In 2017, we were engaged to produce a Global BIM Standards Library for Global eTraining, to support the global adoption of BIM and BIM related processes.

We created a library of BIM lectures which aligned to UK standards, building the service from scratch and designing the lectures to sit alongside Global eTraining’s other BIM materials. The lectures offer guidance and training for global BIM adoption and the use of PAS BS 1192.

Updating for ISO 19650

Six months ago, the global construction industry hit an exciting milestone in the release of the ISO 19650 series. The International Standards Organisation released the first two documents in December 2018, addressing research into BIM adoption across the globe.

There have been practical challenges across the industry since December 2018, which is why an industry-wide level of understanding is necessary in order to ensure a smooth global implementation of ISO 19650 moving forward. Predominantly in that more education around the ISO and the new language used is required to help with successful implementation and global adoption of BIM. The disparity between the terminology used has created issues for some organisations who had previously been focussed on achieving BIM Level 2 and are now facing difficulties in transition to the ISO.

During the development of ISO 19650, we had industry information that the ISO was to adopt the principles and development of BIM adoption in the UK, and the 2016 mandate for BIM Level 2 compliancy. Knowing what was ahead, we took the opportunity to begin updating our own lecture suite ready for the release.

The Global BIM Standards Library is now fully up to date for 2019 and includes lectures and materials around ISO 19650.

Global relevance

Global eTraining’s audience is worldwide, and so the roll-out of educational materials for the global guidance was an important step in making sure there is a consistent level of understanding throughout the global construction industry. Ensuring that the educational suite was up to date for the release of ISO 19650 included touching on a variety of areas and formats, including our lectures and mini lectures.

As well as updating our existing materials, producing new lectures was also a key factor in creating a cohesive educational suite for anyone implementing ISO 19650, including a lecture on how the British Standards were used to develop the global ISO. This is a particularly important piece of work, as it helps to illuminate the narrative of the ISO and increase understanding of it relative to its predecessors. This is a huge help to those transitioning from PAS 1192 and therefore struggling with the changes in terminology and language used.

It is important to promote the use of global BIM standards, and the framework of BIM adoption. We’ve looked at the processes of implementing the ISO client side, as well as the documents used by a delivery team in order to enable BIM processes – including the development of a BIM execution plan, information exchange requirements across the design and construction phase, and the implementation of BIM during the operational phase.

Lecture content

Our ISO 19650 course is now available online through Global eTraining and addresses these issues and more in the endeavour to increase global understanding of the ISO. Also in production are our upcoming courses: BIM for ExecutivesBIM Management and BIM Fundamentals.

Earlier this year, all the lectures were updated to reflect the ISO language and terminology – an important hurdle to address. All of our mini lectures are now inclusive of best practice BIM processes, aligning to the ISO in a global sense.

Work will also need to be done on educating the industry on the newer documentation that we expect to see in the upcoming months and years, and Digital Node is already preparing for this. We’ve been strategic partners with Global eTraining for several years, and we intend to keep updating the Global BIM Standards Library on their platform to achieve our goal of ensuring professionals are educated and prepared for the global adoption and implementation of BIM.