"Digital construction": transition difficulties

2024

In accordance with Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2357, developers in the field of capital shared construction were to switch to digital models (CIM) from July 1, 2024, and in the field of low-rise construction - from January 1, 2025.

Andrey Shakhramanyan, General Director of SODIS Lab Group of Companies:

In Russia, there are a fairly large number of platforms and scalable solutions for the digitalization of construction, which fully or partially correspond to the tasks described in this Decree.

Division Director BIM ASCON Dmitry Demin:

Many developers are already using TIM. The main problem is a shortage of qualified personnel. In terms of the availability of the tool, the developer market is ready to provide everything you need.

Boris Hapachev, CEO of PropTech Group:

According to feedback from the market - from real builders, especially not in the capital regions, with digital models, many of them are just starting their acquaintance and active work. Therefore, in order for the market to be ready for the dates specified in the decrees, it is necessary to take many steps, including to popularize various tools for working with information models, as well as actively teach company employees how to work in various software products, transform the internal processes of organizations and the usual way of communication based on information modeling technology.

If the architectural and construction design has already achieved certain effects from the use of TIM, then among the direct manufacturers of construction work there is a misunderstanding of the requirements for the mandatory transition to TIM and the feasibility of information modeling at the construction site.

The customer or developer may require contractors to form a construction information model (IM), but often such a model does not have a three-dimensional representation, but is only a collection of interconnected information, documents and materials formed in electronic form, i.e. from systematized sets of files decomposed into folders, which are called "information containers." The same approach is used by contractors in the creation of as-built documentation (as-built documentation). At the same time, they use a digital information model (CIM) from the design stage and only supplement the necessary technical documentation in electronic form. It can be argued that the new requirements do not cancel the existing traditional processes for the formation and maintenance of ID, and the use of CIM as an "executive and construction quality model" will become commonplace in the future, but this will take another 2-3 years. About this TAdviser told the chief engineer-technologist of construction "Aibim" Andrei Andreev. According to him, the main question is whether developers will be able to prepare in a short period. There are doubts about this.

Executives of contractors and small commercial small and medium-sized businesses, which hold a significant share of the low-rise construction market, are seriously concerned about such requirements from lawmakers. When selecting contractors, tenders are held, customers require a reduction in the cost of construction and installation work and justification of contract prices. And, unfortunately, these prices do not take into account the additional costs for the transition to TIM.

Andrey Andreev, Chief Process Engineer of Aibim Construction:

Construction is still a more conservative area. Contractors strive to comply only with the mandatory requirements of legislation and technical regulations, and today most of them are absolutely not ready to work with CIM. In such conditions, many developers are forced to shift the functionality in terms of CIM management to a technical customer or "advanced" general contractor, who have broader capabilities and competencies in the use of digital tools and resources, unlike many contractors.

Deputy General Director for Science "SeaSoft Development" Mikhail Bocharov:

As already mentioned, there will be no more rescheduling. Today's legal requirements for creating an information model, in fact - in 2D- or in 3D format, are feasible. The main difficulties here are not always the systematic approach of companies to data handling, the not fully developed document exchange scheme, the presence of different opinions of market representatives regarding the format of data storage and transmission. But the process is underway, experts are involved in it, including us, who are working to create standards, regulations and algorithms aimed at resolving and adjusting these subtleties of interaction. So it seems logical that as 2D is mastered, the industry will smoothly move to 3D tools.

The widespread use of information modeling will have a significant economic effect for the entire construction complex of Russia by increasing efficiency and reducing costs. However, at present, for a wide range of participants in the construction market, especially in low-rise construction, digitalization is difficult and innovations lack the required resources.

Overall Readiness:

• Most contractors are not ready to work with CIM.
• Developers are forced to shift the functionality of CIM maintenance to a technical customer or general contractor.

Difficulties:

• Lack of understanding of the requirements of legislation on working with CIM.
• Misunderstanding of the feasibility of information modeling at the construction site.
• Lack of experience with CIM.
• Lack of resources for digitalization.
• The costs of moving to TIM are not included in the price of contracts.

The widespread use of TIM can have a significant economic effect.

The transition to TIM in construction is a difficult task, requiring significant efforts from the state, business and educational institutions. Apparently, this is an inevitable process that has both its advantages and difficulties.

What is needed for a successful transition:

• Increase market awareness of the benefits of TIM.
• Develop and implement standards and procedures for working with CIM.
• Provide methodological and financial support to companies switching to a new format of work.
• Prepare personnel capable of working with CIM.

Difficulties in adapting to legislation

Regulations and the regulatory and technical framework for TIM require refinement and mutual consistency. The absence of uniform requirements and a unified terminology system gives rise to conflicting concepts and complicates interaction between participants in investment and construction projects.

Existing regulations on the technical regulation and application of TIM do not fully cover the needs for construction, and require refinement in the field of digital organizational and technological preparation of construction production to accelerate the introduction of new technologies.

There is a gap in the level of use of TIM opportunities among participants in the construction market, at the stages of design and production of CIW. The combination of the designer's competencies for the development of CIM and digital CIM will solve the problems of builders and automate the development of digital WEDs and work with the executive CIM. This will ensure compliance with the technology and quality control of construction work.

Slowly, but it is possible to change the situation, clarify the requirements of the state and come to common terms, concepts and definitions for dialogue.

Andrey Shakhramanyan, General Director of SODIS Lab Group of Companies:

Of course, there are difficulties in adapting to the legislation, but active interdepartmental work is underway, and the expert community, in particular the BIM Leaders Club, also participates in relevant activities. It's a lengthy process. First of all, interaction and response should come from market participants, from developers, from designers and builders.

Deputy General Director for Science "SeaSoft Development" Mikhail Bocharov:

Basic, fundamental terms, definitions and requirements in the field of TIM are contained in the Urban Planning Code of the Russian Federation, Government orders, work is underway to create national standards. Indeed, contradictions exist, but there is also a basis for work both in the direction of regulating this direction and in the direction of fulfilling today's state requirements. This work is also necessary because only through practical means and joint efforts we will be able to create such an ecosystem for the development of TIM that would work for its participants, and for the industry, and for the country's economy as a whole.

See also

• Digitalization of construction. TAdviser 2024 review
• Digital Technologies in Construction
• IT in Real Estate
• Real estate technologies (Russian market), PropTech, Property Technologies
• BIM - Information modeling of buildings and structures
• BIM technologies (Russian market)
• BIM technologies (global market)