Fayolle Canada

In the ever-evolving landscape of the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has long stood as a transformative force. Yet, even as we celebrate its innovations, it’s crucial to recognize that the true potential of BIM lies in long-term asset management through BIM 7D Asset Information Modeling. While the immediate gains of BIM in design and construction are tangible, the real pot of gold lies in the lifecycle of assets, where most expenses and potential savings occur.

Long-Term Focus in a Short-Term World

It has always been clear that the full benefits of BIM materialize over an asset’s extended life, typically 30 to 50 years or more. However, the challenge has been the industry’s inherent focus on shorter timelines and immediate ROI. Clients often hesitate to invest upfront for benefits that will accrue much later. Larger stakeholders, such as public-sector organizations, hospitals and large industrial operators, have shown a more consistent interest in BIM 7D.

The journey toward its adoption has been gradual, involving the careful development of industry standards and strategies. Asset managers are now increasingly engaged in the early phases of design, signaling a pivotal change in the industry’s approach to long-term asset management.

The Magil Construction Experience

The turning point is now manifesting in a wave of projects that incorporate BIM 7D Asset Information Modeling from the outset. Our recent experiences with a new university facility in Québec, a public transportation maintenance facility in Ontario and a new medical facility in Québec underscore this evolution. These projects are not random selections but represent the type of clients, including large public institutions and specialized facilities, that stand to benefit most from a long-term approach to asset management.

What is AIM 7D?

AIM 7D extends the core tenets of Building Information Modeling into the operational lifecycle of a building, focusing on long-term asset management. While the term “real-time” is often associated with AIM 7D, it’s important to clarify that real-time data integration is an additional feature made possible when a building is equipped with smart sensors. These sensors can be integrated into the management platform and linked to the Asset Information Model, providing insights into the asset’s condition, MEP systems, environmental factors and occupancy levels. Depending on the setup, this information can be periodic or available in real time.

For a construction management company such as Magil, offering AIM as a deliverable does not provide direct operational advantages. Instead, it constitutes an additional service that can generate extra revenue. We advise certain clients on the value of opting for this advanced deliverable, but the final decision lies with them. If they don’t see the long-term value or are unwilling to invest in it, this component is usually excluded from our scope of work.

The Synergy of Technologies

Our projects integrate a diverse range of technologies, from drones and LiDAR laser scans to 360-degree cameras, Common Data Environments (CDEs) and various collaboration platforms. These technologies not only facilitate design and execution but also play a crucial role in quality verification. They allow the project team to compare the actual work with the BIM model issued for construction and update it as necessary, ensuring the final BIM model accurately reflects the as-built conditions of the project.

Case Studies: Real-World Applications of AIM 7D

University Facility, Québec

For this lump-sum project, the client retained a third-party consultant to help define a long-term BIM strategy for asset management. This involved specifying required information, asset lists and tags, as well as naming standards, right from the outset.

  AIM 7D extends the core tenets of Building Information Modeling into the operational lifecycle of a building, focusing on long-term asset management.  

As construction managers, we orchestrated the collaboration process to collect this data and integrate it into the BIM model. This was achieved through coordinated efforts with our specialty contractors and suppliers, using collaboration platforms, checkpoint verifications and shared databases, alongside specific software to synchronize the data with the BIM model.

Public Transportation Maintenance Facility, Ontario

Similar to the Québec university project, the client and design team had already defined what was needed in terms of asset management. Our challenge arose because the client’s design team did not have BIM model updating within its scope.

We relied on our internal team, drawing from our extensive VDC experience across various projects, to update the BIM model and prepare it for asset management data. This adaptability was cultivated over years of working with diverse standards, modeling strategies and BIM software, depending on the design teams we collaborated with.

Medical Facility, Québec

This ongoing project stands out for its design-build nature, which gives us the freedom to select our design team and specialty contractors. We could therefore choose firms based on their BIM expertise and experience with Asset Information Models. While the client supplied the technical requirements, we worked closely with them to finalize the naming standards, equipment lists and turnover process.

The Journey to High-Quality Asset Information Models

Successfully implementing BIM 7D Asset Information Modeling is not just about leveraging technology. It’s about strategic planning and early-stage collaboration. The most effective Asset Information Models are the result of meticulous discussions that begin early in the project timeline and involve all stakeholders, from the design team to operations and asset managers. Understanding the client’s specific needs and challenges is crucial for identifying long-term optimization and cost-saving opportunities.

A systematic approach is essential. This includes creating a comprehensive list of equipment, assigning unique tags that adhere to project naming standards and ensuring these standards align with any broader strategy the client may have for its assets. This level of detail and standardization not only facilitates immediate asset management but also sets the stage for future data collection and analytics.

By having a cohesive and structured dataset, clients are better positioned to perform big data analyses down the line, unlocking even greater opportunities for operational efficiency and cost savings.

The essence of BIM 7D lies not just in its technological capabilities but in the thoughtful process and collaboration that go into creating a truly useful, high-quality Asset Information Model. This is not just the future of the AEC industry. It is a current imperative for those looking to maximize long-term value from their projects.