BIM: Don’t Overlook Data

The ‘BIM Issue’ of Building magazine (17/4/14) published the findings of the NBS Building Information Modelling (BIM) awareness survey, which I read with interest. Among the findings, it reported that 54% of construction firms have now used BIM, which is a marked increase from the 39% that claimed the same last year. To add to this, 93% said they will be using BIM by 2016.

Having attended the BIM Show Live, many speakers were talking about how BIM is now giving them ‘an edge’, with more than half of construction firms confirming that they have used BIM on at least one project, which is all very positive. 

One area that strikes me however as being potentially overlooked – from both the published survey and general discussions at the show – is the role that data, mapping or geospatial data plays in the entire BIM process.  Currently, location, risk and analysis data that is used before a build project currently falls outside of BIM. Under the current stages, the model doesn’t have to include pre-BIM data or have any reference to a geographic location; BIM can sit in space (or rather in one of the many software packages) without any context of its surroundings.

Professionals working across property, environment and construction all use pre-BIM data, from maps to devise a new road development to the rehoming of newts, and everything in between. This data is part of the project after all and as time moves on, factors can change. It is imperative therefore that such updates are fed into BIM to make it truly about the lifecycle not just the building.

Data is at the very heart of BIM: without the correct information being recorded, it fails to deliver on its goals and the BIM model – which is meant to last the lifecycle of a project – may become invalid.  

Carole Ankers

Product Development Director & BIM ambassador

Landmark Information Group

Landmark Information Group launches social housing heat maps

Landmark Analytics extends property market data to provide social housing density analysis for urban or property studies

Landmark Information Group, the UK’s leading supplier of digital mapping, property and environmental risk information, has today announced the unveiling of new social housing heat maps that highlight social housing density by postcode or region, at a glance. 

Via the Landmark Analytics division, the heat maps have been launched to provide an additional layer of data insight into the concentration of social housing property, as well as view average prices, crime information and ‘£ per sqm’ heat maps. 

Managing Director, Selwyn Lim of Landmark Analytics said: “Our aim has always been to find new and innovative ways to equip our users with key property data and so today’s announcement strengthens this.  The social housing heat maps will be of interest to a wide range of different users, from social housing organisations through to developers, local authorities or urban planners who are undertaking analysis of towns, boroughs or property density in general.”

Drawn from various data sources, the social housing heat maps will provide Landmark Analytics clients with access to data from across England and Wales. This freely available new addition to the Landmark Analytics product suite provides users with an overview of where social housing properties are clustered.  Users can type in the postcode of their area of interest, and navigate their way around, viewing the distinct differences in areas, and utilising the colour-coded key on to calculate percentage rates.

The accuracy and breadth of Landmark Analytics’ property database, which is used by HMRC, and in models approved by Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s, supports housing officials with verifying and maintaining the overall quality of their internal records.  The Landmark Analytics database includes a wealth of data including 90 million property images, 20 million sold price records, 18 million historic estate agency listings, 3 million floor plans, plus bedroom numbers, estimated internal area and Council Tax banding information.

In addition, Landmark Information Group provides a wealth of consultancy, data and mapping services, including simple, online GI mapping solutions that enable housing providers to instantly identify areas of risk, visualise essential business intelligence and deliver significant efficiencies and improvements.

For further information visit www.landmarkanalytics.co.uk.