BIM EXECUTION PLAN

OVERVIEW OF THE BIM EXECUTION PLANNING

PROCEDURE FOR BUILDING INFORMATION
MODELING
 1. INTRODUCTION

❖ 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, cost estimating, and design coordination), along with a detailed
design and documentation of the process for executing BIM throughout a project’s lifecycle.
2. Why Should the Project Team Develop a BIM Project
Execution Plan?
❖ To effectively integrate BIM into the project delivery process, it is important for the team to
develop a detailed execution plan for BIM implementation.
❖ A BIM Project Execution Plan outlines the overall vision along with implementation details for
the team to follow throughout the project.
❖ The BIM Plan should be developed in the early stages of a project; continually developed as
additional participants are added to the project; and monitored, updated, and revised as
needed throughout the implementation phase of the project.
❖ The plan should define the scope of BIM implementation on the project, identify the process
flow for BIM tasks, define the information exchanges between parties, and describe the
required project and company infrastructure needed to support the implementation.
❖ By developing a BIM Plan, the project and project team members can achieve the following
value:
a) All parties will clearly understand and communicate the strategic goals for implementing
BIM on the project
b) Organizations will understand their roles and responsibilities in the implementation
c) The team will be able to design an execution process which is well suited for each team
member’s business practices and typical organizational workflows
d) The plan will outline additional resources, training, or other competencies necessary to
successfully implement BIM for the intended uses
e) The plan will provide a benchmark for describing the process to future participants who
join the project
f) The purchasing divisions will be able to define contract language to ensure that all
project participants fulfill their obligations
g) The baseline plan will provide a goal for measuring progress throughout the project.
3. BIM Project Execution Planning Procedure

➢ A structured procedure is shown in Fig 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
Fig 1. The BIM Project Execution Planning Procedure
 4. What Information is Included in a BIM Project
Execution Plan?
When complete, the BIM Plan should address the following categories of information:

a. BIM Project Execution Plan Overview Information

b. Project Information
c. Key Project Contacts
d. Project Goals / BIM Objectives
e. Organizational Roles and Staffing
f. BIM Process Design
g. BIM Information Exchanges
h. BIM and Facility Data Requirements
i. Collaboration Procedures
j. Model Quality Control Procedures
k. Technology Infrastructure Needs
l. Model Structure
m. Project Deliverables
n. Delivery Strategy / Contracts
5. Who Should Develop the BIM Plan?
➢ To develop the BIM Plan, a planning team should be assembled in the early stages of a
project.
➢ This team should consist of representatives from all the primary project team members
including the owner, designers, contractors, engineers, major specialty contractors,
facility manager, and project owner.
➢ It is very important for the owner, as well as, all primary team members to fully support
the planning process.
6. What Meetings are Needed to Successfully Develop the BIM
Plan?

➢ The BIM Plan for the project cannot be developed in isolation.

➢ No one party within the project team can adequately outline the execution plan, while also
obtaining the necessary team member commitments for successful BIM implementation.
➢ In order to have a successful project using BIM, full coordination and collaboration by all
parties is an absolute necessity.
➢ The planning team should conduct a series of planning meetings to develop the execution plan
➢ On most projects a minimum of two or three meetings will be needed to develop the overall
BIM Plan.
➢ The initial meeting will need to have key decision makers for all organizations.
➢ Follow-up meetings will require fewer people, and be more targeted on the details related to
execution.
I. Identify BIM Goals and Uses
➢ The first step in developing a BIM Project Execution Plan is to identify the appropriate BIM Uses
based on project and team goals.
➢ A current challenge and opportunity faced by the early project planning team is identifying the
most appropriate uses for BIM on a project given the project characteristics, participants’ goals
and capabilities, and the desired risk allocations.
➢ There are many different tasks which can benefit from the incorporation of BIM and these
benefits are documented as BIM Uses.
➢ Twenty-five uses for consideration on a project are given in Fig 2.
Fig 2. BIM Uses throughout a Building Lifecycle
1. Defining the BIM Goals for the Project
➢ Prior to identifying BIM Uses, the project team should outline project goals related as to BIM.
➢ These project goals should be specific to the project at hand, measureable, and strive to
improve the successes of the planning, design, construction and operations of the facility.
➢ One category of goals should relate to general project performance including reducing the
project schedule duration, reducing the project cost, or increasing the overall quality of the
project.
○ Examples of quality goals include the development of a more energy efficient design
through the rapid iteration of energy modeling, creating higher quality installed designs
through detailed 3D coordination of systems, or developing more accurate record
models to improve the quality of performance modeling and commissioning.
➢ Other goals may target the efficiency of specific tasks to allow for overall time or cost savings
by the project participants.
➢ These goals include the use of modeling applications to create design documentation more
efficiently, to develop estimates through automated takeoffs, or to reduce the time to enter
data into the maintenance system.
➢ These items are only suggestions of potential goals that the project team may have when
beginning to decide how to implement BIM on a project.
➢ It is by no means a comprehensive list and it is essential to identify the specific goals that will
provide incentive for implementing BIM on the project.
2. BIM Use Selection Procedure
➢ Once the goals are defined, the project team should identify the appropriate tasks that the team
would like to perform using BIM.
➢ This analysis of BIM Uses should initially focus on the desired outcomes for the overall process.
➢ Therefore, the team should begin with the Operations phase, and identify the value for each of
the BIM Uses as it specifically relates to the project by providing a High, Medium or Low priority
to each use.
➢ The team can then progress to each preceding project phase (Construction, Design and
Planning).
➢ To help facilitate this BIM Use review process, a BIM Selection Worksheet has been developed.
➢ This template includes a list of the potential BIM Uses, along with fields to review the value,
responsible party, capabilities, additional notes, and the decision from the team on whether to
implement the BIM Use.
BIM Use Selection Worksheet Completion Procedure

1. Identify the potential BIM Uses- It is important that the team consider each of potential uses
and consider their relationship with the project goals.
2. Identify the responsible parties for each potential BIM Use- For each use that is being
considered, at least one responsible party should be identified. The responsible parties include
any team members who will be involved in the use if it is performed, along with potential
outside participants that may be needed to assist with the implementation. List the lead
responsible party first in the spreadsheet.
3. Rate the capabilities of each party for each BIM use identified in the following categories
a. Resources – Does the organization have the resources necessary to implement the BIM
Use required? Some of the general resources required include:
i. Personnel - BIM Team
ii. Software
iii. Software Training
iv. Hardware
v. IT support
b. Competency – Does the responsible party have the know-how to successfully
implement the specific BIM use? To determine competency, the project team should
understand the details for the BIM use and how it will be carried out on the specific
project.
c. Experience - Has the responsible party performed the Use of BIM in the past? The team
experience associated with each BIM Use is vital to the success of implementation.
4. Identify additional value and risk associated with each Use- The team should consider the
potential value gained, as well as, additional project risk that may be incurred by proceeding
with each BIM Use.
5. Determine whether or not to implement each BIM Use- The team should discuss each BIM
Use in detail to determine whether or not the BIM Use is appropriate for the project given its
characteristics (both project and team). This will require that the team determine the potential
added value or benefit to the project and then compare this potential benefit to the cost of
implementation. The team will also need to consider the risk elements associated with
implementing or not implementing each particular BIM Use.
II. DESIGNING THE BIM PROJECT
EXECUTION PROCESS
➢ After each BIM Use is identified, it is necessary to understand the implementation process for
each BIM Use and the implementation process of the project as a whole.
➢ The process map developed allows the team to understand the overall BIM process, identify
the information exchanges that will be shared between multiple parties, and clearly define the
various processes to be performed for the identified BIM Uses.
➢ The use of process mapping techniques allows the team to effectively perform this step.
➢ These process maps will also serve as the basis for identifying other important implementation
topics including contract structure, BIM deliverable requirements, information technology
infrastructure, and selection criteria for future team members.
1. Mapping the Project Execution Process

➢ Mapping the BIM Process for the project requires the project team to first develop an overview
map which shows how the different BIM Uses will be performed.
➢ Then, detailed BIM Use Process Maps are developed to define the specific BIM implementation
at an increased level of detail.
Level 1: BIM Overview Map

❖ The Overview Map shows the relationship of BIM Uses which will be employed on the project.
❖ This process map also contains the high level information exchanges that occur throughout the
project lifecycle.

Level 2: Detailed BIM Use Process Maps

❖ Detailed BIM Use Process Maps are created for each identified BIM Use on the project to
clearly define the sequence of various processes to be performed.
❖ These maps also identify the responsible parties for each process, reference information
content, and the information exchanges which will be created and shared with other
processes.
2. Creating a BIM Overview Map
This section details out how to create a BIM Overview Map.

1. Place potential BIM Uses into a BIM Overview Map- Once the team identifies the BIM Uses
for the project the team can start the mapping process by adding each of the BIM Uses as a
process within the map. It is important to understand that a BIM Use may be added to the
overview map at several locations if it is performed at several times within the project lifecycle.

2. Arrange BIM Uses according to project sequence in the BIM Overview Map -After the project
team has established the BIM processes that will be implemented on the project, the team
should sequentially order these processes. One of the purposes of the Overview Map is to
identify the phase for each BIM Use (e.g., Planning, Design, Construction or Operation) and
provide the team with the implementation sequence. For simplistic purposes, the BIM Uses
should be aligned with the BIM deliverables schedule.
3. Identify the responsible parties for each process- Responsible Parties should be clearly identified for
each process. For some processes, this may be an easy task, but for others it may not. It is important in
all cases to consider which team member is best suited to successfully complete the task. Additionally
some processes may have multiple responsible parties. The identified party will be responsible for
clearly defining the information required to implement the process as well as the information produced
by the process.
4. Determine the Information Exchanges required to implement each BIM Use- The BIM Overview Map
includes the critical information exchanges which are either internal to a particular process or shared
between processes and responsible parties. In general, it is important to include all information
exchanges that will pass from one party to another. In current applications, these exchanges are typically
implemented through the transfer of a data file, although it could also include the entry of information
into a common database
3. Creating a Detailed BIM Use Map
➢ After creating an Overview Map, a Detailed BIM Use Process Map must be created for each identified
BIM Use to clearly define the sequence of the various processes to be performed within that BIM
Use.
➢ It is important to realize that each project and company is unique, so there may be many potential
methods that a team could use to achieve a particular process.
➢ Therefore, these template process maps will need to be customized by project teams to achieve the
project and organizational goals.
○ For example, the template process map may need to be tailored to integrate a specific
computer application workflow or project team work sequence.
A Detailed BIM Use Process Map includes three categories of information:

1. Reference Information: Structured information resources (enterprise and external) required to

execute a BIM Use.
2. Process: A logical sequence of activities that constitute a particular BIM Use.
3. Information Exchange: The BIM deliverables from one process which may be required as a
resource for future processes
To create a Detailed Process Map, a team should:

A. Hierarchically decompose the BIM Use into a set of processes

B. Define the dependency between processes
C. Develop the Detailed Process Map with the following information
a. Reference Information
b. Information Exchanges
c. Responsible Party
D. Add Goal Verification Gateways at important decision points in the process
E. Document, review and refine this process for further use
4. Symbols Used for Process Map Representation

➢ For BIM Execution, the preferred notation for process mapping development is the Business
Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) developed by the Object Management Group
➢ One of the key elements of the BPMN is the visual appearance of the process map in terms of
the symbols and markers used.
➢ These should conform to the shapes defined in BPMN specification.
➢ To develop a Process Map for the BIM Plan, the following symbols may be used:
Fig 3. Process Mapping Notation for BIM Process Maps
IV.DEVELOPING
INFORMATION EXCHANGES
❖ To define these exchanges, the team needs to understand what information is necessary
to deliver each BIM Use.
❖ To assist in this task, an Information Exchange (IE) Worksheet was designed.
❖ The Information Exchange Worksheet should be completed in the early stages of a
project after designing and mapping the BIM process.
1. Pulling the Information Through the Project

➢ Every element of a project does not need to be included for a model to be valuable.
➢ Therefore, it is important to only define the model components that are necessary to
implement each BIM Use.
➢ Fig 4 depicts an example of how information flows through a BIM implementation
process
Fig 4. Pulling the Information through the Project
2. Information Exchange Worksheet

➢ After process map development, information exchanges between project participants are
clearly identified.
➢ It is important for the team members and, in particular, the author and receiver (for each
information exchange transaction) to clearly understand the information content.
➢ The procedure for creating the information exchange requirements is detailed below:
1) Identify each potential information exchange from the Level 1 Process Map
➢ Information Exchanges that are shared between two parties should be defined.
➢ One BIM Use may have multiple exchanges; however, to simplify the process, only one
exchange is necessary to document each Use.
➢ Also, the time of exchange should be derived from the Level One Map.
➢ This ensures that the involved parties know when the BIM deliverables are expected to be
completed along the project’s schedule
2) Choose a Model Element Breakdown structure for the project
➢ After the project team has established the Information Exchanges (IE), the team should select
an element breakdown structure for the project.
3) Identify the Information Requirements for each Exchange (Output & Input)

To define each information exchange, the following information should be documented:

a) Model Receiver – Identify all project team members that will be receiving the information to
perform a future BIM Use. These parties are responsible for filling out the Input Exchanges.
Output exchanges will not have a model receiver, and should be filled out by the project team,
initiated by the Architect.
b) Model File Type – List the specific software application(s), as well as, the version that will be
used to manipulate the model during each BIM Use by the receiver. This is pertinent in order to
identify any interoperability that may exist between exchanges.
c) Information – Identify only the information necessary for the BIM Use implementation.
d) Notes – Not all necessary requirements for model content may be covered by the information and
element breakdown structure, and if more description is needed, it should be added as a note. Notes
can be specific to certain modeling content and/or depict a modeling technique
4) Assign Responsible Parties to Author the Information Required
➢ Each line item in an Information Exchange should have a party who is responsible for creating the
information.
➢ The responsibility for creating the information should lie with the party that best understands the
information.
➢ And the time of input should be when it is most efficient within the project, based on the professional’s
schedule, the progress of the design.
➢ This should be designated by the time the exchange takes place.
5) Compare Input versus Output Content
➢ Once the information requirements are defined, it is necessary for the project team to discuss
the specific elements where the Output information (Authored) does not match the Input
information (requested).
 V. DEFINE SUPPORTING
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BIM
IMPLEMENTATION
➢ The final step in the four-part BIM Project
Execution Planning Procedure is to identify
and define the project infrastructure required
to effectively implement BIM as planned.
➢ Fourteen specific categories support the BIM
project execution process.
➢ These categories, as displayed in Figure 5,
were developed after analyzing the
documents listed below, reviewing current
execution plans, discussing the issues with
industry experts and revised through
extensive review by various industry
organizations Fig 5 BIM Project Execution Plan Categories
1. BIM Project Execution Plan Overview

➢ It is important for the project team to understand the reason that a BIM Project
Execution Plan was created.
➢ This section should include information such as a BIM mission statement and other
executive summary level information.
➢ This section should be used to establish the importance of the plan.
2. Project Information
➢ When developing the Project Execution Plan, the team
should review and document critical project information
that may be valuable for the BIM team for future
reference.
➢ This section includes basic Project information that may
be valuable for current and future.
➢ This section may include items such as project owner,
project name, project location and address, contract
type / delivery method, brief project description, project
number(s) and the project schedule / phases /
milestones.
➢ See figure 6 for example project information items. Fig 6.Diagram of Critical Project
Overview Information
3. Key Project Contacts

➢ At least one representative from each stakeholder involved should be identified including the
owner, designers, consultants, prime contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, and
suppliers.
➢ These representatives could include personal such as Project Managers, BIM Managers,
Discipline Leads, Superintendents and other major project roles.
➢ All stakeholders’ contact information should be collected, exchanged and, when convenient,
posted on a shared collaborative project management web-portal.
4. Project BIM Goals / BIM Uses

➢ The BIM Project Execution Plan should document the previous steps in the BIM project
execution planning process.
➢ It is valuable for the team to document the underlying purpose for implementing BIM on the
project as well as explain why key BIM Use decisions were made.
➢ The plan should include a clear list of the BIM goals, the BIM Use Analysis Worksheet, as well
as specific information on the BIM Uses selected.
5. Organizational Roles and Staffing

➢ The roles in each organization and their specific responsibilities must be defined.
➢ For each BIM Use selected, the team must identify which organization(s) will staff and perform that use.
➢ This includes the number of personnel by job title necessary to complete the BIM Use, the estimated
worker hours, the primary location that will complete the Use and the Lead organizational contact for
that Use.
➢ Depending which phase of a project’s lifecycle this plan is completed several items in this section maybe
challenging to complete.
➢ Like the rest of the Plan, as much as possible should be completed and the remaining should be
completed as the information becomes available.
6. BIM Process Design

➢ The process maps created for each selected BIM Use in step two of the BIM Project Execution
Planning Process should be documented in the Plan.
➢ These process maps provide a detailed plan for implementation of each BIM Use.
➢ They also define the specific information exchanges for each activity, building the foundation
for the entire execution plan.
➢ The plan should include the overview map of the BIM Uses, a detailed map of each BIM Use,
and a description of elements on each map.
7. BIM Information Exchanges

➢ The team should document the information exchanges created as part of the planning process
in the BIM Project Execution Plan.
➢ The information exchanges will illustrate the model elements by discipline, level of detail, and
any specific attributes important to the project.
➢ The project models do not need to include every element of the project, but it is important for
the team to define the model components and discipline specific deliverables to maximize
value and limit unnecessary modeling on the project.
8. BIM and Facility Data Requirements

➢ Some project owners have very specific BIM requirements.

➢ It is important for the plan to document the BIM requirements in the native format from the
owner.
➢ This way the team is aware of the requirements and can plan accordingly to deliver those
requirements.
9. Collaboration Procedures

➢ The team must develop their electronic and activity collaboration procedures.
➢ This includes model management (e.g., model check-out, revision procedures, etc.), and standard
meeting actions and agendas.
10.Quality Control
➢ Project teams should determine and document their overall strategy for quality control of the model
➢ To ensure model quality in every project phase and before information exchanges, procedures must be
defined and implemented.
➢ Each BIM created during lifecycle of the project must be pre-planned considering model content, level
of detail, format and party responsible for updates; and distribution of the model and data to various
parties.
➢ Each party contributing to the BIM model should have a responsible person to coordinate the model.
This person, as part of the BIM team, should participate in all major BIM activities as required by the
team.
➢ They should be responsible for addressing issues that might arise with keeping the model and data
updated, accurate, and comprehensive.
11.Technology Infrastructure Needs

➢ The team should determine the requirements for hardware, software platforms, software licenses,
networks, and modeling content for the project.
12.Model Structure
➢ The team must identify the methods to ensure model accuracy and comprehensiveness.
➢ After agreeing on collaboration procedures and technology infrastructure needs, the planning team
should reach consensus on how the model is created, organized, communicated and controlled.
➢ Items to consider include:
○ Defining a file naming structure for all designers, contractor, subcontractors, and other project
members
○ Describing and diagram how the models will be separated (e.g. by building, by floors, by zones, by
areas, and/or by disciplines)
○ Describing the measurement system (imperial or metric) and coordinate system (georeferenced /
origin point) to be used to allow for easier model integration.
○ Identifying and agreeing upon items such as the BIM and CAD standards, content reference
information, and the version of IFC, etc.
13.Project Deliverables

➢ The project team should consider what deliverables are required by the project owner.
➢ With the deliverable project phase, due date format and any other specific information about
the deliverable should be considered.
14.Delivery Strategy / Contract
➢ When implementing BIM on a project, attention should be paid to the delivery method and
contraction methods before the project begins.
➢ Ideally a more integrated approach such as design-build or Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) would
be used.
➢ While it usually yields the best results for the project, an integrated approach is not allows possible
on all project.
➢ This could be because of a number of reasons.
➢ Additionally the contract type and delivery method may have already been selected before BIM
planning takes place.
➢ If this is the case the team needs to consider future subcontractors and consultants and also consider
what steps are necessary to ensure successful BIM implement no matter what the delivery method.
➢ BIM can be implemented successfully within all delivery methods.
VI.IMPLEMENTING THE BIM
PROJECT EXECUTION
PLANNING PROCEDURE
➢ The development of the BIM Plan is a collaborative process.
➢ Some portions of the procedure, e.g., discussing the overall project goals, are a collaborative
tasks, while other portions, e.g., defining the required file structure or a detailed information
exchange, do not necessarily require collaboration.
➢ The key to successfully developing the plan is to ensure that meetings are scheduled for the
collaborative tasks when needed, and that the non-collaborative tasks are completed in a
timely manner, in preparation for these meetings.
➢ The BIM Plan can be developed through a series of collaborative meetings, followed by work
tasks which take place between the meetings.
➢ A series of four meeting have been defined to develop the BIM Plan.
➢ The goal of presenting this four meeting series is to illustrate one structure that the team can
use to effectively develop the plan.
➢ For some projects, the team may be able to reduce the number of meetings through effective
collaboration between meetings.
1. Meeting Structure for Developing a BIM Project
Execution Plan
Meeting 1: Identify BIM Goals and Uses The first meeting should focus on the discussion of the overall goals
for implementing BIM, along with identifying the BIM Uses. A draft agenda for this meeting would include:

1. Introduce and Discuss BIM Experiences (both individual and organizational)

2. Develop BIM goals (reference BIM Goal template document)
3. Identify which BIM Uses to pursue (reference the BIM Uses worksheet)
4. Develop the frequency and sequencing for the BIM Uses and identify a responsible party to develop the
high level (Level One) BIM Overview process map
5. Identify the responsible parties to develop detailed BIM Use process maps, e.g., the level two maps
6. Organize the schedule for future meetings
7. Agree on the tasks ahead and who is responsible for each
Tasks Prior to Meeting 2

❖ After the initial kick-off meeting, the organizations should clearly understand who will be responsible
for the defined tasks, and in what sequences the BIM Uses will be executed.
❖ The responsible party for the Level One map should clearly document and distribute it to the project
team for review prior to the following meeting.
❖ Each responsible party for the specified BIM Uses should also draft their workflow prior to the Design
BIM Project Execution Process meeting (Meeting 2)
Meeting 2: Design BIM Project Execution Process The Project Specific BIM Use Process Maps shall contain a
detailed process plan that clearly defines the different activities to be performed, who will perform them, and
what information will be created and shared with future processes. The agenda for this meeting will include:

1. Review the initial BIM Goals and Uses

2. Review the high level BIM Overview Process Map
3. Review the more detailed workflows from the various parties and identify areas of overlap or gaps
between the various modeling tasks
4. Review the process to address opportunities and concerns
5. Identify the primary information exchanges within the process
6. Identify responsible parties for coordinating each information exchange including the author and user
of each exchange
7. Allow sub-teams for each information exchange to coordinate potential interim meetings as needed
to discuss the information exchange requirements
8. Agree on the tasks ahead and who is responsible for each
Tasks Prior to Meeting 3

❖ After the Design BIM Project Execution Process meeting, the team must focus on developing
the information exchanges.
❖ Each responsible party for an exchange should take the lead in developing the information
exchanges.
❖ The authors of the information exchange will need to coordinate with the information
receivers to ensure that they have developed consistent information exchanges with minimal
inconsistencies to discuss at Meeting Three.
❖ The team members should also prepare for the discussions regarding infrastructure
requirements which will occur in Meeting Three.
❖ Team members should compile examples of typical methods that they have used or wish to use
on the project to share with the team.
Meeting 3: Develop Information Exchanges and Define Supporting Infrastructure for BIM
Implementation The agenda for this meeting will include:

1. Review the initial BIM Goals and BIM Uses to ensure that the project planning remains
consistent with the initial goals
2. Review the information exchange requirements developed by the team members between
Meeting Two and Meeting Three
3. Identify the infrastructure needed to support the process and information exchanges as
defined in Chapter Five
4. Agree on tasks ahead and who is responsible for each
Tasks Prior to Meeting 4
❖ The categories and information should be compiled into the final BIM Execution Plan format
and distributed to the project team in preparation for the final plan review meeting.
Meeting 4: Review Final BIM Project Execution Plan The agenda for this meeting will include:

1. Review the draft BIM Project Execution Plan

2. Develop the project controls system to ensure that the plan is being followed, and that the
plan is up to date

3. Outline the procedure for formal adoption of the BIM Project Execution Plan and
monitoring process

4. Agree on tasks ahead and who is responsible for each

Tasks after Meeting 4
❖ Once the meetings are complete, the BIM Project Execution Plan should be distributed to all
parties and approved as appropriate for the project and contracting structure.
❖ Team members should ensure that the plan monitoring and updating procedure is
implemented into the project controls system.
2. Planning Meeting Schedule

➢ One of the first tasks of the team is to determine the planning meeting schedule.
➢ This schedule should identify the defined meetings, along with the scheduled dates for the
meeting.
➢ The team may decide that they wish to spread the planning procedure across several weeks
with one of the defined meetings each week or every other week.
➢ But they also may wish to define an accelerated planning schedule over several days with the
team specifically focused on the development of the plan.
3. Monitoring Progress against the BIM Execution
Plan
➢ Once the initial BIM Execution Plan is created, it will need to be continuously communicated,
monitored and updated throughout the project.
➢ In particular, the Project Execution Plan should be embedded into appropriate contracts, and
then updated as needed when new team members join the project team.
➢ At a minimum, it is valuable for the BIM managers from the various team members to meet on
a monthly basis to discuss the progress of the information modeling initiatives on the project
and to address any implementation challenges that team members may be encountering.
➢ These meetings may be incorporated with other team meetings, but it is important to
specifically address issues that may arise in the implementation of the plan.
VII.BIM PROJECT EXECUTION
PLANNING FOR
ORGANIZATIONS
➢ As stated in the introduction, BIM Plans require typical methods developed by each
organization involved.
➢ The purpose of this chapter is to define how organizations can utilize the BIM Project Execution
Planning procedure to develop these typical methods for BIM project implementation.
➢ Figure 7 revisits the BIM Plan concept to show how individual means and methods play a vital
role in the implementation process.
➢ To obtain the greatest benefit from BIM, the organizations must be willing to develop and
share this information with the project team.
Fig 7 The BIM Project Execution Planning Concept
➢ Organizations should develop internal standards of how they intend to use BIM as a
company.
➢ By completing the planning process as an organization prior to the Project BIM Plan,
each stakeholder will have a starting point for planning and be able to modify existing
organization standards rather than creating new standards.
➢ These standards can also be shared to with others within the organization to help
communicate means and methods.
➢ To create BIM Project Execution Planning standards for an organization that same four-
step procedure used for projects.
 VIII. CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BIM
PROJECT EXECUTION PLANNING
 ➢ Throughout the validation of the BIM Project Execution Planning process, there have been
many concepts identified as recommendations for keys to successful implementation.
➢ If all of these aspects are taken into consideration, it should lead not only to a better BIM
Project Execution Plan, but also a better implementation of BIM throughout the life-cycle of
the project.

Each project team needs a BIM Champion.

➢ A project using the BIM Project Execution Planning Procedure is successful when there is at
least one person with a strong desire to develop the BIM Plan.
➢ Typically from the owner organization or a program/construction management role, these
champions take time to learn the procedure and work to help compile final BIM Plan.
➢ They also market the value and necessity of the process to the other project team members.
Owner involvement is critical throughout the entire process.
➢ By providing the guidelines for model and information deliverables, the owner can emphasize the
importance of BIM implementation for reaching their desired end goals for the facility.
➢ Owner involvement and enthusiasm regarding the process can encourage project team members to seek
the best processes that will benefit the entire project.
➢ Owners should consider writing a BIM Project Execution Plan into their contract documents to ensure that
the document, planning, and project are completed to their expectations.

It is essential that the project team fosters an open environment of sharing and collaboration.

➢ The BIM Execution Planning Process requires organizations to provide information regarding their standard
practices, including information files.
➢ While certain contract structures can lead to collaboration challenges, the goal of this procedure is to have
the team develop a BIM process containing deliverables that will be beneficial to all members involved.
➢ In order to reach this agreement, the project team needs to have open lines of communication
The BIM Project Execution Planning Procedure can be adapted for multiple uses and
situations beyond the original scope of the project .
➢ Even if project teams take only what they need from the procedure and do not complete the
entire process, these projects will still create comprehensive BIM Plans.
➢ Teams have the ability to revise the template documents to fit their specific processes, without
modifying any of the core steps of the planning procedure.
➢ These teams then have the ability to eventually add other portions of the procedure, which
will further assist with their planning.
The BIM Project Execution Procedure can be adapted to different contracting structures.

➢ It has been proven that the BIM process has the ability to be more comprehensively adopted in an
integrated project delivery (IPD) method.
➢ However, none of the case studies used to validate this procedure were used with an IPD contract.
➢ Because of this, it is evident that the core steps of the procedure are helpful no matter the delivery
method of the project.
➢ Depending on the contract strategy, additional steps may be needed to ensure project planning
success

Developing an organizational BIM Project Execution Plan before project inception can decrease project
planning time.

➢ By performing organizational level planning, the team can reduce the amount of time spent on each
step of the planning process and maintain a manageable planning scope by defining their standard
goals, uses, processes, and information exchanges.
There is great value in early planning.
➢ If planning does not take place early, extra time may be needed to resolve inconsistencies
downstream.
➢ This often results in more time and resources used than the original planning would have
needed.

The BIM Plan should be treated as a living document.

➢ When beginning the BIM Project Execution Planning process, it is valuable to understand that
the BIM Plan will be constantly changing and updated.
➢ It is unrealistic to assume that the project team will have all information necessary to
completely develop a BIM Plan at the inception of the project.
➢ It will take time to populate the information because additional and new information must be
incorporated as project team members are added.
Once an initial plan is developed, it must be reviewed regularly.
➢ A revision schedule needs to set based on a frequency that the project team deems appropriate.
➢ Throughout the lifecycle of the project, it is important to keep the initial project goals in mind to
ensure that the team is working towards their completion.
➢ If there is any deviation, there should be a reassessment of or a rededication of the original goals.

The appropriate resources must be made available to ensure planning success.

➢ It is important to keep in mind that the level of effort needed for this process should not be
underestimated.
➢ Project teams must consider the time allocated for planning when generating both the project
schedule and project budget.
➢ Due to the learning curve associated with this process, teams should overestimate the time it will
take to produce a BIM Project Execution Plan.
This procedure creates an opening for all BIM related discussions.
➢ Certain issues may have been assumed or not even considered before the initial planning
meeting.
➢ These discussions, while maybe not pertaining directly to the BIM Execution Plan, may be
extremely important and necessary to allow for the entire project to run seamlessly.

The BIM Project Execution Planning Process will become more efficient once the teams have
gone through the process several times and have developed many of their own planning
resources.
THANKYOU