October 29, 2008

London & District Construction Association

London construction association considers establishing BIM digital construction centre

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

In a potentially groundbreaking move at the local level, the London & District Construction Association (LDCA) is taking a hard look at setting up a digital construction centre.

Executive director Derek Smith says the idea is that the facility would offer training to member firms on building information modeling (BIM). It also would act as a venue for local architects, engineers and design-builders to design buildings using this technology.

The centre ultimately would be equipped with upwards of ten work stations. Smith estimates it would cost $250,000 to set up the facility. The association has applied for funding from the provincial government through a skills training grant.

The proposal is being considered by the association’s board of directors. A final decision has not been made. Smith said the association is interested in positioning itself to bridge the gap between current early adopters of BIM and constructors and to see the power of this technology harnessed through the tendering stage and into construction.

“At this point, it appears that most of the people who are using BIM are stopping at the tendering stage,” said Smith.

He is only aware of one architect in the London area currently using BIM.

A building information model is a repository for digital, three-dimensional data generated by the design process. BIM information is updated as it passes from discipline to discipline.

The model exists for the life of a building.

Smith, a former partner in a Windsor architectural firm, said one of the barriers to more widespread utilization of BIM is the required investment in equipment and training.

“Our thinking is that member architectural and engineering firms who are interested in BIM but don’t want to invest in the technology right away could come in and use our facilities.”

Smith, who has been charged with keeping LDCA on the cutting edge of new technology and providing leadership in this sphere, said “virtually none” of the association’s members are up to speed on BIM.

He estimates it would take six months to get the centre up and running, if the association’s board gives the nod of approval, sometime next year. LDCA likely would be the first local mixed construction association in Canada to set up such a facility.

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