BIM in Brazil and how is it evolving: the 9 main points of the BIM-BR Strategy

BIM in Brazil is becoming mandatory from 2021. Here’s an overview of the 9 main points that define the BIM-BR Strategy in order to facilitate adoption throughout the country.

BIM (Building Information Modelling) is now considered the new model for the development of investments in the construction sector. The benefits of adopting BIM are known to everyone: saving time, costs and resources, especially when it comes to public works of large dimensions.

As a matter of fact, even overseas countries are now adopting a road map to BIM resembling what has already happened in Europe.

In this article we will analyze the BIM roadmap in Brazil.
In June 2017, the Strategic Committee for the Implementation of BIM (CE-BIM) and a Technical Support Group (CAT-BIM) were established in Brazil with 6 ad hoc groups dealing with specific topics:

regulation and standardisation
technological infrastructure
BIM platform
public purchases
training of human resources
communication.

BIM Brazil strategy can be summarized as follows:

purposes
aims
actions
indicators
goals

The ultimate goal of BIM-BR is an environment suitable for investing in BIM and its diffusion in the country.

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BIM Brazil strategy

The BIM-BR Strategy is organized in purposes, objectives, actions, indicators and goals according to a precise logical scheme.

The expected results from the BIM methodology spread by the brazilian government are the following:

ensure an increase if the productivity in the public construction sector
increase the quality of construction in public works
increase the accuracy of works planning, managing construction scheduling in a more timely and reliable manner and predict accurate cost estimates
contribute to the implementation of the building sustainability to reduce waste related to the demolition of public works
reduce the number of project variations
increase the level of professional qualification of the subjects involved in the process
reduce the running costs of the works carried out.

This strategy envisages 9 objectives that will influence initiatives and projects which are undertaken to implement national BIM.

Let’s analyze each objective individually.

Objective 1 BIM-BR: spread BIM and all its benefits

At the moment, the construction sector in Brazil is not yet formed on the use of BIM as a collaborative working methodology and the advantages connected to its adoption are still unknown.

The actions that the committee has planned to undertake are:

creation of a communication plan for the spread of BIM, its benefits, good practices implementation while recurring to publications, events and media
inform the supply chain stakeholders on the adequate adoption of BIM
reduction of possible discrepancies on national level
spread of the implementation tools, such as guides and BIM platforms.

Objective 2 BIM-BR: coordinate a training for the public sector to prepare it for the adoption of BIM

Requesting the use of BIM for the design, execution and management of public works (buildings and infrastructures) means adapting the structures and internal processes of public administrations.
Such results can be achieved through:

the establishment of structural plans for the adoption of this working methodology within public administrations and the renovation of internal processes
induction actions by the Federal Government using BIM (such as providing standard building models)
the promotion of international partnerships for sharing mutual experiences.

Objective 3 BIM-BR: create favorable conditions for investment in BIM for both public and private sectors

This objective aims at a widespread diffusion and use of the BIM methodology within the country.
This can be achieved:

creating incentive programs for investments by small and micro businesses
promoting international partnerships to attract investments
facilitating tax incentives required for the implementation of BIM-related technologies.

Objective 4 BIM-BR: encourage training with regard to BIM processes and methods

The fourth objective refers to the user’s ability to use BIM as a key factor and to the effective understanding, adoption and consolidation of BIM in the construction market.
The conditions to be met are:

definition of learning objectives and BIM skills for each level of implementation of the methodology
boost BIM courses and post-graduate training courses in the faculties of Engineering and Architecture
set up programs for the certification of professional figures.

Objective 5 BIM-BR: rules on public contracts based on the adoption of BIM

Dynamic efforts are being made to implement the legislation to support the adoption of BIM in public works. Through a series of laws and regulations proposals together with government programs BIM in Brazil is widespreading.

Objective 6 BIM-BR: develop technical standards, guidelines and specific protocols for the adoption of BIM

The drafting of technical reference standards is necessary for a precise and coordinated diffusion of BIM.
In this sense, there are 4 different actions:

publication of documents and technical references focused on buildings and infrastructures to support the use of BIM.
disclosure of the work by the ABNT (Associação Brasileira de NormasTécnicas) in the drafting of the technical standards ABNT / CEE – 134.
definition of a regulatory framework on the requirements for certification of buildings and infrastructures BIM objects.
definition of a regulatory framework on the requirements for the certification of professional figures.

Objective 7 BIM-BR: develop a platform and a national BIM archive

The BIM platform will be an important means of communication for the stakeholders in the construction sector so to spread information and best practices on the use of BIM. In addition, the establishment of a BIM National Library (BNBIM) ill make an archive of digital objects available to professionials of the sector.

Objective 8 BIM-BR: encouraging the use of BIM based tools and their development

The actions envisaged to reach this objective are:

boost the investments in the ICT sector
align internal programs to the BIM BR Strategy with other governmental programs related to digital development (smart cities, industry 4.0, etc.).

Objective 9 BIM-BR: intensify the development and application of new technologies related to BIM

BIM will be considered a tool for digital development and for this it will be necessary to envisage, promote and develop new technologies.
With this regard, the relating objectives are:

encourage the updating and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions
incentive investments in BIM laboratories in scientific, technological and innovation institutions (ICT)
adapt research, development and innovation programs
align the agenda with the other government programs affected by the BIM-BR Strategy
use existing induction tools for the expansion of data communication networks in priority regions for the BIM-BR Strategy.

Roadmap del BIM in Brazil

The adoption of BIM in Brazil will be divided into 3 phases.

PHASE 1

The first phase is scheduled to start in January 2021 and focuses on the realization of architectural and engineering projects for the construction of new buildings and the extension or redevelopment of works when having a significant impact on the existing buildings.

In this phase it will be required the architectural, engineering (structural and plant) reproduction of digital models, the conduction of clash detection and the informative revisions of such models.

Furthermore, it will also be required the production of the graphic works directly from the digital models and the relative extraction of the geometric quantities.

PHASE 2

The second phase, which will start in January 2024, will have to implement some activities related to the use of digital models, such as the possibility to plan the works execution in case of a new construction or expansion.

This will give the possibility to create digital models that are examples of what is actually built (as-built models).

PHASE 3

The third phase, starting from January 2028, will involve the creation of digital models and therefore be able to master a process that covers all aspects related to the building life cycle..

In this sense BIM will be applied not only to new works and major renovation or redevelopment, but also to the management and maintenance of existing assets.

Click here to download the official document issued by the Brazilian Government

Click here to download Edificius, the architectural BIM design software