Grant: College and Community Innovation Program

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a process that is radically impacting the construction industry*worldwide. It enables businesses to envisage the construction of a facility virtually, prior to its actual physical*construction, in order to identify problems, simulate challenges, analyze potential solutions, improve safety and*decrease overall build costs. Its utilization increases productivity by transforming existing levels of project*interoperability, scalability, standardization and risk management and so significantly improving project*management, decision-making and meeting deliverables and deadlines. This enables construction companies to*realize major efficiencies at every stage of the building lifecycle from concept through to occupation. The*Canadian construction sector currently lags behind the rest of the world in research and adoption of BIM*technology. Because of the prohibitive business costs of BIM adoption, which include sizable investments in*infrastructure, hardware, software and training, many SMEs will effectively be locked out of the competition*for contracts that require BIM expertise.*George Brown College (GBC) is committed to becoming the leading institution in Canada for BIM applied*research, innovation and training. GBC will support SMEs in adopting BIM approaches and adapting BIM*tools into their business models. The proposed initiative will actively transfer BIM technology and processes to*Ontario's construction sector SMEs, increasing SME productivity and efficiency throughout the whole building*lifecycle. GBC will provide training to recent graduates as well as to seasoned industry professionals so that*they can facilitate BIM implementation in the workforce. This initiative will enable GBC to take a leadership*role and partner with industry to address the BIM innovation gap and catalyze economic development in the*construction sector in Ontario.