Digital Construction Week 2022 will deliver unmissable content on the UK BIM Framework, which was set up to guide you through how to work with BIM in alignment with the ISO 19650 series.

In the lead up to DCW, we caught up with Dan Rossiter from BSI and the UK BIM Framework, who gave us the low down on UKBIMF, and why process modelling should be a core part of everyone’s working life…

Tell us about your background and how you came to join BSI Group…

Well, I originally trained architecturally and spent several years working for Cardiff City Council as an Architectural Technologist.

From there I became interested in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Standards to help realise the council’s 21st Century School programme (Wales’s equivalent to Building Schools for the Future).

Once I had converted myself to a BIM advocate, I saw an opening to join BRE to support the delivery of their BIM-related services.

After making a name for myself at BRE by delivering training, consultancy, and auditing services globally, I was approached to join BSI to oversee their strategy around supporting the digital transformation of the built environment.

What is the most exciting thing about your role? And the most challenging?

The most existing thing about my role is that I get to divide my time between technical experts across the globe and those who influence national Government policy. Meaning I’m able to engage with the development of technical solutions in CEN and ISO while also influencing strategic decisions that support the UK from an informed position.

The most challenging thing is the misconception people have about Standards and the role they play in supporting the built environment. Many see them as barriers to doing their work, when in reality they are packets of convenience that catalyse the adoption of good practice.

Why was the UK BIM Framework created and how do you see it evolving in the future?

The UK BIM Framework was created as a wrapper for the UK’s approach to information management using BIM. In contrast to concepts like BIM Level 2, the UK BIM Framework is dynamic and will incorporate good practice as it develops, extending itself with further standards, guidance, and tools.

As it evolves, I expect it’ll begin to incorporate work from the Government and Industry Interoperability Group (GIIG) as well as work on the information management framework to support the national digital twin programme.

Why is it important that people understand the standards that constitute the UK BIM Framework?

In simple terms, because the Government wants the sector to use them! Through documents like the Construction Playbook and the TIP Roadmap to 2030, the public sector is being told to conform to the standards that constitute the UK BIM Framework.

This shows not only great confidence in these standards by UK Government but also confidence in the direction that the UK is heading regarding BIM and information management more generally.

If you could transform one thing about the construction industry, what would it be?

If I could transform one thing, it would be to make process modelling, like Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) a core part of how everyone works.

I’m a big advocate for swim lane diagrams as they allow organisations to articulate the inputs, outputs, and controls needed to realize their respective functions. Often the value of information management is hard to talk about because people can’t articulate 1) what they do and 2) what information they need to do it. Swim lanes solve this problem!

As a BSI sector lead, Chartered Architectural Technologist Dan Rossiter FCIAT provides expertise, technical delivery, thought leadership, and sector engagement to the built environment; focusing on optimisation and digital transformation.

Dan has also been an active supporter of organizations such as the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, Constructing Excellence, Generation for Change, buildingSMART and the UK BIM Alliance for several years. In addition, Dan has technically contributed to the development of BSI, CEN and ISO standards, UK BIM Alliance Guidance, as well as Centre for Digital Built Britain research into Digital Twins and BIM interoperability. For his efforts, Dan has been made an ambassador for both the UK BIM Alliance and the National Digital Twin programme.