Demystifying data: new resource to boost BIM uptake across local government

Local councils across Britain are being urged to take advantage of a new BIM Early Steps Roadmap which will make the switch towards a data-led approach to the management of buildings and estates easier than ever.

The new, easy-to-use resource, which was developed by the Construction Innovation Hub, will allow estate management experts to develop a low-cost proof of concept trial which can be tailored to suit their information needs and capabilities. The proof of concept trial could in turn be used to unlock the potential for efficiency savings and ensure that councils have better access to information that helps them to respond to challenges ranging from responding to the Covid-19 pandemic to meeting carbon reduction targets.

For councils looking to take the next step in their digital journey, these introductory tools will be supplemented by a Government Soft Landings navigator for local authorities which will be launched later in the spring and provides a framework to put building user needs at the heart of the design, build and handover of buildings. GSL can help local authority clients and their supply chain partner to drive efficiencies and maximise the value of data, helping to generate a ‘golden thread’ of asset information that is curated throughout the lifecycle of a building or an asset and putting the end user and their requirements at the center of the process.

Hub Digital Impact Director, David Philp, said:

For any organisation, the fundamental benefit of BIM is ensuring you have your data is in the right place, at the right time and in the right format. With many councils responsible for massive estates, taking a data-led approach to the planning and operation of assets could have a significantly positive impact, with every 1% efficiency on capital delivery yielding estimated savings of around £250m across the sector.

Establishing a reliable and accessible data set will significantly speed up planning, risk assessments, action planning and reporting, as well as compliance assurance. I would urge local councils across the country to take a close look at our new BIM Early Steps Roadmap and Toolkit, which will guide property teams through the steps to create a low-cost proof of concept trial and demonstrate how tools can be adapted to suit their information needs and capabilities.”

At 11am on 23 March this topic will be covered in more depth in a webinar with UK Construction Week.

Local authority sector representatives are invited to join us to explore how digital information management, including Building Information Modelling (BIM) can be applied to deliver against policy drivers around the environment, health and safety and operational efficiency.

Find out more about how to access and use the new suite of Construction Innovation Hub tools to enable local authorities to transform and put innovation at the heart of how they plan, procure build and operate their buildings and estates.

Speakers at the event will be:

• Terry Stocks, Chair of the Construction Innovation Hub’s Local Authority Working Group will share how the group can assist local councils to realise the benefits of a digital approach to managing their estate and asset information including introducing the new BIM Early Steps Roadmap and Toolkit.
• Charlotte Cordingley, Head of Estate and Asset Management at Stockport Council will talk about how she has played a key role in transforming how the authority manages its estates data.
• Stuart D-Henin, Head of Construction Service for Crown Commercial Service, will provide more information about how Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) Construction Frameworks can enable public sector organisations and their arm’s-length bodies to access new and innovative solutions to design, manage, onsite construct, offsite manufacturer, repair, demolish and decommission as needed across the UK and how they are working with local authority clients and their supply chain to drive the uptake and adoption of digital information management.
• David Philp, Construction Innovation Hub’s Impact Director, will introduce the new Government Soft Landings (GSL) navigator tool designed especially for local authorities looking to take the next step in their digital journey.

Further Information 

• To contact the Construction Innovation Hub’s press office, please email pressoffice@constructioninnovationhub.org.uk.
• Learn how a digital approach to information management can help your local authority – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6az0AG77OQ
• The BIM Early Steps Roadmap and Toolkit takes local authorities through the steps to act to create a proof of concept trial for your authority https://www.cdbb.cam.ac.uk/AboutCDBB/our-working-groups/local-authorities-la-working-group/outputs-and-resources-la-working
• Find out more about how the Local Authority Working Group can support you to manage your estates data digitally leading to better decision making, planning, reporting and impact – www.cdbb.cam.ac.uk/localauthorities