Source from: New Straits Times, Original Article
KUALA LUMPUR: The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has recommended the mandatory use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in certain private sector projects by 2020.
Chief executive Datuk Ahmad Asri Abdul Hamid said the move was to encourage digital adoption by industry players as Malaysia was set to launch the fourth industrial revolution 4.0.
“The proposal is under the Construction Industry Transformation Programme, but we have not determined the (enforcement) period because the acceptance is still not wide ranging even though we have introduced the use of BIM,” he said at the second International Construction Transformation Conference 2019 today.
Asri said only a few large companies were using BIM, while in the public sector, a project costing RM100 million and above was obliged to use BIM system starting this year.
“BIM is not an art or Autocad as it has been misconstrued, instead we are constructing a building or an infrastructure digitally.
“So, when we carry out the implementation in digital form, any problems that arise can be solved there and then.
“Hence, it is solved at the planning and designing stage through a software that does not involve costs as if problems are encountered during construction, it will be costly and will delay the construction,” he said.
Asri said the use of the BIM system would also help to shorten both the building and planning approval periods.
In his opening address themed “Construction Beyond 2020”, he said the government had taken several measures to facilitate the adoption of BIM, including establishing the myBIM Centre as a one-stop reference, support, services and capacity building centre.
He said regular technical training was also being conducted, including collaborating with several universities to train the next generation of construction personnel.
“The technologies to disrupt the construction industry are ready and available for mass market adoption.
“The question is ‘are we ready to adopt?’ Because if we are not, then we will be left behind in the wake of those who are. This is the reality we are facing today,” he said.
He said CIDB was also pushing for greater adoption of the industrialised building system (IBS) in the private sector, adding that Malaysia still had a lot of catching up to do despite all the measures already taken towards IBS adoption.
“The adoption of such innovations and new technologies is a necessity for companies to remain competitive and be able to deliver projects in a timely and cost-effective manner and and this change needs to happen quickly and at scale,” he added. – Bernama
