BIM management is the coordinated oversight of a project’s digital Building Information Model and the data it carries, from concept sketches through to facility handover. It blends software, standards, roles, and workflows. So every stakeholder works with up-to-date geometry and metadata.
Put simply, BIM model management makes the model the meeting room: architects revise, engineers clash-detect, contractors schedule deliveries, and facilities teams inherit asset data without missing a beat.
Why BIM Management Matters?
Structured BIM management is the key to turning BIM’s promise into reality. Its importance lies in addressing common industry challenges, such as fragmented collaboration and inconsistent processes.
For starters, BIM management improves collaboration and communication by breaking down silos between stakeholders. Everyone works from a shared model, reducing misunderstandings.
Enhanced efficiency follows suit, thanks to techniques like clash detection early in design, which cuts costly rework during construction. Better scheduling (4D BIM) and cost estimation (5D BIM) also lead to significant time and financial savings. Risk management gets a boost, too. Running clash tests, reviewing models for constructability, and simulating sequences help foresee problems before they escalate.
End of the day, well-managed BIM in construction or any projects leads to better quality design info, smoother workflow, and fewer mistakes.
Key Elements of BIM Management
Effective Building Information Modelling (BIM) management relies on several core interconnected elements. Research and real-world studies highlight the importance of these elements for overcoming the AEC industry’s long-standing issues of low efficiency and cost/time overruns, often rooted in traditional 2D, non-digital processes.
Strategic Planning
Every smart BIM project management journey starts with defining clear BIM goals and identifying specific BIM uses. All to maximise value. So, map out what your client needs upfront through the Employer’s Information Requirements before anyone opens Revit.
Bruno Daniotti and colleagues in ‘Digital Transformation of the Design, Construction, and Management Processes of the Built Environment’ show that planning with the end in sight is a must for BIM managers. Because getting those info requests locked in early keeps everyone on track.
Standards and Guidelines
Consistency is the quiet hero of BIM information management. Having shared rules, especially for things like off-site construction, is super important. So, use frameworks such as ISO 19650 (born from the old PAS 1192-2) to keep naming, file formats, and approval flows tidy.
Also, consider national riffs like UNI 11337 or NATSPEC templates that translate the big-picture thinking into day-to-day rules.
Information and Data Management
BIM is fundamentally a database of information, acting as a shared knowledge resource for decision-making throughout the lifecycle.
Bruno Daniotti’s studies point out that messy data, like mismatched tech specs, can trip things up. Linking BIM objects to external structured sources and parking everything in a robust Common Data Environment turns that data into a single source of truth.
Advanced CDEs now act more like active management systems, flagging gaps before they bite. Add libraries and Product Data Templates, and you’ve got BIM model management that survives long after practical completion.
People and Collaboration
Even the slickest BIM software fails if the team can’t talk. Get the owner, architects, and contractors around one table early, carve out roles, then back them with training.
A hands-on BIM technology manager keeps the wheels greased, lifting productivity and project morale in one hit. Interscale’s rollout stats show a 20 per cent drop in RFIs when responsibilities are crystal clear.
Technology and Platforms
Technology is a core component of a holistic BIM management approach. Software platforms, like BIM Management Systems (BIMMS), are designed to manage all building data as a single source of truth.
Regulations for public contracts often stipulate the use of interoperable platforms via open, non-proprietary formats (IFC, XML) to ensure fair competition.
Web-based platforms can manage 3D models and support the sharing of structured information, streamlining collaboration. Some platforms also integrate with technologies like IoT for data retrieval.
Processes and Workflows
BIM management involves overseeing defined processes and workflows. Workflow automation is a key aspect. For example, we automate where we can, like clash detection to catch errors early. Then, planning how a model will be used and how much detail (Level of Development or LOD) is needed at each stage is crucial.
Features like pre-built visualisation for BIM clash detection cut down errors massively. BIM also helps with estimating time and costs, keeping budgets and schedules on track.
Roles in BIM Management
Successful BIM management typically involves a structured team with clearly defined roles and responsibilities below:
- BIM Specialist/Modeller: Focuses on creating and developing 3D models using tools like Revit or ArchiCAD. They ensure adherence to standards and generate drawings. Attention to detail is key.
- BIM Coordinator: BIM Coordinator acts as the bridge between disciplines, managing model federation, running clash detection, and resolving technical issues. Strong communication skills and understanding of construction processes are vital.
- BIM Manager: Oversees the entire strategy, developing plans, maintaining standards, and leading the team. Combining technical expertise with leadership and problem-solving abilities, they align BIM efforts with broader goals.
Please note that while roles vary, individuals often wear multiple hats, especially in smaller firms. Defining responsibilities within the BIM Execution Plan (BEP) ensures clarity.
For example, a modeller might assist coordinators during clash detection phases. Regardless of size, every team benefits from having someone responsible for overall BIM management, ensuring smooth workflows and high-quality outputs.
Tools and Software for BIM Management
Good BIM management needs the right tools for the job, and different tasks need different BIM software. Here’s a look at the main types:
BIM Modelling & Authoring Software
- Autodesk Revit: Widely adopted across architectural, structural, and MEP disciplines
- Graphisoft ArchiCAD: Strong presence in architectural practices
- Tekla Structures: Primarily for structural steel and concrete detailing
- Bentley Systems: Common in large infrastructure projects
- BricsCAD: A .dwg-native platform offering BIM capabilities
BIM Coordination & Clash Detection Software
- Autodesk Navisworks Manage: Standard for clash detection and model aggregation
- Solibri Model Checker: Advanced rule-based model checking
- Revizto: Real-time issue tracking and collaboration
- PlanRadar: Combines 2D plan management with BIM model viewing
BIM Collaboration & Data Management Platforms (CDEs)
- Autodesk Construction Cloud/BIM 360: Integrated cloud platform
- Trimble Connect: Cloud-based CDE often used with Tekla
- Bentley ProjectWise: Widely used in the infrastructure sector
- Aconex (Oracle): Dominant CDE platform in Australia.
How to Build a BIM Management Plan?
A BIM management plan or often called a BIM Execution Plan is your project’s roadmap.
The process start by pinning down goals: are you using BIM for clash detection or asset management? Next, map stakeholders and their roles to avoid confusion. Then, lay out the processes, how models are built, reviewed, and shared, using standards like AS ISO 19650.
Specify data exchanges, like IFC formats, and set up a Common Data Environment for seamless collaboration. Don’t forget infrastructure: hardware, software, and training needs. For recommendations, the NATSPEC’s Australian templates are a great starting point.
For many AEC firms, the challenge is that crafting this plan can feel daunting. Especially when Australian guidelines, ISO 19650 clauses, and contractor preferences collide.
That’s why our BIM management service team is grounded in Australian AEC best practices. Of course, we helps AEC firms build practical and tailored plans that drive success.
Your Next Step
Getting BIM right is much more than just getting new software. With disciplined BIM management, you gain transparent collaboration, earlier risk visibility, and assets that talk back long after commissioning.
Curious how that could look on your site? Book a free discussion session with our BIM managers here. Let’s discuss and sketch a plan that fits your timeline, budget, and ambition.
