UK & USA to Collaborate on BIM Programme

THE UK AND USA have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on the development of the US National Building Information Management (BIM) Programme.

BIM Programme

Marking the next step in a two-year collaboration the MoU will see the USA National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) work with experts from the UK’s Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) on the development of an American BIM programme. It will support international alignment on technical standards for the built environment.

The national organisations will work together to adapt the UK programme model and materials as a guide to developing a USA national roadmap aligned with the international standard for BIM- ISO19650. The MoU will help public and private sectors in both countries to learn from each other and exchange best practice. It will create benefits to both economies and grow trade opportunities by increasing the sector’s productivity and performance.

International Collaboration

The US National BIM Programme will foster a productive and more collaborative international digital construction sector for the public good, helping innovation to drive increased value and be an engine for long-term sustainable growth.

Adam Matthews, Head of International at CDBB, said, “This partnership continues the global trend of knowledge sharing between countries that is accelerating and aligning the construction sector’s digitalization journey. It marks the culmination of two years of close joint working between the two countries. By working together to innovate the built environment we can create better outcomes for people and places.”

The US-UK collaboration has been enabled by the UK’s Construction Innovation Hub which brings together expertise from BRE, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB).

Fergus Harradence, Deputy Director for Construction at BEIS, said, “BIM is at the heart of the digitalization of the construction sector. The creation of a US National BIM program aligned to international standards marks a major step forward for the global construction sector.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with the US to share the learnings from our UK BIM programme. This collaboration will lead to economic and environmental benefits for both countries by boosting the economic performance of the construction sector and helping to improve social outcomes and trade opportunities.”

>>Read more about BIM adoption in the news