BIM Consultant: roles, responsabilities and tools
BIM Consultants help construction companies to implement BIM in their workflows. Find out how this particular role supports the management of digitized processes.
Are you a company willing to implement BIM methodology in your organization and want to understand who can support you in this change? Or instead are you a professional looking for new job opportunities in the Building Information Modeling sector? In this article, we’ll find out more about what’s behind the role of a BIM Consultant. In particular, we will understand who a BIM consultant is what they do, how you become one and how this role supports the management of digitized processes.
What is a BIM Consultant?
With the introduction of BIM in the processes of design, construction and work management in the AEC sector, numerous organizations have found themselves facing the need to reformulate the workflows adopted so far. The transition to BIM can be very complex as it requires the assessment of various factors and the adoption of adequate strategies and specific BIM software necessary to meet the objectives set.
Relying on a BIM Consultant, allows the implementation of BIM methodology within the company organisation with less risks or possibility of errors. But what is a BIM Consultant?
A BIM Consultant is a specialist in the application of the BIM methodology who, thanks to their skills, can inform and provide guidance in the development of workflows based on a BIM approach.
Before analyzing what a BIM Consultant does, it is important to specify that it is a person external to the company workforce. The possibility of contacting an external consultant is particularly advantageous for companies that are starting now to approach to the world of BIM. They will benefit from the skills offered by a highly qualified figure, without however bearing the burden of hiring a person for a permanent role.
The main objective of a BIM Consultant is to contribute to the dissemination of the BIM methodology, supporting professionals, companies and businesses in carrying out different activities.
For example, the BIM Consultant carries out analyses aimed at defining strategies and standardized workflows, to be adopted for an effective implementation of BIM at the company level. But the services offered by a BIM Consultant also support:
- the design and creation of BIM models, according to the different disciplines (architectural, structural, plant engineering, etc.);
- the configuration of the Data Sharing Environment, through a collaborative BIM platform, to ensure an efficient exchange of information;
- the processing of the deliverables management, referring to the client or contractor (Information Specifications, Offer and Information Management Plan, Information Delivery Plans, etc.);
- the coordination and BIM validation procedures, to ensure the quality and reliability of the information produced;
- the management and revision of project documents;
- the choice of appropriate platforms and software packages to support the envisaged operations;
- alignment with interoperability standards;
- the management of the BIM process in all its BIM dimensions (time, costs, sustainability, facility management);
- the training of subjects involved in the management of digitised processes with specific BIM courses.
In summary, whether it is strategic help, technical support, training or process implementation, the task of the BIM Consultant is to ensure an efficient and effective application of the BIM methodology.
How do I become a BIM Consultant?
If you are interested in becoming a BIM Consultant, you should know that there is no specific certification to fill this role. However, you will need to gain a lot of experience and develop the skills and abilities required.
To play the role of BIM Consultant you must be able to intervene at any level of the process, starting from the planning phase up to the management of the entire life cycle of the work. For this reason, I recommend that you immediately download the trial of a BIM software for free and start experimenting concretely with the BIM methodology.
Knowing how to provide useful indications for the planning of BIM processes means being prepared on all aspects that gravitate around the methodology itself. Appropriate training courses and professional experience gained in the field will allow you, over time, to successfully pursue a career as a BIM Consultant.
