the UK’s University of Nottingham and BSI to deliver training to EMSD aligned to the UK government’s definition of BIM Level 2.

Despite cultural barriers, and many differences in terminology, a basic knowledge of the UK methodology (for example, PAS 1193 Parts Two and Three) were successfully provided.

Partnership potential In fact, we see significant opportunities for companies driving BIM and BIM Level 2 in the UK to partner with Chinese companies in order to tender for largescale building and infrastructure projects as BIM knowledge and adoption grows in the region.

This will not be without its challenges: after all, the UK has its own skills shortages in this area and while it may have an excellent BIM framework that marks it out as an exemplar to other nations, that framework still faces its own issues. In short, it’s not as easy as saying any one country can simply adopt British standards – this is why international BIM standards are crucial to a more consolidated approach.

China, along with other countries, needs to take the best bits that the UK has to offer and create its own framework. BIM on a global scale is achievable, but only if we all work together and share our skills, knowledge and expertise. That way, we can bring strength to the industry worldwide and create huge opportunities for growth.

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