Utilities

<p style="text-align: justify;">The energy and utility industries are changing. This sector is stagnant due to a lack of innovation and the slow acceptance of digital transformation. When the total cost of ownership rises, utility companies look for ways to boost productivity to reduce costs.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">BIM could be a solution to the problem mentioned above. BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a digital representation of an infrastructure project's physical and functional elements. BIM can be used to automate time-consuming operations and precisely estimate project time, cost, and space.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Advantages of BIM</span></h2><p style="text-align: justify;">BIM has various advantages for the utility industry, including enhanced efficiency, first-time-right design, improved safety, lower costs, and longer lifespan.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A platform like BIM integrates intelligent sensors, networked devices, and new software applications to provide intelligent and predictive solutions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The potential cost saving in full-scale digitization through BIM is 0.7 to 1.2 trillion USD in construction and 0.3 to 0.5 trillion USD in operation (BCG- 2016). It will bring 13&ndash;21% savings in the design and implementation phase and 10&ndash;17% in the maintenance phase within the global infrastructure industry by 2025 (dodge data analytics -2017).&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Transformation in Utility Sector</span></h2><p style="text-align: justify;">BIM is the central piece of digital transformation for the utility industries. The BIM architecture is primarily 3D to 5D in nature. BIM-3D refers to the three-dimensional design, BIM-4D refers to planning, and BIM-5D refers to cost. The architecture of the BIM is quite complex as it must integrate with homegrown tools and enterprise-level software.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the same way, the adoption of BIM at the organizational level is also quite challenging. Based on the available experience and literature, the success factors for BIM adoption are the following:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Technology Understanding </strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It requires understanding the underlying technology and architecture of the BIM platform to have seamless integration.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Enterprise-level Process Mapping </strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It must map the value stream across the enterprise (design to asset management) with a cross-functional team.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Leadership Commitment to Change </strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Strong commitment from top leadership to driving the change and owning the implementation journey</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Cultural Barrier</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Overcome the cultural barrier of the digital divide in utility industries</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Strategic Road Map </strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Three years of strategic road map alignment and flexibility of the BIM platform to tackle the business and strategic dimension</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Execution Plan</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A strong execution plan with a BIM organization (PMO and cross-functional team)&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Adequate training and support&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br />In a nutshell, BIM can be the game changer for utility industries if we understand the barrier to its adoption and drive it fast before the regulation is enforced to adopt it to get ahead of competitors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>This article was contributed by our expert <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiranmay/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hiranmay Dash</a></em></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Hiranmay Dash</span></h3><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. What are the features of building information modeling software for utilities?</span></h2><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Building Information Modeling (BIM) software for utilities can be used to design, build, and manage various types of utility infrastructure, such as water, gas, electric, or telecommunications.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Utilizing BIM software can improve utility infrastructure projects' efficiency, quality, and sustainability by enabling collaboration, data integration, simulation and analysis, asset management, and mobile access.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. What is the future of BIM in India?</span></h2><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The future of BIM in India is promising, as the adoption and implementation of BIM are gaining momentum across various sectors of the Indian construction industry.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The future of BIM in India looks bright, as it can help to address some of the challenges faced by the construction industry in India, such as delays, cost overruns, and quality issues. BIM can potentially improve the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of the construction industry in India.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. How does BIM enhance the utility industry?</span></h2><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Building Information Modeling (BIM) can enhance the utility industry in several ways. BIM can enhance the utility industry by improving design and planning, reducing project costs and timelines, enhancing collaboration and coordination, improving operation and maintenance, and supporting sustainability and resilience.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. What is the adoption rate of BIM and the factors that determine the adoption?</span></h2><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The adoption rate of Building Information Modeling (BIM) varies depending on the country, sector, and size of the organization. The adoption rate of BIM is increasing globally, driven by its efficiency, productivity, and collaboration benefits. However, the adoption rate can vary depending on the factors like Government policies and mandates, Industry culture and practices, Cost and return on investment, Availability of skilled personnel, Collaboration and communication, Complexity, and scalability.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>&nbsp;</p>