Hertfordshire, United Kingdom: British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) has urged FM professionals to take part in a new piece of its research to measure the level of understanding and awareness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) within the FM sector.

The institute said that the survey, which has been developed in partnership with Liverpool John Moore University and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, aims to establish a benchmark of the current perceptions of the impact of BIM on the FM sector and the benefits and challenges it presents.

Peter Brogan, Research and Information Manager at BIFM, said that there was a need for a suite of guidance tools to help FM professionals navigate their way through the BIM process. “The project,” he said, “however requires fundamental research using online questionnaires to benchmark the current perceptions of BIM by the FM industry, which will then help ensure and best plan any guidance materials for our members. These will include a range of documents that will be essential to FMs involved in BIM projects.”

As the findings of the survey would help tailor the needs of FM professionals and clients, Brogan has urged FM professionals from the industry to take part in the survey.

BIFM said that the survey is open until the end of February and is available here.