Introduction

The application of BIM-enabled facilities management (FM) has the potential to add significant value to assets and estates. There are, however, many challenges and barriers that need to be considered in order to make the transition easier and the benefits clear to all. The point stands though that by embracing BIM, the FM process becomes more efficient, not least because the required information is available in a structured and integrated format.

Before outlining the specific values and challenges of BIM-enabled FM, however, it is first important to establish the current approach to FM and to briefly establish what Building Information Modelling (BIM) is. It is worth pointing out that in addition to relevant professional guidance, isurv also has a number of resources that outline BIM at some length. This includes BIM for beginners, which explains what BIM is, how it is used and what its implications are for organisations, and the isurv construction section Building Information Modelling (BIM).