Digital Built Britain, the latest stage of the UK’s BIM Task Group programme, has officially been launched at the ICE BIM 2016 conference by Mark Bew, chair of the BIM Task Group and the newly formed Digital Built Britain programme.
Announced in the 2016 budget, Digital Built Britain aims to deliver reductions in whole-life costs and carbon emissions, while improving productivity and capacity by using intelligent building information models, sensing technology and secure data and information infrastructure.
Digital Built Britain will also continue the work of the globally recognised BIM Task Group programme, set up in 2011 to deliver up to 20% savings on costs of major projects.
The Digital Built Britain programme will focus on:
- Providing departmental support and British Standards for BIM Level 2;
- Increased international trade and opportunities for growth for UK companies;
- Development of BIM Level 3 programme as announced in February 2015 (more information will be available on the digital built Britain website);
- Cyber security;
- Private sector investment and engagement;
- A series of early adopter projects focusing on Level 3A and manufacturing technologies.
Speaking about the launch, Bew commented: “Today marks a significant step in the journey to a digital economy for the built environment. The UK has made a significant step in creating a world-class position in delivering capability, standards and capacity in the sector to reduce cost and increase value.
“The coming together of the BIM and smart city programme into Digital Built Britain will continue this commitment to providing jobs, homes, services and growth to the UK economy.”
Simon Hart, BIM Task Group, Innovate UK, added: “The use of the UK-developed BIM standards is transforming the $10 trillion global construction sector towards improved productivity, competitiveness and efficiency and providing growth for UK small businesses at the forefront of this technology.”
At the event Bew also announced that the United Kingdom Accreditation Service had been appointed to establish a certification scheme for Level 2 BIM.
Today marks a significant step in the journey to a digital economy for the built environment. The UK has made a significant step in creating a world-class position in delivering capability, standards and capacity in the sector to reduce cost and increase value.– Mark Bew, BIM Task Group
