Q: Hi Simon Ng, tell us about WSP and your role as Head of Building Information Modelling (BIM).

A: The BIM team in WSP is an independent business unit, my role is to manage a department of 60 staffs and manage the business. On business side I need to do project bidding, control staff costs and ensure revenue, profit margin and cash flow. On the other hand, technical side, BIM is an evolving technology, I need to keep my team update to technologies and innovations so they can apply to projects.

My team has another role as internal BIM technology support to other business units by providing trainings, tools, resources and support. Again, we need to keep update on technologies and innovations so we can drive other business lines to adopt new technologies.

Q: First of all, what is Building Information Modelling?

A: Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure.

BIM is also a process that begins with the creation of an intelligent 3D model and enables document management, coordination and simulation during the entire lifecycle of a project (plan, design, build, operation and maintenance).

BIM is used to design and document building and infrastructure designs. Every detail of a building is modeled in BIM. The model can be used for analysis to explore design options and to create visualizations that help stakeholders understand what the building will look like before it’s built. The model is then used to generate the design documentation for construction.

Q: How has BIM changed over time, and what have been some advances in the industry in recent times?

A: BIM exists in this planet for more then 10 years. In the old days people used it as a 3D models only, and the use is for coordination and clash analysis only. However, with the big promotion from government, BIM is encouraged to be used in wider range and deeper application, people use BIM to generate 2D drawings for contract, BIM for statutory submissions, BIM for 4D (time sequence) construction simulation, BIM for 5D (cost analysis), and 6D building operation.

The AEC (Architectural, Engineering and Construction) industry is one of the industry the use least digital technologies. The industry is facing challenges including high labor cost, high complexity of buildings, high expectation on health and safety, and high expectation on design excellence. Therefore, it is believed that BIM is one of the way out to bring the industry to a more advance level.

Q: What do you think the next 5-10 years will look like in the energy and energy tech space?

A: As a layman in the energy industry, I see outlook for energy industry:
1. Energy is becoming more and more valuable
2. Looking for other sources of energy
3. Looking for energy saving
4. Looking for recycle energy
Similar to the situation in AEC industry, the challenges are shortage of labour so BIM / digital technology helps to address to this problem. I believe that the trend for energy tech has this similarity with AEC industry.