Situation in Spain and Latin America

The BIM (Building Information Modeling) methodology It allows you to create a digital simulation of an architectural or engineering project, share information, automate processes, and reduce the risks associated with the countless interactions that arise.

Its use dates back to 2010 in Spain, and its adoption and growth worldwide have been gradual but unstoppable.

At Structuralia, we like to stay informed about the adoption of new methodologies and technologies that are of interest to the market, so that we can offer the best specialized training.

We have brought together five BIM experts from Spain and Latin America in order to learn their views on the current state of development and future prospects for the sector.

1. At the European level, the Public Procurement Directive and the efforts by government agencies to establish standards have provided a strong boost to BIM methodology. What initiatives are being implemented in your country to promote the adoption of this methodology?

Jesús Perucho, by Spain, A RIBA-registered architect, BIM consultant, and business developer—as well as a professor and thesis advisor for master’s-level projects in various graduate programs at Structuralia—shares his perspective:

«In Spain, there are no mandatory regulations regarding the use of BIM methodology. While it is true that in recent years, thanks to the ESBIM Commission of the Ministry of Public Works, and now the BIM Commission and Ministry of Transportation BIM Tender Observatory, In the areas of Mobility and Urban Planning, we can see how the number of public BIM bids is increasing year after year.

It is interesting to look at these charts—either by individual year or as a cumulative total for recent years—to see which BIM applications are requested for infrastructure or building projects.

»However, the use of this methodology is not mandatory in the private sector—such as in private contracts or housing projects—although its use is becoming just as widespread, if not more so, than in the public sector; for now, however, its continued use is observed only in large-scale projects."

For its part, Leonardo Pacheco, an architect and professor at the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja who is also the executive director of Tapiall and a faculty member, shares his perspectives on Ecuador:

«The initiative in Ecuador" is determined by each private practice or firm »which aims to move beyond CAD and make the transition to BIM; at present, it is primarily architects who are adopting it most quickly, in the hope that it will be embraced by other engineering disciplines and complementary fields, recognizing that BIM's efficiency lies in integrated work."

Josué Ulate He is an architect, university professor, and BIM coordinator at the University of Sciences and Arts in Costa Rica And from his perspective, he tells us:

«In Costa Rica, two types of initiatives have been launched: those in the private sector and those in the public sector.".

In the In the private sector, companies have begun to receive training in the methodology to achieve results in projects, whether in terms of time or money. Many companies sent their staff abroad for training to implement BIM in their workflows, which has led to innovation and implementation in many areas. These companies have engaged with the construction chamber to further promote the methodology, creating a BIM FORUM which has developed annual events, training sessions, and documents such as a BIM implementation plan for companies and the SDI.

In the public sector, the government created a division within Mideplan (Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy) for the development and implementation of BIM nationwide. 

«The BIM methodology is a tool used in the construction sector; in Costa Rica, it is already being used by the private sector. What we want is to incorporate this work methodology into the public sector, which will allow all parties to work in a coordinated manner and thus avoid costs, delays, and errors in construction processes. It can also help us improve maintenance plans for buildings and structures currently in operation. This technology certainly already exists in Costa Rica, and we want to bring it to the public sector,” said the First Lady of the Republic, Claudia Dobles Camargo.

The Interagency Commission for the Implementation of BIM Methodology (CII-BIM) in February 2019, which has worked on developing seven strategic actions:

1. 1. Develop a work plan that includes the necessary guidelines, roles, actions, and deadlines to ensure the proper adoption of BIM in Costa Rica.

   2. To promote the development of skills related to BIM methodology among various stakeholders in the public, academic, and private sectors.

   3. Create the necessary conditions in terms of technological infrastructure, connectivity, and capabilities to foster innovation.

   4. Determine the level of BIM adoption to guide and prioritize the plan's strategic actions.

   5. Develop pilot projects that generate knowledge.

   6. Promote regulatory changes to include BIM in public procurement notices.

   7. Promote the use of BIM in the construction industry through a communication strategy.

Finalizing Costa Rica's Integration into Bim Gob Latam BIM Network for Latin America.»

Javier Nuñez, Architect and director of the “Specialization Program in Building Information Modeling” at the University of Buenos Aires, and tenured professor of Modeling and Introduction to BIM Methodology in the architecture programs at the Universities of Buenos Aires, Moreno, Avellaneda, and La Matanza. He is a founding member and director of the BIM Forum of Argentina and serves on the SIBIM Public Management BIM Committee. Since 2013, he has organized the annual BIM-FADU academic conference. He shares his perspective in Argentina:

«Here in Argentina, nearly seven years ago, the National Ministry of Public Works brought together a small team of BIM specialists (several of whom were from academia) to launch what is now the SIBIM – BIM Implementation System.

This is a A program aimed at implementing BIM methodology in various areas of public administration. This program stems from the “BIM Strategy for Argentina (EB-AR)” whose purpose is to implement BIM methodology nationwide, with the goal of modernizing management through the digitization of the construction sector.

Its main objectives are: 

• • Develop a systematic set of principles, guidelines, and procedures to regulate and establish a working methodology for public sector entities interested in implementing BIM processes and best practices.

  • Examine alternatives regarding work teams and the definition of roles, project workflow, scope of information, level of detail in modeling, and software applications.

To achieve these goals, the team of professionals that makes up SIBIM has also organized the “BIM Public Management Roundtable,” which brings together, on a monthly basis, a growing number of government officials from other areas of government across the country who participate voluntarily by sharing their experiences and outlining their needs in order to provide feedback and data to the drafters of the extensive list of documents that SIBIM has published as a roadmap for achieving a coordinated, nationwide BIM implementation for the public sector.

The documents in question are freely available at this link.»

Iván Emmanuel Díaz Acevez, dBIM professor for the civil engineering program at the Universidad Panamericana in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and co-director and BIM consultant at 11.11 Arquitectos, from Mexico, tells us:

«It has been a difficult journey; only this year are we beginning to see BIM as a solution to various internal project conflicts and issues related to project design.".

The government agency is beginning to incorporate it into its solicitations, but there is a lack of trained personnel capable of properly reviewing the projects, which makes the process tedious for those of us in charge of development.

In contrast, in the private initiative It has begun to be adopted primarily as a rescue plan, »since their investments were skyrocketing due to rising construction costs, and one way to save them was to minimize the unforeseen expenses inherent in the development of their project."

2. Adopting BIM methodology requires a significant investment in equipment, training, and personnel. What does this methodology have to offer that will enable it to become the standard of the future?

Jesús Perucho He tells us:

«Well, of course it requires a investment. If you really look at what the investment costs you and, in return, what it brings you—the benefits you gain—you clearly realize that it’s worth taking the plunge. I can’t imagine working without BIM now, and any company that doesn’t make the switch to BIM because of the investment cost will quickly fall behind—not because it’s required by law, but because projects are already being done in BIM, and coordination and collaboration using models—whether in the design, construction, or operations phase—is now standard practice in day-to-day project management.

You can calculate the Return on Investment (ROI) of what it costs a company to implement BIM methodology in its processes, and it is clear that »You'll recoup your investment very quickly."

Leonardo Pacheco adds:

«By understanding the architectural production process as the connection between design and construction, BIM methodology enables all of the building’s design teams to work in a comprehensive and integrated manner throughout the entire architectural production process, in real time, from anywhere, and with an emphasis on applying continuous improvement methodologies, where the data obtained allows for comprehensive adjustments throughout the project, as well as the generation of patterns that enable us to improve on future projects. Undoubtedly, a very strong reason for BIM to establish itself as the standard of the future is »its ability to optimize resources such as time, money, materials, and labor."

Josué Ulate, for his part, comments:

«Every day, more and more highly complex projects are being built, so planning, visualization, design, construction, and operation must be carried out in collaborative spatial environments.". The benefits of BIM include better design, construction efficiency, projects delivered on time and within budget, fewer delays, higher construction quality, fewer RFIs on-site, transparency, and standardized processes for the AEC industry. »They have made this methodology our present and our future.”

Javier Núñez He adds:

«I believe that humanity is living through a very unique moment in which “the past” and “the future” have become contemporaneous.".

Choosing to live in one or the other is mainly a matter of making a decision. Sometimes these decisions are beyond our control, but at other times they are, and in our context, I believe that positioning ourselves for the future with regard to everything involving the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AICO) of buildings comes down to the (simple?) decision to adopt the BIM methodology.

BIM is the work methodology that this future holds for us, is part of the digital transformation that is taking place in many other areas of human activity and that the industry AECO has inexplicably been resisting, but the benefits of BIM are now evident and can be easily verified, making the decision-making process increasingly straightforward.

As for the investment involved in migrating to BIM and the criteria for determining whether or not to make that investment, the most compelling argument comes from analyze the costs of not implementing BIM and trying to compete with the future while stuck in the past. ». For the AECO industry, a future without BIM is not a future—it is a perpetuation of the past."

Finally, Iván Emmanuel Díaz Acevez, comments:

«Ait greatly streamlines the technical development process of a project, “I'm referring to the design documentation—or, as we call it in Mexico, the ”executive project.» This gives us more time to rethink a design, take on another project, or simply devote more time to what matters most in life, such as spending time with family, pursuing hobbies, or attracting more clients."

3. The BIM methodology requires specialized training. Do you think the educational offerings meet market demands? What is the situation like in your country?

Jesús Perucho He tells us:

«In general, in the countries where I've worked, it's up to par. In United Kingdom There are several training programs, including Mexico too. In Spain, (and we can include Latin America here, since technology makes it possible to take online courses from anywhere in the world) There are several Master's Programs in BIM of a very high standard, which meet the training needs of anyone who wants to get started with or further specialize in the use of BIM methodology.»

Leonardo Pacheco adds:

«The The educational landscape is changing and evolving worldwide as economic, social, and technological markets demand it. In Ecuador, there are still no alternative options; we continue to rely on traditional undergraduate programs, although at the graduate level, some efforts have been made to bring about change, but there is still much work to be done. The market’s technical demands call for new specializations, including BIM, but the population’s own needs are, in a way, hindering this development, since a large percentage of construction projects remain informal—a situation that sidelines professional consulting and, even more so, specialized consulting. To address this, we must strengthen government oversight of construction at all stages, as well as provide funding for high-quality infrastructure and above all raise public awareness of the importance of living in high-quality spaces.»

Josué Ulate, for his part, comments:

«I believe there is a misunderstanding in our country regarding BIM training. Many institutions teach courses on the methodology as if it were simply software rather than a process. That is why we—as both public and private universities—must adapt, develop, and execute strategies to implement BIM within our degree programs. This will help new professionals view the methodology as part of their daily work, planting the right foundation to guide and promote the proper use of BIM in our projects.”.

The government should adopt a variety of approaches to encourage public and private universities and technical colleges to develop standards within the education sector.»

Javier Núñez He adds:

«In Argentina, the supply of specialized training programs is insufficient in terms of quantity to meet current market demand.". 

As for the quality of the training offered, something quite different may be happening, since we are training specialists at a higher level than the market demands, due to the lack of understanding that still exists regarding what can be expected from the methodology and from a BIM specialist.

The reality is that in Argentina, BIM as a methodology has not progressed beyond Level 1 (Modeling), with a few very notable exceptions.

We often find that organizations don't really understand what BIM is all about, and at best, they only know that they should start thinking about transitioning to this new methodology.

We must also keep in mind that training Becoming a BIM specialist is a process that requires a considerable amount of time, and few professionals decide to embark on a path of specialization that will take them a little over two years. 

Those most committed to this path are typically recent college graduates who see BIM as an important opportunity to establish themselves in the workforce, whereas professionals who are already established in their field tend to opt for more general training programs that focus exclusively on the methodological aspects of BIM, completely ruling out training in the practical use of BIM tools.

Personally, since 2017 I have been directing the “Specialization Program in Building Information Modeling” at the University of Buenos Aires, which evolved from a graduate-level course.

Fortunately, other BIM training initiatives are emerging at universities across the country and abroad, including even online training courses, whether they are graduate or extracurricular courses, as well as others offered by professional organizations. Some are e-They are of an excellent standard and contribute to the training of professionals qualified to take on a BIM role and to the dissemination of the methodology.«

Finally, Iván Emmanuel Díaz Acevez, comments:

«No, we still need to “spread the word” about the methodology. There’s a lot of information out there about BIM, and little by little, educational institutions are changing their mindset; there’s no doubt that this situation has shifted paradigms.”.

It has revealed abilities within us that we didn't know we had, created new markets, and revolutionized users' expectations of a building or of living in a home.

Personally, I am grateful for the opportunity to gain the necessary knowledge about BIM; it has opened up great career opportunities for our firm, 11:11 Arquitectos, since 2021.

»And I am grateful for the opportunity I've had every day for the past 10 years to share my knowledge with my students—through one-on-one training sessions, teaching certificate programs, and now directly from a classroom, even if it's a virtual one for the time being."

Many thanks to the five experts who participated for sharing their professional insights, which allow us to offer on this blog a a broad perspective, incorporating different viewpoints, on the future of BIM methodology in various Spanish-speaking countries, its application in the market, and the importance of the specialized training in this field.