Industry leaders have launched a new initiative to drive technology adoption in UK construction.
- The Information Management Initiative (IMI) aims to integrate digital tools such as BIM and AI.
- Nima, in collaboration with the Construction Leadership Council, is spearheading this effort.
- A roadmap to 2030 has been outlined to guide organisations in implementing new tech solutions.
- Core principles and standards are being developed to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
An ambitious initiative, known as the Information Management Initiative (IMI), has been established by industry leaders to revolutionise the UK construction sector. This effort aims to integrate digital tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the industry, seeking to create a more efficient, collaborative, and sustainable construction process.
The initiative is being spearheaded by Nima, once known as the UK BIM Alliance, and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC). These organisations envision a digital transformation within the industry, aiming to build capabilities in the application of emerging technologies. A significant element of this initiative is the creation of a detailed ‘route-map’ to 2030, inviting businesses to commit to core principles that promise growth and innovation.
Nima and the CLC have concentrated efforts on updating existing guidelines, including the UK BIM Framework, with the intent to bolster information and data management across organisations. The framework aims to aid companies in adopting role-specific standards and guidance, facilitating the digital integration of data across all phases of construction.
Richard Robinson, CLC co-chair, highlights the critical nature of managing trusted information throughout the lifecycle of built and managed assets. He underlines that an effective information management strategy is foundational for achieving a safe, healthy, and sustainable built environment. Robinson further notes that the IMI launch marks a continuation of a year-long process initiated by the CLC, which now seeks extensive sector support to drive necessary changes.
In developing the IMI, the CLC has also reviewed the existing information management strategies. This review is part of the broader Infrastructure & Projects Authority’s Transforming Infrastructure Performance Roadmap to 2030. With this, a revised mandate has been proposed as per the CLC’s report on creating a productive construction environment in the UK, published in September 2023.
Anne Kemp, chair of Nima and a key voice in these developments, clarifies that the integration of the original BIM mandate with the current IMI mandate aims to ensure relevance and applicability across today’s construction landscape. Kemp emphasises that the goal is to clarify and simplify processes rather than complicate them, drawing from extensive consultations to refine the initiative’s approach and implementation.
The Information Management Initiative stands as a pivotal step towards transforming the UK construction industry into a digitally adept sector.
