The integration of BIM within existing commercial built assets

BIM was originally developed by the architecture, engineering and construction sector (AEC) to manage design and construction data. With level 2 BIM now mandated in the UK for Government Dept construction projects the industry is being forced to embrace the revolution. Eadie et al (2013) suggests that clients and facilities managers are likely to benefit most from BIM. Wilkinson (2015) acknowledges this stating 'To date the benefits and opportunities that can be realised from property professionals managing existing assets using BIM have been overlooked'. With around 80% of todays UK built environment still expected to be here by 2050 (CLG 2008) asset managers, occupiers and owners of these built assets will need to continue to find more efficient ways of managing this aging stock to meet the challenges of sustainability, obsolesce, running costs and regulatory compliance. As we become a more digital society it could be considered somewhat naive that our interaction with the built environment is exempt from this movement but across industry there appears to be a resistance or perhaps apathy to this.