Section 4: Conclusions

There are always differing views about new technologies, and change of any kind. And it would be wise to evaluate the likely value of making a change before doing so, especially if that change or technology requires significant investment. The reason for the type of change that we’re concerned with here – the use of digital technologies and better information management – is to help us create a better built environment: a safer one that is more environmentally sustainable. The results of this survey show that the majority of built environment professionals do agree that digital technologies are helping to achieve these things. With specific reference to safety, there is also strong agreement that professionals need to work digitally, and adopt BIM, in order to play their part in realising the golden thread of information.

And when referring to BIM, around two thirds now think of this as being about better information management, rather than simply create a 3D model.

These findings indicate that the direction of travel is right, and that digital ways of working and better information management are helping us to create a better built environment.

To continue the travel metaphor, the majority (over 90%) recognise that they are on some kind of digital transformation journey. They may not normally use this terminology – and there may be debates about exactly what constitutes BIM, cloud computing and off-site construction – but these findings confirm that the industry is embracing digital, and that the majority believe that it is having a positive effect.

The potential for advances in technology to address fundamental challenges (in particular, the use of cloud computing and telecommunications infrastructure to enable remote working and collaboration) has been clearly demonstrated during the Coronavirus pandemic.

It is therefore unsurprising that the use of cloud computing has increased, with a majority now using it. In addition, the ability to design and manufacture whole elements (or even whole buildings) in a factory setting and deliver them to site has reduced the number of people that need to be on site at one time, as well as bringing other advantages (such as efficiency and waste reduction).

Some changes enforced by the pandemic may be here to stay, with well over half of professionals expecting to split their time between home and the office, factory or site.

If the industry broadly agrees with the principle that digital construction is good, the challenges are in the detail. What do people need to do, and how? As yet, there isn’t clarity among all professionals in terms of what they need to do in order to play their part in creating the golden thread of information. And there continues to be a barrier (perceived or otherwise) to smaller organisations, who are less likely to see BIM (and, to some extent, digital construction generally) as positive or relevant to them. There are others who do see it as relevant but are grappling with the cost of investment in software and training. Because of these issues, BIM adoption has not permeated every part of the industry – although 81% of architectural practices say that they have adopted it.

Standards and guidance (in the UK from the likes of the UK BIM Alliance, BSI and the Centre for Digital Built Britain) are helping to address some of the challenges. This survey shows significant numbers of professionals (especially in the UK) carrying out the activities that align with these. The findings suggest that Uniclass 2015, recommended in the ISO 19650 series, is now the most-used classification system in the UK. Information users are asking for digital objects, and many suppliers are providing them. More people think that BIM is ‘the norm’ than in previous surveys and, looking ahead, they continue to see it as having the greatest potential to transform the built environment for the better. Furthermore, younger professionals are more likely to associate digital construction with positive outcomes.

All of this does suggest that BIM and digital construction will continue to be adopted and further embedded, and that more organisations will make progress on their digital transformation journeys.

If we believe that the principles of BIM and digital construction will benefit projects and organisations of all types and sizes, there still appears to be a challenge in taking that message to all parts of the industry so that those organisations see it as a positive change.

And there is a need to better support smaller organisations who have decided that they want to make that change.

Digital Construction report 2021 feedback

Section 4: Conclusions

Section 5: Respondent profile