The government approved the intention of mandatory digitization of building models for large contracts

Prague - The government today approved the plan for the mandatory use of building information modeling (BIM) methods, which create a digital representation of projects for public procurement of construction works above the threshold limits. Authorities are also expected to use this method for projects with costs exceeding 140 billion crowns. This was stated by Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela at today's press conference. According to him, using this method will streamline construction preparations and eliminate potential defects.

In the BIM method, a digital model of the planned building is created with all its characteristics. The aim of the method is to identify possible errors and shortcomings of the project before construction begins. The model also serves as a database of information about the building for its design, construction, and operation.

"This will allow for cost reductions both in the construction of new buildings and in their subsequent operation," said Síkela regarding the approval of the legislative framework proposal for the management of construction information and building information modeling and built environments.

The introduction of building information modeling is, according to him, part of the digitization of the construction industry. He expects modernization and efficiency improvements for the entire sector, as he sees frequent causes of declining productivity in construction in communication within the supply chain and in the transfer of information. "If individual members of the construction project team do not have access to accurate, complete, and timely information, they cannot achieve results in the most productive manner. The use of the BIM method is one of the ways to address these problems," stated the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) in a report to the government.

According to the MPO, the use of the BIM method is expected to bring long-term savings in project costs. In this context, it emphasizes the possibilities of comprehensive planning, where, due to preliminary construction in the digital environment, the project's price and the amount of required materials can be analyzed more precisely. At the same time, the ministry states that it is possible to better plan the construction schedule, further reducing costs. "Through the analysis of the building's digital model, it is possible, for example, to display potential collisions of structures or errors arising during the design phase, rather than during construction, thereby avoiding unnecessary expenditures on materials, time, and labor during construction and repairs," the MPO stated in the report.

Due to the implementation of BIM, authorities and public organizations will likely need to significantly strengthen their personnel. However, in the long term, the use of this method is expected to bring substantial savings in costs for large constructions, according to the ministry.