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Explore the impact of digitalization and Building Information Modelling on European Construction SMEs, including benefits, challenges, recommendations, and best practices.
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Eugenio QUINTIERI Secretary General – EuropeanBuildersConfederation (EBC) Conclusions of the BIM Summit 2018
EuropeanBuildersConfederation ConstructionSMEs in Europe • Established in 1990 • Mainfields: social affairs, standardisation, energyefficiency, internal market • Partner and member of Small Business Standards and UEAPME Exclusively representing micro companies & SMEs All the different trades of the construction sector
EuropeanBuildersConfederation Theeconomicimportance of ConstructionSMEs in Europe
EuropeanBuildersConfederation Thestructure of theconstruction sector
WhatisConstruction 4.0? A definition • The Internet of Things (IoT) • Building Information Modelling (BIM) • Off-site construction tools: 3D printing; preassembled modules • New materials: nanomaterials; robotisation • Compatibility between different tools: clouds; handheld devices interoperability; simple and intuitive design • Specificissues: training schemes; mobile nature; geographical dispersion; subcontracting liability; share of responsibility While the whole sector feels heavily these changes, construction SMEs feel these challenges on an even bigger scale!
Benefits of digitalisation and BIM Someexamples • New and modernized image of the construction sector, which may be pivotal to change the negative image of the industry • Improvement of cost-efficiency and ensuring the global sustainability of the sector • Alleviate heavy construction tasks and possibility to upskill and attract construction workers • Major improvements to project management and maintenance during the whole lifecycle of a building • Facilitate higher energy efficiencyand lower life-cycle costs of buildings • Enhancedcommunication and trust along the value chain
A warningondigitalisation However, digitalisationis an enabler and not a goal in itself! Digital solutionsmakesensewhenthey are affordable, easy to access and constitute a realaddedvalue to ourconstructionSMEs and craftsmen.
Where do we stand ondigitalisation and BIM? Someexamples • From McGraw Hill Construction Smart Market Report. The Business Value of BIM in Europe(2010) – Survey results: • A little over one third of the industry in Western Europe (36%) has adopted BIM. • Architects are the primary adopters (47%) with engineers (38%) and contractors (24%) lagging behind. • 45% of BIM users in Western Europe consider themselves experts or advanced. • Contractors have the lowest level of BIM adoption and proficiency, with only 23% saying that they are using BIM and only one quarter (24%) indicating that they consider themselves expert or advanced. • Contractor adoption is also the most recent —68% having begun using BIM in the past 3 years.
Digitalisationchallenges • Limited size of SMEs • Cost of digital model tools • Lack of digital expertise • Lack of financial means and upfront investments • Very rapid evolution and complex development • Compatibility of digital model tools: e.g. CE marking • SME representation in the standardisation process • Perception of robotisation as a replacement of skills and professionals • Changes to the share of responsibilities: liability; protection of data; reluctance from insurance providers • Risk of monopoly and dependence of large players
How to overcomethesedigitalisationchallenges? Somerecommendations • Need for massive digitalisation: how a smartphone works? • Cooperation of the whole construction chain: win-win situation for all! • Proper involvement of SME representativesin all relevant fora, especially in standardization • Ensuring a progressive roadmap and adapted transition phase from traditional methods to digital ones for SMEs • Guarantee digital model toolsfinancially bearable for SMEs • Financial support for upskilling blue-collars and training SMEsto face digital challenges • Facilitation of the exchange of good practicesand the creation of networks at the European, national and local level
And more on BIM Somerecommendations • Addressing the needs of SMEs in designing a European standardised approachto BIM • Promoting BIMtraining programmestargeted to guide all construction professionals • Inclusion of digital tools in VET and on-site training • Ensuring the soft-landing of public procurements changes • Promoting Open Standards for BIM: Industry Foundation Class (IFC) to facilitate the exchange of data across the construction supply chain • Digital tools adapted to crafts/traditional, renovation/new
Bestpracticesondigitalisation and BIM Someexamples • Cooperation examples: the aerospace industry and the manufacturing sector • The cooperation experiment: Architect Agency vs Carpentry Firm • Does every SME need a BIM expert? • Clear roadmaps including a gradual transition for SMEs: UK Government’s Construction Strategy 2011, French PTNB • What do we need at the European level?
Conclusions BIM Summit 2018 What I am bringing home • BIM Summit: La MecaEuropea del BIM! • Paradigm shift • embrace change in the whole construction chain • You do not adopt BIM, you implement it! • Europe is plenty of BIM: many platforms in different countries and at the EU level • Start with small things, get to 30 floors in 15 days! • Easy for technicians, less easy for builders • Transparency, digitalization could change the structure of the industry (e.g contract typology)
Conclusions BIM Summit 2018 What I am bringing home • BIM Summit: La MecaEuropea del BIM! • Standards: Open BIM, available to all, non-profit • Adapt BIM models depending on the user: Intelligent use of BIM! • Business case for digital investment in infrastructure – let’s quantify the benefits! • A lot to be donewhenwe talk aboutModernMethods of Construction: need to studyto investigate whythereislittleinterestin future systems to build • Training: itshould be accurate and itshould be fun! (AR, VR, gamification) • Need for more investigation on BIM challenges for infrastructure • Public procurement: BIM requirements are increasingbutnottheirspecificity
Conclusions BIM Summit 2018 What I am bringing home
Thank you for your attention! Eugenio Quintieri European Builders Confederation (EBC) Eugenio.quintieri@ebc-construction.eu