Top BIM Projects in Australia (2024)

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a process that involves creating a digital model of a building that can be used to simulate the construction process, manage the project more efficiently, and improve communication between stakeholders of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. The concept of BIM projects in Australia is being widely adopted across the construction industry, with many government agencies and private companies making it mandatory for all major projects. 

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BIM Projects in Australia

The reasons for the  popularity of BIM projects in Australia are the massive benefits that are reaped by using BIM technology, such as cost savings, time savings, and improved asset management. Following a report by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport, and Cities released in March 2016, the Australian Government has become a driving force for change and a promoter of BIM within the construction industry. BIM-specific recommendations in the report include:

• Recommendation 6: The Australian Government should form a smart infrastructure task force led by Infrastructure Australia (modelled on the UK BIM Task Group) to act as a coordinator and conduit for the development and implementation of BIM policy nationally. This would include the development of industry and product standards, as well as training and education on BIM.
• Recommendation 7: The Australian Government would require BIM to be LOD (Level of Development) 500 on all infrastructure projects exceeding $50 million in cost receiving Australian Government funding, focusing on tendering mechanisms to facilitate this outcome with the eventual goal of establishing BIM as a procurement standard.

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In April 2022, the same Standing Committee published a further report entitled Procurement Practices for Government-Funded Infrastructure, which again made recommendations for the adoption of BIM projects in Australia. However, there are still no federal mandates on the use of BIM on government projects.

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Examples of BIM projects in Australia

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is becoming increasingly popular in the construction industry in Australia. From the Royal Adelaide Hospital, built using Revit, to the North West Rail Link, which extensively used Navisworks, there are various examples of BIM projects in Australia. Below, let us look at a few examples of notable BIM projects.

1. Royal Adelaide Hospital

Location: Adelaide, Australia

Benefits of using BIM in construction

• Design analysis and planning: The design team used BIM for design analysis, environmental studies, design-to-fabrication workflows, construction planning and coordination, field-BIM, model tracking and deliveries.
• Project Management: BIM technology also assisted in long term facility management of the building.
  
  The most advanced hospital and BIM project in Australia, the Royal Adelaide Hospital is a $1.85 billion state of the art facility. High-tech BIM technology (Autodesk Revit software) was used throughout the project. The design and consultant team was made up of Silver Thomas Hanley and DesignInc (joint venture architects as sthDI), Wallbridge and Gilbert , KBR, Bestec and Lehr Consultants International.

2. Moorebank Intermodal Terminal

Location: Moorebank, Australia

Benefits of using BIM in construction

• Creating a unified team: BIM use enabled different parties to understand each other’s data, creating more informed and unified teams. The whole team was now linked by a single data source.
• Enhanced performance: BIM projects in Australia enhanced performance and made possible swift and accurate comparison of different design options, enabling the  development     of a more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solution.

The Australian federal government undertook a three-year land transfer program for the development of a port related intermodal terminal on commonwealth land at Moorebank in south-western Sydney. Once completed, the new facility was able to offer multiple benefits, including better management of heavy vehicle traffic on Sydney’s roads through efficient distribution of containers by rail; improved import and export speed efficiency and economic performance by rail; improved air quality; decreased greenhouse gas emissions; and decreased motor vehicle accident rates. 

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3. North West Rail Link

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Benefits of using BIM in construction

• Minimise cost and time: The involvement of BIM technology in this transport infrastructure allowed to minimise costs and time and was a benefit for constructability.
• 3D visualisation: BIM helped the project teams visualise the model in 3D accurately.

The design joint venture (JV) of Mott MacDonald's, SMEC, and KBR won the Engineering News Record (ENR) Global Best Project Award in the United States for their contribution to the Northwest Subway Project in Sydney, Australia. The project design included: three subway stations, three new suburban stations, and two new elevated stations. Autodesk's Navisworks and Revit were the platforms that SMEC used to carry out the BIM structure modelling.

4. Regional Rail Link Victoria

Location: Melbourne, Victoria

Benefits of using BIM in construction

• Enhanced Coordination: BIM projects in Australia have shown enhanced coordination between all the professional stakeholders involved in the project.
• Saving time and money: BIM saved project construction costs by improving scheduling, clash detection, and collaboration.

This BIM project example built 475 km of railway through the western suburbs of Melbourne, the Regional Rail Link project, was managed by the Regional Rail Link Authority on behalf of the Victorian government. The construction of this BIM project commenced in 2009 and was fully completed by June 2015.

5. Perth Museum

Location: Atlas Building, Perth, Australia

Benefits of using BIM in construction

• Bring down the project cost: BIM projects in Australia have provisions for the calculation of project estimates. Using this, the designers could bring down the project cost.
• Greater collaboration: One of the main benefits of using BIM structure modelling is that all the project stakeholders can collaborate and work on a single 3D model.

The Western Australian Museum is one of the oldest and most important cultural institutions in the state, with a collection of over 8 million objects related to the natural and cultural history of Western Australia. The museum has several branches, with its main branch located in the Perth Cultural Centre in the heart of the city. The main branch underwent a major redevelopment between 2016 and 2020, which resulted in the creation of a new building that showcases the museum's collections in a modern and interactive way.

6. Perth Children’s Hospital

Location: Nedlands, Australia

Benefits of using BIM in construction

• Use of BIM in the conceptual stage: This improves collaborative working, coordination, and productivity among multidisciplinary project teams.
• Building performance analysis: BIM in construction was applied for the development and establishment of building performance analysis in accordance with the employer’s information requirements (EIR).

The Perth Children’s Hospital aimed to provide a combination of innovative medical technology, creative appeal, and exquisite design to promote patients' rehabilitation. The facility contains 298 beds (inpatient and outpatient), ambulatory services, and 12 operating theatres. It is the region’s only paediatric trauma centre. BIM technologies were extensively adopted to increase efficiency and implementation of the project. 

7. Perth Stadium

Location: Perth, Western Australia

Benefits of using BIM in construction

Coordination using BIM: Weekly meetings and daily workflows regarding design coordination were held, with discussed actions incorporated into the model itself.
Clash detection: BIM helped with progressive clash in sync with program and access and clearance zones.

Perth Stadium, or Optus Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Perth, Western Australia. Located in the suburbs of Burswood, the stadium was completed in late 2017 and officially opened in January 2018. BIM technology was extensively used for the design and construction of the stadium.

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Conclusion

BIM projects in Australia have been able to adapt as per future demands and, through the use of BIM technology in construction, retain their position as a leading world economy. With its current industry practices, there is an opportunity for you to upskill your career and take a leap of faith.

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• Work on a live, RIBA-structured capstone project to practise your skills.
• Get placement assistance to land jobs in globally operating BIM firms.

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