Dive Brief:

• In Australia, advocates of building information modeling (BIM) argue that the approach can eliminate as much as 30% of the work inherent with conventional design processes.
• A trade group, the Australian Construction Industry Forum, and a government agency, the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council, are producing a workbook to lay out how to get everyone giving input early to smooth the design process and, in turn, cut production costs for hold-ups, reworks and plan revisions.
• One example the Aussies give for BIM benefits is the ability for both general contractor and subcontractor designers to "pull" information they need rather than having to sift through documentation "pushed" to them on the basis of what someone else thinks they need.

Dive Insight:

BIM has major supporters outside the U.S., and Australia is one place where it is being embraced. The strongest argument supporters advance is that BIM-based projects save everyone costs by getting work done right the first time, without changes to resolve surprise conflicts.