Impact of BIM on Construction

Date: 27 February 2014 : 10:00 - 16:00

Costain Group is one of the UK’s leading engineering solutions providers, delivering integrated consulting, project delivery and operations and maintenance services. This event will focus on the role of BIM, or Building Information Modelling, and its impact on the construction sector.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the process of creating and managing digital data and information of the physical and functional characteristics of structures, buildings and places. The concept has been in existence since the 70s, and file formats and software to create BIM models since the 1990s. BIM tools allow data to be stored not only on the geometry of and relationships between objects but also materials, attributes, assets and costs, so coordinating architectural, structural and MEP services with the potential to link to building regulations.

In early demonstrations of the use of BIM in large building and infrastructure projects, construction costs have been shown to be reduced by 20%, and on-going running and maintenance costs by a third. In the UK, regulations requiring the use of BIM are coming into force in 2016 for publically funded and procured projects. In the words of the government’s BIM Task Force, BIM “is a 'game changer' and we need to recognise that it is here to stay - but in common with all innovation this presents both risk and opportunity. The UK programme based on the BIS BIM Strategy is currently the most ambitious and advanced centrally driven programme in the world.”

This NEF Masterclass is kindly hosted by Costain at their Maidenhead headquarters. Costain has won national awards for BIM, three years before it becomes a requirement on all publicly-funded Government projects. One award was given for its use of BIM on the London Bridge Station project, where ‘augmented reality’ was applied, using image recognition and a laser scan, and presented on tablet computers issued to staff.

Experts from Costain will be speaking at this NEF Masterclass on projects and case studies. The day will also include demonstrations of tools for BIM. An industry representative of the BIS BIM Task Force will also be at the event to explain the rationale for the regulations and expected extended impact on construction.

This is fantastic chance for construction and building lecturers to be updated on the technological and practical implications of Building Information Management, a ‘game-changer’ for construction.

Who is this masterclass suitable for?

The session is ideal for:

• Curriculum leaders in construction and IT
• Lecturers and assessors in construction, surveying, IT, construction, materials, environmental
• It may also be of interest to teachers of computing, and in building services and trades
• It will also be of interest to business development directors looking to understand the construction sector and requirements for skills for new infrastructure

About The Host

Key facts on Costain, one of the UK’s leading, Tier One, engineering solutions providers:

• 4,725 employees
• Head office in Maidenhead and numerous offices across the UK
• Listed on the London Stock Exchange
• For the financial year ended 31 December 2012, reported revenues of £934.5m, adjusted profit before tax of £29.5m and adjusted basic earnings per share of 41.4p
• Expert management team led by David Allvey, Chairman, and Andrew Wyllie, CEO
• Named Contractor of the Decade by New Civil Engineer in 2010
• Responsible for the Greater Manchester Waste project, one of Western Europe’s largest waste PFI contracts
• Working on EVAP D at Sellafield, one of the largest decommissioning nuclear projects in the UK
• Working on five Crossrail contracts and the £400m re-development of London Bridge Station
• Leading supplier to Highways Agency
• Leading player in water sector with framework contracts with Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent, Southern Water, United Utilities and Welsh Water

What the day looks like

* please note that this is a draft agenda and is subject to change

BENEFITS

This is a fantastic chance to

• visit a leading engineering services company that delivers major infrastructure projects
• be updated on the new requirements of BIM and its impact
• link to industry to learn of their skills issues
• network with colleagues from other colleges
• and for lecturers, to return to your teaching refreshed and enthused.

LOCATION

Costain House

Vanwall Business Park

Maidenhead

Berkshire

SL6 4UB