AIA Addresses Changing Landscape of Building Information Modeling with Updated Digital Practice Documents

WASHINGTON, D. C. — Building Information Modeling has changed the way construction industry participants interact with each other and communicate internally. Project plans have moved beyond two-dimensional design to multi-dimensional models that have parametric capabilities. The American Institute of Architects is continuously evaluating the development and adoption of BIM and the impact it has on contractual relationships. As a result, the AIA Contract Documents program is updating its documents for use on construction projects involving digital data or BIM, and will make a draft of these Digital Practice documents available for public review and comment.

During this public comment period, the documents will be available for review through the AIA Contract Documents website. Users will be able to download the documents and will be asked to complete a simple survey. They will also be given the opportunity to provide detailed comments on a section-by-section basis, if desireD.

“The development of BIM and incorporation of other digital practices has been critical to the construction industry, because it facilitates successful implementation of the challenging tasks of planning, coordination and communication among the multiple parties in construction projects,” said Kenneth Cobleigh, managing director and counsel, AIA Contract Documents. “The AIA Contract Documents program has always been committed to obtaining industry feedback through our network of individual and group liaisons, and then incorporating that feedback into the development of our documents. Reaching out to a broader audience through a public review and comment process is uniquely suited to the rapidly developing nature of BIM and other practices related to the exchange and management of digital data — and this will help further our goal of ensuring that AIA Contract Documents are as comprehensive and useable as possible.”

The updated Digital Practice documents will create a project-wide process and related protocols for working with BIM, and for the exchange and management of other digital data. The documents will also help prompt project participants to discuss and address many issues that may arise throughout a project and thereby reduce barriers that often hinder BIM adoption.

The updated Digital Practice documents consist of:

• AIA Document E203â„¢—2012, Building Information Modeling and Digital Data Exhibit
• AIA Document G201â„¢—2012, Project Digital Data Protocol Form
• AIA Document G202â„¢—2012, Project Building Information Modeling Protocol Form

The public comment period will close Sept. 24. Visit www.aia.org/digitaldocs to download the documents.