What to Consider when Tendering for BIM-based Permitting?

Automating the building permitting process with BIM-based checks has many benefits - it can significantly speed up the process, increase transparency, improve the quality of designs and help to standardize a complicated process. But to tender for an IT-solution that helps you achieve all this is a daunting task and it can be difficult to understand where to start.

That is why we have put together principle recommendations (1-5) to keep in mind when you are planning a tender for an IT-solution that integrates BIM with building permitting and other regulatory processes.

1. Demand open data standards

By using open standards you support an open competitive software market where you have the freedom to choose the best tools for the job without any fear of vendor lock-in or lost data.

You don’t need to support a million proprietary formats but you should demand the use of open formats. Open Standards are the key to interoperability and data retention. openBIM (IFC, BCF, IDS etc) is the synonym for open standards in the industry and it has been developed for decades through collaborative efforts and a consensus-driven approach by buildingSMART International, the worldwide industry body driving the digital transformation of the built asset industry. The standards have matured, the technology for using them is there.

Extra tip: ​​Use the official buildingSMART International IFC Validation service to check the quality of the IFC data.

2. Open Source is not the magic solution

Governments often focus too much on the requirement of “open source code” when developing or implementing e-services. While this seems logical when public money is used, it can actually have an adverse effect. It can lead to potential security risks, maintenance challenges, hidden costs, compatibility issues, and the need for specialized expertise.

With the ever increasing speed of technological development, the business case for bespoke open source code solutions is becoming increasingly difficult to justify because of high costs and the demand for in-house skilled IT professions. A good software solution is not something you “develop once” and “use forever”. It requires constant maintenance and support, development and upgrading - in other words it is more a service than a piece of software.

SaaS (software as a service) is cost-efficient and much easier to manage compared to bespoke open source solutions because the vendor takes care of the maintenance and development while the costs are distributed among all software clients.

3. Start small and build gradually

It’s not recommended to immediately start automating all controls for the entire building code or all of the legislation related to building permits. This results in too large a project that is impossible to plan, budget and deliver. Instead, start small, preferably with a Proof-of-Concept or prototype. Follow this up with iterative developments where you automate some checks and gradually add new ones as you move forward with implementation and industry adoption.

It’s also important to choose the right legislation for automated checking. It is not always possible to translate existing legislation into a digital check that is conclusive. Translating the rule regulation from legal text one-on-one in a digital check often leads to unnecessarily complex check configurations and associated BIM requirements. Therefore always look carefully at the purpose of a rule and find smart efficient ways to check it. In some cases it makes more sense to update or adjust the legal text before automating its checking.

4. Keep BIM information requirements simple

Defining BIM information requirements is crucial to obtaining the necessary data for automated model checks. After all, good, structured data is the basis for obtaining reliable results. The more complex the requirements are, the more likely it is that they can be interpreted in different ways. Therefore make sure that the requirements are as simple and clear as possible.

In doing so, when configuring the checks and the accompanying information requirements, make sure to do this with a multi-disciplinary team of at least a permit issuer, a legal expert and a technical expert. Ideally, you configure the checks together with the IT-solution provider in a single tender. This way requirements and checks can be quickly prototyped and validated. This ensures that any problems are identified and addressed early, making the implementation process smoother and more efficient.

5. Start today and leverage existing knowledge

Don’t reinvent the wheel. The open standards and technologies are already out there. Learn from the practitioners (like Estonia), don’t rely only on academic research because it will often make things look more complicated than in reality. Educate your tender team by organizing workshops with the experts who know about openBIM, policy making, change management, online software development and implementation. Workshops and small pilot projects are the quickest way to gain practical insight into the most important aspects! Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, But most importantly start today!

Want to know more?

Want to know more about these 5 recommendations? We'd love to tell you more about them.

Want to know more? Then contact Jaan Saar:

[email protected] | +372 529 0777