The Northern Echo examines a technological revolution sweeping through the construction industry that is destined to save the world time and money

TOILETS, one of the first things to appear on the site of any project anywhere in the world.

As the labourer stands back admiring his handiwork, flushed with pride no doubt, there’s only one problem, the doors are facing a wall.

He swears blind he has followed the paper plans; it would be more than his job’s worth not to. Closer examination reveals this to be true – the only problem is he had them upside down.

It’s an all too common event globally, whether it’s next door’s extension or a country’s new airport and the headline figures are startling.

It’s a given, and seems to have been since time immemorial, that of any project, 15-30 per cent of the cost will end up in the skip or having to be redone, at least once. That could be an extra £7,500 on a modest domestic extension but £5.5bn on building a new runway at Heathrow.

According to experts in the North-East it doesn’t have to be that way just because it always has been – we have the technology.

Darlington-based Niven Architects are at the cutting edge of a revolution now sweeping a global industry, so much so they launched a sister company, BIM Strategy Ltd, and have just appointed a new services manager John Adams to move it forward.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) uses digital technology in the construction process and management of buildings for their complete life cycle. It is proving so crucial to the construction industry because it brings together a host of professionals and tradesmen who then work from a single set of three-dimensional plans for projects of all sizes.

The BIM model tends to sit in the ‘cloud’ and is accessible, via the internet, replacing conventional plans. Because the model contains all relevant details of the scheme it allows for more accurate costs, helps with ordering materials and results in less waste.

Contractors have been told they must be BIM compliant in order to bid for Government contracts and Niven Architects are among a handful of practices leading the way in the cutting edge technology and processes.

“Technology like this has been coming for the past 20 years and has revolutionised a host of industries, such as the automotive world,” says Mr Adams. “Now construction needs to follow suit because costs are going up, projects are costing too much and we can’t afford the waste.

“BIM considers the whole job by storing information in a managed process allowing building to be predictable, consistent and as designed. We want to be able to help a builder make the right decision, right down to how a tile should be hung on a baton.

“The Government wants to create this as a standard and to make sure the industry achieves, it has said that firms will no longer be eligible for public sector procurements unless they do. BIM Strategy Ltd is our response to help the sector make this transition as we know there are lots of people out there who need help to understand the change.

“We have some great construction businesses doing some good things so we don’t want to lose their skills. But it’s quite a challenge. Getting them to understand there is a problem is an issue and that the Government mandate could affect them. Many are confused about their place in BIM so we are having informed conversations with them to ensure they are BIM ready and getting to the right seminars, so the North-East stays at the forefront of this change.”

BIM also goes beyond computer software into the culture of the building industry allowing a variety of professionals to work collaboratively, setting standards and standardising the construction process.

The same technology is also attracting work from abroad as BIM Strategy Ltd creates digital content for construction product manufacturers’ catalogues, anything from asymmetric wash basins for upmarket hotel chains to dado rails which double as ducting for cabling. The electronic content is needed for architects designing buildings using the information modelling.

“It was certainly a eureka moment for me when I realised it was such a better way to work – digitising the information and standardising how you put a building on the ground,” Mr Adams says.

“Through our BIM consultancy and information services we want to help others have their eureka moment and deliver more efficient digital projects.

“Not many companies are doing this world-wide but the North is a hotbed of BIM development. It really is an exciting time and because of technology we can deliver from the North what clients need no matter where they are in the world.

“The industry is stretched and fatigued but we can fill a void by helping it understand a concept that will cut waste, minimise mistakes and improve the quality and value of British construction.”