An Open Letter to the AEC Industry

 

BIM Tools changing the AEC landscape and the Inherent Challenges in today’s AEC industry’s accepted Practices, Workflows and Processes

Authored by Randy L.

Jan 2011

    

 

“what is bim? what do you think it is? BIM is not a software; “it’s a process”

In 2011/2012 how far will you and your firm go with your BIM process and how will you accomplish this growth? With those questions asked, be forewarned this article is lengthy and covers a lot of ground and is not for the faint of heart or opinion. So be prepared to spend some time considering the discussion and engaging it in your own firm.

The AEC industry is in the midst of the most transformative changes to ever impact current business models. The advent  and incorporation of  BIM, laser scanning, point cloud computing, energy analysis simulation, increased computing power, IPD, lean construction,  sustainability, clash detection and all the other unmentioned initiatives, project delivery methods, technologies, concepts and organizations is to say the least

(A GAME CHANGER).

This process has been written about profusely for the last half decade.

The social, economical and cultural roadblocks to these changes abound. Yet as history has proven before,  these changes will eventually become the new business model and accepted practice throughout the AEC industry. How many new graduates will it take, how many savvy owners will it take, how many lawyers will it take, how many projects will it take and how many years will it take? We are certainly at a critical turning point, and with that comes the opportunity to create, influence and help shape our industries future.

What are the challenges, what are the answers? What will your firm do? What will you do? Let’s take these questions one by one.

The challenges facing us during these transformative times can be broken into a few distinct categories.

• Technical OR (Tools & People)
• Legal OR (Let’s take a process that can minimize litigation and create laws for it)
• Cultural  OR (Firms, the Industry, perceptions and how we do what we do)
• Education OR (How can I keep up & what’s around the next  corner)
• Project Delivery Method OR (What’s the contract say & how do I work because of that)

The first four are obviously parts of the last category, however without addressing the subcategories of each bulleted challenge, it becomes easy to have a limited vision of each category and of the bigger  industry picture.  Having been on both sides of the fence by working in architectural firms, engineering firms and construction firms,  I have marveled for 20+ years at how the different disciplines within the AEC industry be-little and bash each other behind the others back, yet we are inescapably integral to each other’s successes.  Most true professionals and industry visionaries will look beyond their own chosen area of expertise and acknowledge the other players and their importance to the project and its  completion.  Where will your firm be 20 years from now, 10 years, 5 years, how about at the end of this year?  Where will you be in the same time frames? Will you be part of the problems and challenges clinging to what you know and resisting change?  Or will you be part of the solutions and changes helping to create and drive workflows , project delivery methods and paradigms. Making our lives better, what we do for a living more enjoyable and something we can tell generations to come about with genuine pride in our accomplishments? That’s my challenge to you!

Technical / Legal / Cultural / Education / Delivery

Technical – The Challenge

Interoperability and Collaboration between Platforms and Firms

The single largest technical challenge is the interoperability between platforms and firms. A preference for one tool over the next, a lack of definition as to which tools will be used on a project  and when they get used and by whom,  have caused and will continue to cause loss of time, profit, information.  I see more and more RFP’s with a clear concise request for a written plan detailing what tools will be used (platforms of choice) and how and when they will be used on a project (information exchange). This is a good thing, sadly though this becomes a difficult task to accomplish once the projects actually in the door and going.  I still see more projects occurring  just as they always have with a lack of understanding as to what the other firms have to go through to get there, and each firm only concerned with their own aspect or process.

 Case in point is (and this is just a blanket example so please Mr. architect reading this don’t get upset)    (and yes I know that there are legal considerations and I have to protect my companies best interest **)      I requested that an architect supply me with the much needed AutoCAD files from their last project done two years prior on the facility so that I may more easily start this TI for the same client whom paid for the architects work last time. They then send PDF’s when I clearly asked for AutoCAD Drawings for my team. REALLY!  This then results in me getting the owner involved to get the original files needed from the architect. Who do you think eventually pays for that, the owner – NOT-  It’s you and myself and every other taxpaying consumer in the country after  it all trickles down and out to us.       

For any firm the aspect of sharing proprietary information quickly overcomes any desire to help that other firm with their TI project for a past client. Says who? The lawyers? The company culture? The industry accepted practices? Is it really proprietary info?  We are currently mixing and matching all formats of data together in order to accomplish projects. But anyone who’s been through this on a project (probably most of us) know just how time consuming,  intensive and  ineffective this process can be. So here we are in the most exciting and challenging time that our industry has ever experienced. And because we like things the way we like them, because no one wants to upset the apple cart, because we are such a litigious society / industry  we continue to shoot ourselves in the feet repeatedly.  Hampering the progress of our realization to increased profit, projects and success .

 Technical – The Answer

The Paradigm Shift You and your Sphere of Influence –  Or your Attitude and Agenda

The answer simply put is you. The software tools will continue to evolve but without a driver to effect change,  processes will stay the same. Most people are uncomfortable facing change, for most it brings uncertainty and fear. For some it’s exactly the opposite, it’s a welcome challenge an opportunity for growth and improvement. How do you face change? The growing pains our industry is going through right now can be linked to this in a big-big way.

I have met construction superintendents whom in the office and at collaboration meetings with the client and the project manager will talk about how wonderful this makes their life, how it helps the project and how it’s a wonder that they ever got along without all these wonderful tools. Yet when they walk out the door into the field with their crew they share how they don’t need this fancy tool or the data gathering process  and it doesn’t help them or the project.  Just give them a crew and a hammer and they will get it built. It’s short sighted, selfish and ignorant in my opinion. Conversely I have worked with Supers that truly did embrace and appreciated the tools and the benefits from them, these are people whom generally are positive and willing to share their expertise with others. Opposite ends of the spectrum to be sure, and just as sure is that everyone falls somewhere on this scale. This is not unique to just the construction side of our industries, it occurs equally within the architectural and engineering communities as well.  So the million dollar question is where will you fall on the scale?

We all have a sphere of influence in our position, it may only be the co-worker next to you, or you might be in charge of a entire company.  Your sphere of influence may well be on some of the largest most important project ever to be built, BIM requires a new culture and vision. Full benefits of BIM tools and technologies will not be realized until the firms and people who utilize it adopt a culture of collaboration, trust, and information sharing. Different areas of our industry change at different speeds. Technology is faster than business and business is faster than infrastructure or law. Our industry is just beginning to adopt the technology of BIM. You can’t move to BIM without the social change and that change will only be accomplished through one person at a time. How people and firms choose to adopt and implement these technologies will dictate how the technologies are perceived and utilized.  If we as an industry stay stuck using BIM as standalone BIM and not as an information sharing tool like it is designed to be used, well then we may as well continue to use 2D CAD tools and workflows.

 So you see the technical aspect or challenge really is the people aspect of technology, which could jump us right to the cultural challenges and it will. But first let’s talk about the legal challenges.

 

 Technical / Legal / Cultural / Education / Delivery

 Legal – The Challenge

That’s not my problem – WAIT a Minute, are we not on the same project?

Moving from existing workflows and contracts to BIM raises questions on liability exposure and insurance coverage. BIM drives towards true project  collaboration, blurs the recognized lines between design and construction that form the basis of current legal standards.  Contractors are traditionally responsible for means and methods; architects and engineers for design. BIM relies on information furnished by contractors. This creates a potential problem because architects and engineers perform services based on a standard of care. How will they rely on information furnished by other parties in the BIM process? The contract should clearly identify roles and allocate risks and responsibilities.  As BIM evolves, it will expose the industry to more complex legal challenges. The current industry concerns are many, both perceived and real. I am not a lawyer, but I can read and in doing so along with my industry experience,  I  have summed up below what I think are the current most pressing concerns

Traditional Design Risk

United States v. Spearin, 248 U.S. 132 (1918)

• Design-Bid-Build
• Implied warranty of design adequacy
• Plans and specifications must be defective for contractor to recover
• Contractor must accurately follow and rely upon the defective plans and specifications

Traditional Design Risk

• Risk where contractor participates in drafting the specifications/constructability reviews, etc.
• Key factors may include:

                  Does the contractor have superior knowledge about  specification?

                  Did the contractor have significant participation in developing the specifications?

                  Did the contractor suggest a constructability change which alters design?

• Performance versus Prescriptive specifications
• Does the Owner (through its designer) or Contractor have control of the design?
• With BIM, these risks may be harder to assess.

What does BIM Not Change?

• Design is still provided by licensed design professionals
• The contractor is still responsible for constructability, means and methods of constructin and shop drawings
• The industry has concerns about shifting legal risks (lines of responsibility are being blurred)
• Properly implemented BIM does not shift risks it defines and reveals them
• BIM can lower the risk to all participants
• Project issues must be addressed in the beginning for BIM to be effective

 

Why Are There Concerns About Legal Risks?

• Contractors implementing BIM will suggest/demand changes
• BIM tools increase the likelihood of this scenario
• Clash detection does expose and require design modification
• Designers may feel  less in control of the design
• Owners may wonder about the performance of designer

Allocating Risks of BIM

Two Approaches

• Rely on case law interpreting traditional design risk
• Include specific BIM risk allocation up front in contracts
• Case Law None yet
• Probably becomes a contest over traditional Spearin warranty
• Unpredictable and potential inconsistent results

Contract Approach

• Consensus Docs 200.2, Electronic Communications Protocol Addendum
• Draft BIM Rider that clearly defines:

                        Shareholders

                        Definitions

                        BIM Scope of Work

                        Ownership Rights

Key Risk Topics to Address

• Logistics
• Design Control
• Ownership of Model
• Risk Management Tools
• Other Considerations

 Addressing Logistics of Using BIM

• Parties should agree up front on protocol
• Protocol should be in writing
• All parties who may participate in the process should join in

Owner

Architect

Engineers

Contractor

Subcontractors who may be involved in BIM applications

Vendors

• Must address:

Security and verification requirements

Electronic data storage

Logistics of exchanging electronic data

Who has access to files

Limitations on access

• Security and verification

Who will maintain

What type of system

Web based

Internet access to company’s files

Verification required

• Electronic data storage

Interoperability

Common platform required

Understanding of software required

Ensure that all parties know the parameters

• Logistics of exchange

Who is transmitting?

What is being transmitted?

What rights does transferee obtain?

Who is tracking data exchange?

• Structure of files

Format

Naming

Models

Documenting revisions or changes to files

Design Control

• Agree on purpose of using BIM
• Agree on roles of the parties

                                BIM Plan

• Relative to traditional elements of the project
• Relative to use of BIM
• Important concept:

                                no one can change another party’s product s

• To what extent can others rely on the design details?
  • Will dimensions be accurate?
  • Will quantities be accurate?
  • Will detail be adequate to provide for
  • clash detection?
  • Identify building systems and components to be modeled
    • Specific elements
    • Specific trades
    • Specific purposes or uses
    • Identify limits on use e.g. can’t be used for critical details t

Design Control

• Establish hierarchy of communications (similar to traditional models)
• Establish means of communicating design issues identified by others back to the designers
• Will changes in design impact designer’s fee (more on this later)

Ownership of Model

• Traditional treatment of design ownership in contracts

Standard industry contracts

Supplementary conditions

• Types of projects using BIM

• Owners  views

Large/sophisticated

Medium to small/occasional

• Engineers versus Architects

• Contractors

 Risk Management Tools

• Specific products are not yet developed

• Will depend on how risk allocation is developed through protocols/ MOUs /contracts/case law

• Insurance and surety considerations

                       CGL

Professional Liability

Surety

• Indemnification

Legal – The Answer

No Risk =  No Rewards  /  Know Risk =  Know Rewards

Again the answer is you!  You have the ability to influence at least one persons perspective and understanding of our industry.  Transparent communications between all  of the parties and a clear contractual scope of risk & reward, shared risk & benefit, and the elimination of adversarial roles is essential. It sounds like BIMtopia I know, but it’s a far cry from it. What we absolutely need is interdisciplinary coordination and full project stakeholder participation along with other positive behaviors. This type of approach  will put a high premium on problem solving and no rewards on finger pointing and blaming others.  

So again, as you see the people and processes are the key to resolving the legal issues.

 

 

Technical / Legal / Cultural / Education / Delivery

Culture – The Challenge

If you think you can do a thing, or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.

If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.

As previously mentioned over my 20 plus years in the industry I have worked for multiple firms and multiple disciplines. Firms both large and small have cultures defined by the owners or the corporation or sometimes by the employees , truthfully it’s typically a combination of all these and many more factors that create the workplace attitudes and environments we spend time in. As the old saying goes – People are People where ever you go, and this is both the largest roadblock and the answer all at the same time to the cultural challenge BIM processes are facing in our industry. Does your firm have an internal culture that supports the practical use of BIM tools and Projects? Successful companies utilizing BIM processes have discovered usually through severe trial and error growth pains that creating a collaborative culture both internally and with other firms on projects is the key to living a BIM existence. In other words, does your firm and the contractors you do projects with view themselves as partners trying to work together to secure new project opportunities? Or does your firm and those you work with plod along continuing to work in the traditional design, bid, build process, often times leading to adversarial relationships?  NOTE: A comment here is that some firms actually count on this to increase their end revenue off projects.

It’s very easy when a project goes south, (over budget, over schedule  and overall badly) to start assigning blame, I have witnessed Individuals and project management place that blame firmly at the foot of the BIM effort.  WHOOOOOOH Really?  Time out it’s not the tool or even the tools shortcomings that caused the catastrophe. It is, I hope you guessed it by now, the process.  If your approaching a BIM collaborative project  with a design-bid-build mentality well that’s strike one.  Strike two comes at the early stages of a project while the stakeholders are all sequestered in their cozy offices just doing their thing. You see a failure to plan truly is a plan to fail! So without a clearly defined scope early on in the projects life and without the correct questions and conversations taking place in the beginning then the projects already two thirds of the way to failure. Strike three comes as key participants  tolerate each other, and just deliver our part and whine about the ever diminishing  return for our efforts.

There is no growth in the three strike approach.

Finally, let me say succinctly, that firms and project team members still need to look at people and process issues (eg: contracts) rather than just technology. There will never be one silver bullet platform that will deliver all that is needed by all the stakeholders, nor in my opinion should we ever hope for such a unruly beast of a platform. At project kickoff meetings over the last 5 years, it never ceases to amaze me when one of the stakeholders in the contract wants us to use their system and they can’t understand why we wouldn’t want to do it (DUH). I know eventually all this will work out to the betterment of our industries, and we will all be able to look back and laugh and wonder why we ever clung to the antiquated processes. Yet it cannot come soon enough for my taste. Speaking of taste that’s another issue, how many firms , owners, and individuals now have a bad BIM taste because of these clumsy uneducated first attempts, and how do we now change that perception for the

Culture – The Answer   “We are the Future of BIM”

If we don’t change direction, then we’re likely to end up where we’re headed.

To get what you’ve never had, you must do what you’ve never done.

I bet by now you can guess what I think the answer is to changing the culture within your organization. If you guessed that I’ll say the answer is “You” then you are absolutely right. But this time before I suggest that you go out and influence others, I’ll ask you to take a long personal inventory of your own attitudes perceptions and abilities about our discussion. Take some time and think about your projects both past present and future (don’t worry no ghost will come seeking you out). Think about what that BIMtopia scenario would of, could of been, will be like on that project. Now take yourself, your skill set,  your people skills included and interject yourself firmly in there (this is the influence part people). Can you see what I’m saying, can you picture it?  I know that not everyone is a leader and that’s fine. You do not have to be a leader, a manager, or an owner to make an impact. You can choose to educate yourself and those around you to the BIM transition and what it means, both now and in the future. Help define that future by helping to create the culture within your firm and yourself.

GET ENGAGED PEOPLE – GET INVOLVED, don’t just sit and watch as this historic time in our industry passes you by. The collaborative processes of BIM workflows encourage accountability, responsibility and truth. It levels the playing field, why do you think it makes so many individuals and firms uncomfortable?  They are uncomfortable because it’s a threat to their way of doing business. I say bring it on. The companies and people with integrity , heart, understanding and business savvy will rise to the top and embrace this for themselves and their counterparts on projects. Those that cant or wont will go the way of the dinosaurs, I say good riddance and our industries will be far better off for it and without them.

The groundswell has started, the train has left the station, the momentum is underway. Taking a realistic look at yourself, your firm and your segment of our industry what can you do?  What will you do? Will there be obstacles and aggravation, of course there will be. This brings us to our next challenge, that of education, the education of ourselves, our firms, and our industries – where will you be?

Technical / Legal / Cultural / Education / Delivery

Education – The Challenge

Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know.

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.

The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.

Education of the workforce is happening as you read this, and those graduates will be knocking on your door soon. What about now? What about the existing staff and project teams, how in the world do you educate these people about this rapidly changing reality that we live in. Culture is a great start but it won’t get us there all the way.  Here are a few of your options:

• Hire a consultant  - (I’ve been a BIM Consultant for a Autodesk reseller)
• Send staff to local classes (community colleges and private)
• Hire an expert as part of your staff (to educate the staff)
• Wait for your staff to educate themselves, or tell them to
• Rely on your CAD manager to figure it out
• Rely on the other stakeholders on a project to lead you through it
• User groups
• The internet
• Learn by osmosis
• guess
• don’t

These are all ripe with shortcomings especially the last eight. Many firms have bid on and won small, medium, and even large to extremely large projects with absolutely no experience in BIM projects. There is nothing wrong with that, it’s just the point in history that we are at. Each firm, each person will have to get their respective feet wet sometime. Just hope you don’t drown in the process.

What about the cost? If you are in a firm and on a project large enough to absorb the learning curve then you have been truly blessed and now have a somewhat knowledgeable staff. During my experiences working with people as both production and management I can say with no reserve that we as an industry have a long way to go till our knowledge about this topic is where it needs to be. Knowledge of course is only half the battle, execution of the plan is the second part, wait a minute did I say PLAN! If you come up with a training plan, then you’ll need a budget for that plan, and in today’s economic times that may be your biggest challenge to educating your staff.

I certainly have no magic bullet as a recommendation for educating your staff or yourself. I once was hired as a BIM Manager for a large national construction firm to start their BIM Dept, and when I structured a training regiment for my staff and the extended staff of PM’s  I was never empowered by the management to make this a reality. Why? Because they didn’t understand what it took to get where they wanted to go. They didn’t understand their own goals or issues.  All they saw was the nail. 

You will of course meet resistance along this path, yet with perseverance and unwavering commitment to the future you can train your staff and yourself. So what is the Answer?

Education – The Answer

You get what you pay for! With BIM If you think you can’t afford it, then you can’t afford to not do it!

Take advantage of the downturn and invest in training for your future, your firms future and the future of our industries.                                                                     How do you eat an elephant? One bit at a time!

It’s still about you! What are you going to do? What’s your company going to do? What is the industry going to do? My answer here really isn’t any different than what I proposed back in the cultural answer, get involved, involve others, talk about it, invest in it and research where it’s going.

• Consultants are good just make sure you have selected the best, and yes they will cost!
• Don’t kid yourself this will entail a continuing education mentality for the long haul
• No Budget create then create lunch and learn sessions
• Without management buyoff you may as well look for employment somewhere else
• Uneducated staff working a BIM project lead to more issues and challenges
• Decide to Learn & decide to help others learn.
• Set the goals and track progress project to project and yearly
• On the job training – Yes it’s ok but costly as well.
• Minimize OJT cost by pre-addressing training as much as possible
• Reward yourself and others for what they have learned

Influence any organizations your involved with like ASHRE, ASPE, AIA , AGC and  yes I said influence them, take their training and give feedback.  Get involved as a trainer yourself you’ll learn more than you ever expected. Help educate our industries please, use your contacts people.  Yes this will take involvement and commitment. If you are only here for the paycheck and cant capture this vision then please do all of us including yourself a favor and leave, go do something else for a living we don’t want you dragging us down. Every week I speak with naysayers and negative people bemoaning the intricacies and challenges of our chosen professions, As I listen to their whining, I often think to myself, how have we as a industry ever made it as far as we have with people like this involved? My only response is WOW Really! People get onboard or get out of the way Please!!!!

This brings me to our last issue:  Project Delivery, Also known as How are we going to build this Project.

Technical / Legal / Cultural / Education / Delivery

Project Deliver- The Challenge

 “You can use an eraser on the drafting table or a sledge hammer on the construction site.”                      Frank Lloyd Wright

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”                Albert Einstein

The benefits of building information modeling (BIM) tools yield the greatest advantage when used across an integrated project team (notice I did not say I.P.D. more on that later).  According to many BIM proponents and project case studies, the rewards multiply when the technology is deployed along with a delivery method  that fosters a collaborative environment and ensures early involvement of key stakeholders. However the challenge is currently the majority of projects are still contracted under more traditional delivery methods, or some hybrid combination. Consider carefully what impact the contractual and relational dynamics will have on your firms role on the project and your ability to utilize BIM work flows, because it could actually hurt your capacity to perform to the agreed upon scope and deliverables.

Key factors dictating a particular type of delivery method include budget, time restraints, risk, and level of quality. Whether you’re a consulting engineer, architect or contractor, you should become familiar with the process and find out what it takes to achieve results. To achieve a successful project using BIM tools and workflows, a number of major decisions have to be made. Some of these mirror or replicate decisions in traditional project workflows. Then there are new opportunities and requirements of BIM processes and the changed relationships of project participants. There is also the need to standardize data flow between platforms, this is currently being enabled by IFC (not very well, from my experience on real projects) as well as other database exchange formats. Project definition includes selection of exchange protocols and detail specific discipline requirements; the role of the model manager/coordinator: the BIM project modeling schedule; and project-specific requirements.

In other words Who? What? Why and When?

A project applying traditional 2d workflows yet wanting the results and magic of a true BIM project will be a huge challenge for all involved, and is a sign that one or more firms really didn’t understand the requirements and possibilities. A lot of times this is the owner simply asking for BIM with no concept about the bigger picture. Some firms claim to understand BIM, but in reality are at the beginning of the BIM learning curve themselves and may pose as more capable than they are, be careful!

Many times we don’t have the choice as to what delivery method will come our way on projects, yet as I have mentioned it is high time to influence our destiny. Call your client help them understand the impacts and conditions that will result from their choices, show them your worth, invest in their project by having that conversation. REMEMBER We are creating the future of our industry and BIM workflows.

There is no ONE solution.

Project Deliver- The Answer

A project without a critical path is like a ship without a rudder.

“Virtually every company will be going out and empowering their workers with a certain set of tools, and the big difference in how much value is received from that will be how much the company steps back and really thinks through their business processes…thinking through how their business can change, how their project management, their customer feedback, their planning cycles can be quite different than they ever were before.”    -  Bill Gates

Your  role will likely be determined in a large part by the project delivery method and contractual relationships.  Look for opportunities to steer the project towards a more collaborative workflow where it makes sense. Look for possibilities to negotiate additional services in the collaboration, don’t be afraid to think outside the box! Look for and Effect Change!  Look for:

• YOU!  (Yes you, be prepared to influence and share look for how you fit into the picture)
• A well defined and explicit scope of work;
• A specific range of responsibility for each team member and criteria for measurement;
• A knowledgeable owner or rep who can make quick, sound decisions;
• Experienced, competent team members
• A cohesive team with members fully committed to the common needs and goals set by the owner.                                       

Contractual Uses to consider / include but are not limited to:

• Programming / Planning SD/DD
• Design Authoring C/D
• As-Builts
• Constructability Models, can our CD models be turned into Shop Drawing Models and Drawings? This can be an exceptional savings to the owner and increase the relationship between the consultants and the GC.
• Laser scanning (Existing & As-Built) new opportunity and the future of TI work
• Existing Conditions
• 5D Cost Estimating (Design & Construction)
• 3D Coordination (Clash detection)
• Design Reviews
• 4D Modeling Time (Phasing) Design & Construction Linking P6 or Microsoft Project
• Energy Analysis
• Lighting Analysis
• Structural Analysis
• Visualization  (entire project life)
• 6D Facility O&M (Maint., Scheduling ,Tracking, cost, warranties, ect.)
• Lean Construction
• COBIE Requirements
• Sustainability Green Building
• Specifications
• Quantity takeoffs
• Scheduling
• Building System analysis (sensor data and usage history)
• System Fabrication

 

Final Thoughts   An old successful race car driver turned race car team owner once said                                             “You have to slow down to go faster”

        As we create the greatest projects ever to be constructed, and we put into the world around us our legacy, don’t we collectively think that is time to start addressing our antiquated ineffective methods and traditions in the AEC communities. It is up to you and I to create the new processes and accepted workflows that will be the future of our industries. Let’s not miss this golden opportunity in history to effect the changes that can and will define who we are, where we live and how we see ourselves.

Many, many people and firms currently understand the changes taking place and are engaged in forwarding this movement. Many others are either not paying attention, don’t care or as human nature has proven time and time again they are being resistant staying locked in fear and or self interest pursuing only what benefits themselves and their agendas.

(And all the lawyers say halleluiah)

Our industry is a direct reflection of our society as a whole, and just like everything else in life, if we fail to change then we will fail to grow, and without growth comes death in one form or another. If this generation and the firms and people in it can’t or won’t honestly look at and correct our course, well then we are destined to continue seeing diminished returns on projects, and to experience  stressful and litigious projects and careers fraught with a jungle mentality of only the strong survive.

I will continue to raise this transformative conversation whenever and however I can. Please don’t believe me, research this for yourself. I am not the first, nor will I be the last to talk about the much needed change in mentality that our industries need to implement into our contracts, into our cultures, into our projects, our firms, our educational establishments and ourselves. We have all been to the seminars, we have all read the articles, we have all heard the hype, and the promises.

Let’s work together to change history, don’t be a resistant roadblock, but help to overcome the challenges. Yes we need to question each and every claim about BIM and what it brings to the table. We have heard plenty of empty promises of what it can do. Many of these from people whom want it to do it so badly that they seem to believe themselves that its already happening. However as I have clearly stated, the real answer is YOU and your active involvement and understanding in this process and transformation of the AEC industry.

If you don’t attack the risks, the risks will attack you.

If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.

And let me close with this one:

If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.