BIM Roles and Responsibilities in BIM Projects

BIM Roles and Responsibilities ? Implementing BIM in construction projects, especially for firms / Studies Offices is a project by itself because it needs studies and research about the benefits of it and the investments that needs in terms of hardware and software and Human resources also who need to be highly skilled to ensure the success of the Digital integration in the work process of the firm. 

In this article in BIMandBeam.com , we’re going to talk about the major BIM roles that exist until this moment, because who knows, maybe we will see new BIM jobs and roles in the future, so let’s begin.

BIM Modeler

Also called BIM Technician or BIM Drafter which can be considered as a designer of the model, where we can see that the word “Modeler” came from “Model”, and comparing to CAD , they play the role of CAD drafter. 

BIM Modeler needs to be highly skilled in both Software that he will use in the design, often Revit, and also needs to have knowledge in his discipline that he’s working on, e.g BIM Structural Modeler needs to be Civil Engineer, Civil Technician.

BIM Modeler is the first level that will make you progress in your BIM Professional career, and be promoted and have more responsibilities.

The BIM Modeler Roles and Responsibilities  

• Create the 3D Model virtually for specific design discipline using Modeling Software ( Revit , Tekla , ArchiCAD ..)
• Ensure that the 3D model is modeled according to standards and goals in the BEP (BIM Execution Plan) and BIM project workflow requirements.
• Ensure the collaboration and coordination internally and/or externally with other disciplines in the project design-phase. Making model changes according to the BIM coordination demands.
• Create worksets/zones in specific disciplines according to BEP.
• Create families and tags and templates in Revit.
• Develop construction drawings and extract informations based on external needs.

the BIM Coordinator

BIM Coordinator is the person who leads the process of BIM coordination and Data generation from the model to other departments. e.g generating and extracting Quantities/Schedules from Revit Model to Excel Spreadsheets for the Planning team to prepare the WBS and the planning of the project.

BIM Coordinator needs to have skills in Software often Revit. Also having Technical skills in his disciplines like Civil Engineering, Architecture and MEP. He needs to have good communication skills. Because he will be in direct contact with Coordinators from other disciplines ,Managers ,Modelers and even external stakeholders to convert their needs into tasks in his project backlog.

a BIM Coordinator Major Roles and Responsibilities  

• Creation, modeling, and revising of families and tags in Revit.
• Extraction of Schedules/Quantities and coordination with the planning team.
• Clash Detection and 4D / 5D simulations.
• Coordinate with partners according to their role in the BIM process.
• Develop and maintain BIM protocols and BIM execution plans and Strategy development to automate the workflow.
• Hold weekly coordination meetings with members of the project team.
• Ensure the accuracy of models and sets of data by establishing procedures for monitoring quality and optimizing the workflow and exchange of data.
• Training and assistance of the project team members and explanation of procedures and standards (Classification systems, ISO19650, PAS ..) 

BIM Manager

The Job title of BIM Manager is a particularly important one. As with all BIM-orientated roles the job specification tends to differ from company to company. In remarkable situations, the BIM Coordinator and BIM Manager may be the same person. 

However, as a general rule of thumb, the BIM Manager is responsible for supervising the organization’s full implementation of BIM and the digital integration process while the BIM Coordinator is responsible for BIM implementation at a project level.

The BIM Manager Major Roles and Responsibilities  

• Manage tools and software licenses including supervising the installation of new software versions.
• Manage and ensure the implementation of BIM supporting software.
• Research and find new BIM-related software that will enhance the BIM maturity level of the firm.
• Keep the organization informed about best practices in BIM and program training for Modeler/Coordinators in case of new technology integration in the workflow.
• Is responsible for organization-wide BIM standards and rules Implementation, and execution.
• Look for efficiencies and productivity hacks in the organization’s BIM process.
• Attend conferences, workshops, seminars on behalf of the company to transfer knowledge internally within the organization.

BIM Specialist

The BIM Specialist is the advanced operator in information management and modeling and who can play the role in some cases, of a BIM Manager.

He acts within each project using BIM Authoring/Design software. In practice, he deals with architectural, structural, MEP modeling, etc . Also controls the special disciplinary skills that enable him to collaborate actively with designers and BIM Team members.

He is the person who has a background that enables him to place his activity within the digital integration workflows provided by the BIM coordinators and Managers.

Moreover, he examines the main contents of the data specifications and of the information management plan in order to work in accordance with them and gives some preliminary tests on the 3D model.

BIM Manager Major Roles and Responsibilities  

• Collaborates with Project Digital Coordinators in developing a BMP (BIM Management Plan) for each project.
• Collaborates with Project Digital Coordinators in setting up each project in BIM.
• Coordinates BIM software training for staff and monitors staff BIM experience levels.
• Coordinates technologies, standards and guidelines with fellow BIM Specialists in other offices.
• Monitors the models for quality and content throughout the project delivery process and at specific project milestones.
• Evaluation and development of BIM processes, policies, protocols and workflows.

BIM Developer

A BIM Developer or also referred to as BIM Software Developer is a specialist that develops and customizes software to support integration into the BIM process, from small plug-ins in Authoring softwares to BIM servers.

BIM Developer needs to have IT skills that will help him in analyzing the inputs and the outputs in his programming phase. Also, he needs to have software skills and abilities in Dynamo and Grasshopper. To convert his programming scripts into plugins and add-ons in the modeling software.

BIM Developer Major Roles and Responsibilities  

• Creating dynamo and Grasshopper scripts.
• Analyzing 3D models and QC procedures that can be made automatically.
• Preparing diagnostics and case studies with modelers and see their needs in their daily tasks and that can be replaced with a Dynamo script.

These was the major BIM roles into a BIM Project. I hope that you found this article useful and helpful in your research.

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