NBS has released a series of further updates to its BIM Toolkit - the classification system and digital plan of work that will sit at the heart of the Government’s Level 2 BIM suite of documents and guidance.
Since release of the initial BETA version of the Toolkit in April, NBS has been collating feedback from users which it has now used to inform a series of enhancements. Primary amongst these are updates to the Uniclass 2015 tables and updates to the Level of Information (LOI) and Level of Detail (LOD) templates.
In addition, new features include the ability to define specific Employer’s Information Requirements (EIRs) at each stage of a project and refer these back to the original ‘plain language questions’. This means that the process of defining EIRs and generating a task information delivery plan in line with PAS 1192:2 is straightforward for any client or client advisor and was something requested by many early adopters.
NBS has also incorporated the single most requested change, the ability to invite other members of the project team to access the project on the BIM Toolkit. Now, the owner of a digital plan of work can invite named users to view the project via their PC, Mac or mobile device. Whilst these users cannot amend data such as tasks and responsibilities, they are able to post comments and suggestions.
Commenting on these improvements, Dr Stephen Hamil, Director of Design & Innovation at NBS who has led the development of the NBS BIM Toolkit said: “We have been delighted with the level of engagement from the industry in the development of the BIM Toolkit and all of the enhancements and new features that have now been included are a direct result of feedback from users. The intention has always been to develop a tool for the whole industry with the help of those within it and we believe we’ve addressed many of the suggestions that have been made over the last few months.
“The latest version of the Toolkit will be even simpler for everyone to use and makes an even greater contribution to promoting collaboration between team members which is at the heart of all the talk about BIM.”
David Philp, Head of BIM for the UK BIM Task Group commented: “The BIM Toolkit is the final piece of jigsaw to complete the Government’s BIM Task Group Level 2 programme. The complete level-2 BIM package of documentation and tools will enable the industry to greatly improve the procurement process through the use of data and data verification. This will assist the UK construction and operation industry to operate more efficiently, increasing productivity and reducing waste.
“Transparency of data need and data delivered will drive improved behaviours and collaborative methods and it will enable more informed decisions to be made in terms of environmental, economic and social sustainability and put the UK in an excellent position in terms growth through exports of construction and operation services in the world economy.
“An industry that is skilled in the digital management of information at BIM Level 2 will ultimately move readily into Level 3 BIM which is designed to enable the UK to lead the challenges of urbanisation and population growth. This will enable the interconnected digital design of different elements in a built environment and will extend BIM into the operation of assets over their lifetimes and across the Smart City social infrastructure.”
Other new features of the Toolkit include the ability to sort and filter deliverables for faster and easier identification of assigned tasks; more export options; clickable LOD graphics that expand to fill the screen and an improved user interface. Regular Toolkit users will also notice additional guidance tips on the stage details to help explain their purpose.