The Tool Depended on the Individual
What is the subject-matter of the profession of economist in the field of construction? Are there any particularities in BIM implementation in France? These and other issues we explored with President the National Union of Economists in the field of Construction (UNTEC), a leading adviser to the French government on BIM - Pierre Mit.
Dear Mr. Mit, which tasks are performed by engineers-economists in the field of construction?
Economist in construction is a very ancient profession. Its traces can be found in the days of the pyramids, and then it was called a “measurer”. With meantime, the name has changed first for “quantity surveyor”, then “controller”, and later “consultant”. Finally, in 70s a title of “economist in construction” was adopted and UNTEC (the National Union of Economists in construction) was created in 1972. An economical Project operation means to manage works volume (quantitative) and composition (prescriptions) starting with feasibility study of a project and finishing by building’s demolition.
What are concepts of BIM dissemination and implementation all over the world in your opinion? Is France really ahead of the other countries in this field?
BIM is merely a tool to facilitate the solution of tasks, without affecting the project participants’ responsibilities. In different countries organization of operators participating in the building operational lifetime can vary, but the ultimate goal is the same. Introduction of BIM in France is preoccupied by the introduction of “BIM for everybody” regardless of the operations. That is can be the main distinction of France compared with other countries, where the introduction of BIM is split up by sectors.
Our readers are interested how the introduction of BIM has been promoted in France. Do you have a sufficient amount of implemented projects?
The use of BIM is based on the voluntary basis. There are major players - users of the system because they have seen in it an opportunity for workflow enhancements. In addition, they like the status of pioneers. They also used this tool for operations or very complex objects, for which the use of BIM was necessary. In all other cases, there has been a strengthening of influence through the dissemination of information on this topic and organization of the sectors. The sure initiator of BIM applications must be a customer.
Are there any projects implemented by using BIM already operated in France, and what is an economic effect of this? Could you, please, provide the examples?
The most striking example is the regional Council of Burgundy, which initiated the introduction of BIM, with a view to manage their subordinate authorities, in particular, lycées. They were “digitized” and all the new operations are carried out with the use of BIM. Advantages were evident in the course of daily work on management, but there are problems to quote statistical data.
What is the administrative authorities’ attitude to BIM, are there any involved state programs in France?
France has got a PTNB program of transition construction to digital form. The program is provided with a state aid budget of 20 million euros for the period of 3 years. The program’s key directions are the following:
1) to conduct experiments, increasing and persuading with a view to attract new users to a digital form;
2) participate in promotion of knowledge and skills in the field of digital technologies to professional constructors and to create the impetus for the creation of instruments, adapted for each stage of design,
paying particular attention to the BIM solutions for small projects;
3) develop a reliable digital ecosystem to promote standardization in order to facilitate the interoperability of software, access to information on materials, products, equipment and systems.
How do you see Untec ‘s contribution in the introduction of BIM in France, what are the prerequisites for interaction of Untec with Russian professional community?
I gave an impulse to BIM Untec about 10 years ago, and I work 3 years there as a Vice President, and as a President over 6 years. Today I am a President of Medi@construct, French branch of BuildingSMART, the distributer of Open BIM in the world. Medi@construct is ready to interact with Russia colleagues and cooperate with them in this issue.
Recently, you’ve visited Russia and made a report in the Innovation Day of architecture and construction. What are the results of interaction with Russian colleagues? How can you estimate the perspectives of BIM development in Russia and the rightness of moves in this realm?
Could you give any recommendation to Russian architects to what aspects should they pay attention to run this process? I was attendant at the Day of Innovations in architecture and construction in Russia as a representative of PTBN and Medi@construct. There I presented a report on the politics of France and introduction of BIM on our territory. Today interest in the subject of BIM in Russia is certainly higher than in November 2015, just as in France, where the application of this system in practice currently expands. My advice: It is not a tool to make an Architect good, there needed the Architect’s originative genius. It is right up to him to choose the best tool to do his work.
Are there in France any software developers whose products are common used in this field, or in France they use only software produced by the world leading companies?
As everywhere, in France there are international software developers of general tools (drawing). But as for professional software, we have developers who create software compatible with the IFC format. This is my scope of activities: ATTIC Publishing House develops software for economists in construction industry.
Recently Autodesk presented an open version of BIM-standard to the players of the construction market in Russia. Moreover, Russian BIM standard template absorbed great many influences of the BIM- standard of Great Britain. At Your presentation, you mentioned a forthcoming guidance on BIM application in French. Have you managed to do it, and what countries experience you followed
in this case? Would you tell us more about it in detail?
Since our meeting, the guide to edit a convention with BIM developed by Medi@construct was proposed to diffuse under the auspices of PTNB. This guide was transmitted to all professional organizations, involved in the construction lifecycle. They are expected to transmit their comments, then the document updated and consent by all the experts will be presented in April within the framework of BIM WORLD in Paris. This guide is due to elaborate a definition of the main directions to define the rules of interaction between the participants and to create a trust climate.
Tell some words about your career, what do you like or not like in your job.
I work in this field for more than 40 years, in the same organization, and in the same Cabinet of Mit. This profession is very exciting, because we build for the all segments of the population and all industry sectors. In addition, I took an active part in the Trade Union activities, aimed at the protection of my profession, and today I use this experience to protect OPEN BIM.
Is there something interesting that you would like to share with our readers?
BIM is merely a tool, designed to simplify transferring of professional information. Information is created by person, it must be of high quality and thus, the person should be a perfect competent professional!
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Interview: Alexander Bikin