OPEN BIM NETWORK joins forces with BuildingSMART UK and Ireland

The UK’s primary network for building information modelling (BIM) users, OPEN BIM NETWORK, is joining forces with BuildingSMART UK and Ireland, which provides the standards driving the adoption of the open BIM universal approach.

OPEN BIM NETWORK is already partnering with industry body Constructing Excellence. The new alliance brings together two key networks that are critical for the accelerated take up of BIM: those who will use and deliver open BIM across the construction industry, and those developing standards, training and software products.

The groups are already collaborating on an industry COBie (Construction Operations Building
Information Exchange) trial involving Gatwick Airport and key contracting partners. COBie allows information to be exported from the building model into a spreadsheet format, which is used to inform the construction and operation of a building.
Partners in the Gatwick COBie trial are:

• BAM
• Brookfield Multiplex
• Carillion
• Mace
• Gatwick Airport
• Laing O’Rourke
• Lend Lease
• Mace
• Sir Robert McAlpine
• Skanska
• Wates
• Vinci.

Results from the trial, which will be available in October, will influence future developments by software vendors, academia and the wider construction industry with the use of COBie in relation to level 2 BIM.
BRE and BuildingSMART director Nick Tune said, “Getting the users and technical people together in this way means we can create the most effective, user friendly standards and products that will help the construction industry realise the benefits of BIM – it’s a very strong dynamic.”
Don Ward, chief executive of Constructing Excellence, said of the move: “This will ensure the successful uptake of BIM, so that clients and suppliers are able to maximise the benefits.” 

Source Building4Change  http://www.building4change.com/page.jsp?id=1818
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