Building Information Modelling (BIM) allows the latest digital technologies to be applied at every step of the build process, adding value to built assets — from the briefing and design stages, right through to construction and operation.

The BIM Acceleration committee, a voluntary industry and government body dedicated to increasing the understanding and use of BIM in New Zealand, has produced a second edition of the New Zealand BIM Handbook which has been released this week. Funded by the BRANZ Building Research Levy and supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, this new edition expands on the first BIM Handbook from 2014.

The new handbook serves to help further unlock BIM's benefits for New Zealand's design and construction sector. The handbook follows the progression of a project, covering: 

• Project establishment/briefing
• Design
• Procurement
• Construction
• Handover
• Operation

Taking into account global developments and direct industry feedback, this latest edition aims to provide more in-depth information on how to use BIM in projects. This edition provides more detail on the construction and handover phases of a project. Updated appendices with templates and examples of BIM planning documents are included, along with more detailed information on specific areas of the BIM workflow, such as model coordination.

The new handbook is available for download on the BIMinNZ website.