Deploying a master plan for data through BIM: what is the interest for a client?

Expert

The Grand Est Region manages a diversified real estate portfolio with an area of ​​approximately 5,300,000 m². She wanted to promote new collaborative practices made possible thanks to the BIM digital model. It is in this capacity that it formalized its BIM Charter in 2020 with the support of the Kardham Group and its BIM experts, referents certified by Certivea.

For a project owner who manages assets, it is essential to produce a master data plan. This allows it to control the data of its assets in the scope and depth, and therefore not to be dependent on suppliers and integrators. By defining the perimeter, that is to say the quantity of data, it will determine the time frame for the compilation and use of the data by each partner and the way in which it will be transmitted to it. By determining the depth, that is to say the level of detail, it will define the quantity and type of static and dynamic data that will be managed there.

The operational implementation of the data master plan will be, among other things, the BIM Charter. This BIM Charter is a generic document of the contracting authority which translates its policy into quality and performance objectives expected from BIM for all of its projects (survey, design, construction or even operation). The BIM Charter describes the BIM roles and missions, specifies the specifications of the digital model, identifies the deliverables and expected file formats and sets out the specific systems to be followed during the building operation phase.

To implement its BIM Charter, the Grand Est Region has embarked on the production of a digital BIM Reference model. This presents the Table of Development Levels (TND), that is to say the structuring of the data expected by the Contracting Authority. This Reference BIM digital model should be considered as a "toolbox" for project management teams and companies to facilitate understanding of the BIM Charter of the Grand Est Region. They will be able to see what the project owner's expectations are in IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) rendering, a specific file format for coordinating models. To test the BIM Charter in the BIM Operations phases, the reference model is subjected to data integration tests. The data import tests confirm the capacity of the contracting authority to use the data provided to it by the construction project partners in its BIS (Building Information System). The digital BIM models will then serve as "fuel" for information management systems. The data export tests will validate the ability of BIS to export data to transit to other static (non-scalable such as surfaces) and dynamic (scalable such as building flows) data systems. This will allow the contracting authority to guarantee data transfer to other software and not be dependent on its publisher and integrator. The central objective is to advise public and private contracting authorities to implement procedures that can guarantee data control without depending on private companies for their operation.In addition, data export can be used to interconnect Smart Building data with larger scales, Smart City and Smart Territory in particular.

As we have seen, BIM can be a means of facilitating the management of real estate assets, which ultimately has a positive impact on the public finances of such a community. Like the Grand Est region, the major public contracting authorities are now fully aware of this.

Release date: October 2021