Feature | How BIM can address the global challenge of sustainable development goals
HOW BIM CAN ADDRESS THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
In 2015, all UN member states adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as part of a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. One of the key technologies that is transforming how we can respond to these goals is Building Information Modelling (BIM). The global economy and all essential services (water, energy, sanitation) depend on assets and infrastructure developed by engineers, architects, and other construction professionals. Therefore, making the design, construction and operation of infrastructure more efficient can play a major part in meeting the UN SDGs. And that’s where consultants can band together to improve how we serve our communities. By integrating BIM into the asset life cycle, the digital tools we use can contribute to reducing pollution through better construction management. Through the implementation of BIM in the consultancy and design phase, projects can avoid delays, local disruptions, cost inflation, and inefficiencies.
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How BIM puts the UN SDGs within arms’ reach BIM contributes to all 17 SDGs to some extent. Below are three examples that highlight how. • Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation • Goal 9: Industry, innovation, infrastructure • Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities Caption: BIM’s ability to contribute to each SDG. Source: GHD Digital research
Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation BIM can be applied to optimise water efficiency through data-driven design and operational decision-making. From bid creation to asset management, BIM can greatly improve efficiency. For example, by unifying location and asset data into one intelligent platform, information usually collected physically on-site can now be found by interrogating the virtual site, rapidly speeding up the site evaluation, optioneering and site investigation processes.
