ISO 19650 brings greater predictability to construction projects
The ISO 19650 standard for BIM provides for improved information management in model-based workloads in a project. Its use should introduce better and more timely decision making that can cut waste by lowering costs, improving efficiencies or reducing risk. Part 2 of the standard was released in 2019 and part 3 is expected to be published soon.
By using the global BIM standard, organisations or teams can better understand the information requirements for a project, along with the level of information need (the amount of asset detail represented both graphically and non-graphically). ISO 19650 enables model-based information transactions that can be used by the designer, contractor, sub-contractor or client that are measurable, consistent and quantifiable. For a client, its uses introduces more transparency on their asset that can be useful through a building’s lifecycle.
An important aspect of ISO 19650 is the predictability it introduces into planning processes around aspects such as budgets and sequencing. There is a 50% chance in construction of an asset being delivered on time and budget, said Paul Shillcock, Managing Director at Operam and author of the BIM ISO 19650 part 2 standard.
“Typically less than 50% of projects are either delivered to budget or better, or on schedule to better. The root cause of that is a lot of the wasteful activities, the lack of planning, lack of communication, lack of collaboration. [ISO 19650 is not] a silver bullet but by following the process it enables you to increase the predictability around that cost [or] the delivery because you are basing your decisions on accurate and up-to-date information.”
As a standard it is considered easy to implement to ensure there is an accurate representation of an asset, said Shillcock. The biggest barriers are cultural, he added, because stakeholders across the supply chain must work together, including the teams that will manage the asset post-handover.
The commercial and technology perspectives need to be considered, to ensure the required environment is in place to facilitate collaboration. Legal and insurance teams for instance, who might question what its use will mean for the organisation as collaborative working increases. “It does require a higher level of collaboration between all stakeholders on a project.”
This article first appeared on sister site Digital Construction Hub