Executive Summary

A Building Information Model (BIM) is “a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility.” To successfully implement BIM, a project team must perform detailed and comprehensive planning. A well-documented BIM Project Execution Plan will ensure that all parties are clearly aware of the opportunities and responsibilities associated with the incorporation of BIM into the project workflow. A completed BIM Project Execution Plan should define the appropriate Uses for BIM on a project (e.g., design authoring, design review, and 3D coordination), along with a detailed design and documentation of the process for executing BIM throughout a facility’s lifecycle. Once the plan is created, the team can follow and monitor their progress against this plan to gain the maximum benefits from BIM implementation.

This Guide provides a structured procedure, as displayed in Figure i-1, for creating and implementing a BIM Project Execution Plan. The four steps within the procedure include:

1. Identify high-value BIM uses during project planning, design, construction, and operational phases
2. Design the BIM execution process by creating process maps
3. Define the BIM deliverables in the form of information exchanges
4. Develop the infrastructure in the form of contracts, communication procedures, technology, and quality control to support the implementation

The goal of developing this structured procedure is to stimulate planning and direct communication by the project team during the early phases of a project. The team leading the planning process should include members from all the organizations with a significant role in the project. Since there is no single best method for BIM implementation on every project, each team must effectively design a tailored execution strategy by understanding the project goals, the project characteristics, and the capabilities of the team members.

This BIM Project Execution Planning Guide is a product of the BIM Project Execution Planning Project within the buildingSMART alliance™ (bSa), a council within the National Institute of Building Sciences. The bSa is charged with developing the National Building Information Modeling Standard – United States™ (NBIMS-US). This Guide was developed to provide a practical manual that can be used by project teams to design their BIM strategy and develop a BIM Project Execution Plan. The core modeling and information exchange concepts have been designed to complement the long-term goals of the bSa in the development of a standard that can be implemented throughout the AECOO Industry to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of BIM implementation on projects.