Data vs. BIM

In the construction industry, Data and BIM (Building Information Modeling) were always meant to work in harmony. However, over time, these two essential disciplines have drifted apart within organizations. This disconnection is creating a challenge that needs addressing. At The BIM Engineers, we believe that resolving this issue will be crucial to unlocking the full potential of digital construction.

Data and BIM: A Symbiotic Relationship

Not all data is BIM, and not all BIM is data—but they rely on each other. You can't truly implement BIM without accurate data, and it's increasingly impractical to build without BIM and data working together. Despite this interdependency, many organizations artificially separate these two functions. Data often gets lumped in with IT and BI (Business Intelligence), while BIM is split between engineering teams and the supply chain. This creates silos, leaving teams that need both BIM and data isolated.

In an ideal future, we envision Digital Construction departments that bring together a mix of experts: engineers, BIM specialists, data professionals, and more. This multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for bridging the divide, but for now, these partnerships must be built through consensus rather than formal hierarchy.

Unlocking the Value of BIM

When organizations treat BIM and data as separate, each team often becomes only vaguely aware of the other's importance. This can cause friction. For instance, IT departments don’t appreciate being handed decisions without their input, and BIM teams grow frustrated when they have to repeatedly justify their need for better tools. The introduction of Common Data Environments (CDEs) only magnifies these dependencies and adds to the costs.

This means that owners and construction firms need to ask some critical early-stage questions, like:

• Where will BIM and digital technologies create the most value?
• What’s the minimum viable product to get started?

It’s essential to take a pragmatic approach to Digital Construction, setting aside the marketing hype. There’s enormous potential here, but investments should focus on people, process, and IT infrastructure first—before jumping to shiny new tools. Many organizations already have a BIM strategy, and data functions should support, not contradict, these plans.

The Role of ISO 19650 and Standards

The ISO 19650 standard is a helpful guide, setting out how BIM and data should work together. It advocates for creating a Common Data Environment and Federated Information Models, emphasizing the importance of data standards. While this provides high-level direction, it doesn’t offer specific details on how to implement these models. That responsibility lies with client organizations and the construction technology sector.

As we apply BIM and data together, it's important to remember that built environment data is not fundamentally different from data in other sectors. The volumes of data aren’t massive compared to industries like social media or e-commerce. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that the data accurately reflects the real world—especially when managing both alphanumeric, document, and model data.

Why Definitions Matter

In infrastructure projects, the way we define our data can have life-or-death consequences. A seemingly trivial task, like defining whether a culvert is a tunnel, becomes critical when it comes to maintenance, safety, and investment. The definitions may seem arbitrary, but they influence how assets are managed, and therefore how safe and sustainable they are over time.

Our tools and data standards—whether UniClass, CoBIE, XML, or CSV—are built on common formats that are familiar across industries. This makes the task of managing construction data less about technology and more about the specificity of definitions.

Moving Forward: Integrating BIM and Data

As the construction sector continues to evolve, it’s clear that BIM and data can no longer exist in silos. These two disciplines must come together to create a more efficient, accurate, and digitally integrated future for construction. At The BIM Engineers, we believe that organizations need to focus on building strong foundations: fostering collaboration across teams, establishing clear data definitions, and adopting a unified approach to BIM and data management.

Wherever BIM goes next, it’s going to need a lot of data to get there. Let’s ensure we’re prepared.

The BIM Engineers is dedicated to helping organizations navigate the complexities of BIM and data integration. Stay tuned for more insights on how we’re pushing the boundaries of digital construction.

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