BIM figures

BIM figures: who are BIM professionals?

The BIM methodology is based on precise rules and standards which, although recent, have already reached a high level of complexity that only specific BIM figures are able to manage.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an intelligent process based on 3D models that offers designers all the information and tools to plan, design, build and manage buildings and infrastructures more efficiently. To set up and manage a BIM project, however, specific skills are required that are still difficult to find and that only recognized bim figures possess.
At an international level, there are three professional figures that revolve around the BIM methodology: the BIM specialist, the BIM coordinator and the BIM Manager.

BIM specialist – The BIM specialist is the professional able to use a software for the implementation of the BIM project based on his disciplinary competence.

The specific activities of a BIM Specialist are:

• work under the supervision and coordination of the BIM Coordinator or BIM Manager;
• elaborate graphic models and parametric objects;
• the extraction of data from models, documents and objects;
• modify models and objects following the outcome of the multidisciplinary coordination procedures;
• modify models and objects following design reviews.

BIM Cordinator – The role of the BIM coordinator consists in the management and coordination of work activities within the specific disciplines of the project.

The BIM Coordinator carries out its activity:

• coordinating the activities of BIM specialists;
• coordinating and managing the information content of the working models;
• working in close collaboration with BIM managers and acting as a connection with other operational roles;
• participating in the development of the BIM execution plan or information management plan in collaboration with the BIM Manager;
• defining and controlling the content of the information and the detailed levels of the models, drawings and objects of the graphic models processed with the BIM procedures;
• taking care of training and acting as direct support for more properly operational roles;
• dealing with the sharing and the problem of information aggregation contents;
• organizing and participating in coordination meetings with other BIM managers (internal or external of the company);
• verifying the operational application and compliance with the established standards;
• taking care of the extraction of data from models and elaborates;
• carrying out the coordination and / or aggregation of the information contents, identifying any interference and / or inconsistencies and consequently proposing their solutions to the managers of the disciplines involved;
• taking care of the modification of the contents of the information as a consequence of their coordination or aggregation, in accordance with the responsible discipline;
• reporting any significant events that facilitate the information process.

BIM Manager – The figure of the BIM manager is a highly professional figure capable of managing and coordinating multidisciplinary BIM projects. The BIM Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating information for the suppliers involved in the design and management of buildings.

The BIM Manager is particularly active in activities that concern:

• information management;
• the management of information flows, choosing the specific digital technologies to be used and determining the consequent training needs, possibly in collaboration with the Information Systems Manager;
• the determination of information needs;
• the definition of information and reference standards;
• the processing of customer information documents, information management offers and information management plan;
• the definition of the information content and the model, documents and objects of the graphic model being processed or already processed;
• participation in the definition of the data sharing environment and its specific rules;
• participation in coordination meetings;
• help and support activities in the definition processes for the management of interferences and inconsistencies.

In conclusion, we can say that the responsibilities and professional skills of the BIM Manager range from the BIM processes and from the implementation of the strategy, to the preparation of the technical and operational documentation for the creation of projects and models (standards and procedures).