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BIM will fail without widespread adoption of "soft skills" by industry

New BIM2050 report reveals the challenge of embracing a digital future

BIM 2050

Building Information Modelling (BIM) will not boost the construction industry’s efficiency unless it truly embraces a world of “soft skills” and interdisciplinary teams, according to a new report by the Construction Industry Council’s BIM2050 Group.

While ‘hard skills’, such as engineering, it says, will remain a core activity of construction, it points out the poor “cultural integration of education and skills” and lack of “emotional intelligence” across the industry are the root causes of on-going inefficiency.

“The digital economy is fundamentally transforming the way we live and work and the UK construction industry will not be immune. It is essential therefore that organisations, academia and individuals are prepared to adjust to potentially radical changes, they must question if they are moving quickly enough to make the necessary adaptations, which are often complex." David Philp.

“BIM becomes unimportant in the light of the change needed to effectively deploy true value adding processes and technology,” says the report by leading young minds in the industry. 

The report (available here) urges the industry to consider and act on the following critical issues to drive forward greater long term efficiency:

  • Will your organisation secure against cyber- attack? 
  • Are you thinking about integrated infrastructure?
  • Are you constructing the right teams?
  • What impact will nano-second procurement have on commercial practice? 
  • How will you support Life-long learning?
  • What will be the impact of consumer access on your supply chain? 
  • Are you ready to manage sector skill migration? 
  • What will your inventory of equipment look like when systems are autonomous? 
  • How do you currently manage human capital?

The BIM2050 group was formed by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) in September 2012 and comprises 18 young construction professionals under the chairmanship of David Philp, head of BIM, HM Government UK BIM Task Group

“The digital economy is fundamentally transforming the way we live and work and the UK construction industry will not be immune,” said Philp. “It is essential therefore that organisations, academia and individuals are prepared to adjust to potentially radical changes, they must question if they are moving quickly enough to make the necessary adaptations, which are often complex."

He added that the report envisions what the construction industry may be like come 2050 against the backdrop of “a digitised built environment and what interventions should be considered if they are to be future-wise and seize the opportunity that an innovative and technologically advanced future offers”.

The report aims to question what these developments mean for organisations and careers across construction and to spark debate as a key part of the government on-going industrial strategy, published last year. 

Government Chief Construction Adviser,Peter Hansford in his forward to the report, said: "This report by the BIM2050 Group illustrates the need for organisations to consider new skills, new processes and develop strategies around emerging technologies that will ensure that the UK stays at the vanguard of construction in a digital future."

"The industrial strategy for construction, Construction:2025, sets out the vision of a smart industry that is efficient and technologically advanced,” he added. “With a tidal shift in how we are creating and caring for our assets, it is essential that we build solid digital foundations where we can unlock the prize of a global construction market forecast to grow by over 70% by 2025."

Neil Thompson, BIM2050 Vice Chair added: "The economic environment is rapidly shifting, and whatever the outcome, the construction of social and economic infrastructure will remain a core activity for firms and governments. 

“This report looks at the role of digital and integrated technology, and its impact on the built environment. Future leaders in construction need to be ready to adapt to the turbulent and disruptive nature of innovation. The prediction of the future is not a feasible subject to report on, but combining emerging technologies with the economic impact of past, now mature technologies, we can highlight what industry and academia need to be aware of when thinking about the future of their respective organisations."

If you would like to contact Antony Oliver about this, or any other story, please email antony.oliver@infrastructure-intelligence.com.