Industry events begin in Sydney. Image: Steve Rosset/Dreamstime.com
Mark Bew, head of the UK government’s Digital Built Britain programme and chairman of consultant PCSG, travels to Australia this month to share learning from the UK’s recent experiences of implementing a mandate to use BIM across public sector procurement.
In a packed programme of public and private sector meetings and conference presentations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Bew will highlight lessons learnt in the UK as the industry has reshaped its culture and processes over the last decade to embrace the opportunity of digital engineering.
“There is a huge opportunity for infrastructure clients in Australia to embrace the use of BIM and digital engineering techniques,” said Bew. “The experience to date in the UK has demonstrated that huge efficiency gains are possible across the design, construction and operational stages of asset life.”
"There is a huge opportunity for infrastructure clients in Australia to embrace the use of BIM. The experience to date in the UK has demonstrated that huge efficiency gains are possible across the design, construction and operational stages of asset life."
Mark Bew
The Australian government is considering following the UK’s lead and making BIM compulsory on public sector contracts.
Bew will be presenting at industry events starting in Sydney and Melbourne from 30 September which will provide industry with lessons learnt from the UK government’s BIM Level 2 public sector mandate and the Digital Built Britain journey.
He will explain his thoughts on how technology is leading practice across the construction sector and highlight the way that the UK is working to embrace digital engineering in the design, construction and operation phases of asset life.
“Without question the decision by the UK government to mandate the use of BIM across public sector projects has accelerated digital transformation across UK infrastructure,” he said. “It is an example that other nations can certainly learn from.”
Bew will be joined by Gavin Cotterill who leads the new Melbourne-based PCSG Australia business having joined the firm recently from consultant Aurecon where he led the firm’s digital advisory service.
While Cotterill is clear that infrastructure clients across Australia and South East Asia have much to learn from the UK experience of digital engineering technology as it embarks on its challenging Aus$50bn infrastructure programme, it is not simply a matter of replicating the UK experiences.
“The scale and complexity of challenges facing infrastructure asset owners and operators in Australia and South East Asia is very different and so requires a very geographically and culturally different approach to the solution,” said Cotterill.
“The creation of a mature, digital economy for the Australian built environment will deliver high-performing assets and exceptional value for all asset owners (public and private), taxpayers, and the community as well as a knowledge base to enable the Smart City and create a Digital Built Australia,” he added.
