27 September 2022
Building Surveyor’s Institute of Japan opt for NBS’ world-leading Uniclass identification system
The Building Surveyor’s Institute of Japan (BSIJ), the only professional body for quantity surveyors in Japan, has turned to leading construction data platform, NBS, using its innovative Uniclass classification system to improve the search functionality of its website.
In a first of its kind, BSIJ, plans to create a ‘uniformed’ categorisation system that helps label and identify assets from a range of industries, including The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), as well as private companies.
At the heart of these new updates is NBS’ Uniclass – a market leading classification and labelling system that creates a ‘shared language’ for its users. By harnessing the power of Uniclass, BSIJ will be able to increase its use of BIM data throughout building projects, helping to tackle rising building material and energy prices. It will also help streamline communication channels throughout its 4,200 members, allowing them to access crucial information at a faster rate through their website search tool, whilst avoiding mistakes and confusion during the specification stages of a project.
First launched in 2015, Uniclass’s partnership with Tokyo-based BSIJ expands its presence in East Asia but is already popular around the world and the tables are utilised in over 100 countries, including Australia where associations such as the Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) has used the classification system to enhance its infrastructure delivery and asset-owner initiatives.
Tadashi Kikuno, Product Lead at construction management application ANDPAD ZERO, said: “Due to the vast range of categories and groups we work with and the thousands of members that use our website, we needed a way to unify the categories and systems that we use in our projects. Speed was also a key factor – having an effective search functionality on our website improves how quickly our members can access information, allowing them to search autonomously.“
“We decided to opt for Uniclass due to its reputation as a global classification system for the construction industry. We knew it could be localised for any country and adaptable to any built environment project.“
“Deploying Uniclass will also encourage the uptake of BIM, which we know can improve building accuracy and help reduce project costs at a time when building materials are spiralling.“
Tina Pringle, Director of Technical Information at NBS and co-creator of the Uniclass system, said: “We’ve seen time and time again how Uniclass has been able to create uniformity for a more standardised approach. The beauty of the Uniclass system is its versatility – it can be adapted to all manner of trades and industries so that everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.“
“It’s great to see that Uniclass is now as far reaching as Japan. Working alongside the Building Surveyor's Institute of Japan is another feather in cap in terms of what Uniclass is capable of. We’re seeing how, through a common language, communication between organisations can be improved for better working practice, greater levels of accuracy and more robust record keeping.”
