Embedding Building Information Management into the fabric of RCHT, and why it’s central to the delivery of our new Women and Children’s Hospital
Building Information Management (also known as Building Information Modelling and BIM for short) has been a mandatory requirement for all new major public projects in the UK since 2017. Its implementation and utilisation will be a critical factor in the modern design, delivery and onward maintenance of the new Women and Children’s Hospital.
What is BIM?
BIM can be defined as a methodology that involves the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of buildings and other physical assets. It’s supported by various technologies, tools, processes and contracts that enable the exchange of information between individuals, businesses and government organisations involved in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of buildings, and physical infrastructure and facilities.
Plainly speaking, building information models (BIMs) are essentially computer files which can be extracted, exchanged or networked to support decision-making for a built asset. At the pinnacle of BIM are 3D digital models (or twins) of physical assets which can provide a detailed, golden thread of information for all disciplines involved in the lifespan of these assets.
According to the UK Government, even adopting the basic level of BIM (Level 2) can reduce waste in construction projects such as abortive work, discrepancies and mistakes, by as much as 20%.
Effective use of digital technologies, and 21st Century data collection and modelling systems, are a basic requirement for the construction and operation of complex healthcare buildings.
Why is BIM so beneficial?
Aside from reducing waste and construction costs, there are several reasons why BIM is used successfully in large building projects:
- Standardised building information between designers, project managers and contractors, as well as specialist MEP advisers using a Common Data Environment improves efficiencies and productivity through a collaborative working environment. It improves the design of buildings and physical assets and reduces risks before construction starts
- BIM is a critical enabler for producing 3D scans and spatial mapping which can detect potential issues or clashes prior to starting any build. This means a more efficient build and fewer, less costly, unexpected changes throughout the life cycle of a building.
- A Common Data Environment and digital twin improve workflow processes and reduces downtime post construction with labelling (using barcodes) and tagging of assets and spaces within a building. Issues are easier to locate, monitor and resolve; they can improve the accuracy of any repairs and upgrades, and support data-driven decision-making throughout a building’s lifecycle.
- With BIM in place, a live data environment can be created in a building to facilitate remote building control – of temperature, humidity, fire systems, energy use, digital signage and wayfinding, lighting etc.
- A live data environment can also pave the way for smarter clinical settings enabling greater adoption of remote medicine which reduces pressure on hospital spaces.
Adopting BIM at RCHT
BIM implementation at RCHT represents a major step forward on our journey to deliver “smart hospital” functionality for the new Women and Children’s Hospital.
The Capital Projects and Estates teams have been implementing BIM methodologies since June 2023. In that time, the number of assets which have been digitally labelled and logged into RCHT’s Facilities Management system – MICAD – has more than doubled.
Additionally, several of RCHT’s recent projects, including the new Outpatients Department at West Cornwall Hospital, the LINAC 3 replacement, and the Royal Restaurant refurbishment have benefitted from 3D scans and spatial mapping using Matterport technology.
During the recent refurbishment of the Royal Restaurant’s kitchen, for example, duct, cable and pipe routes in the voids, as well as gas and water valve locations were fully scanned before the ceiling tiles and wall panels were installed. The digital files are available to operations and maintenance teams who can use them to pinpoint and isolate issues without the need for invasive works. As implementation of BIM methodologies progresses, live data in the system will notify teams proactively when assets need maintaining, or if a particular asset is malfunctioning.
BIM and the new Women and Children’s Hospital
The introduction of BIM at RCHT has been excellent preparation for getting the Women and Children’s Hospital Programme delivery team and its key stakeholders to engage with BIM in order to maximise efficiencies during the design and build process. Through BIM they, alongside with the multi-disciplinary design team and building contractor, will be able to ensure:
- Full traceability of design and construction decisions
- Efficient handover of accurate as-built drawings and asset information
- Regulatory compliance in line with current building safety legislation
- Effective digital support for facilities management and clinical support teams post-occupancy
- The deployment of building sensors to support the ongoing management and maintenance of the building, and to improve patient and staff interaction with the physical environment.
“We are delighted to have embraced BIM at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, with benefits already realised on our most recent capital building and refurbishment projects. Looking forward, BIM will also be essential as we get to work on the refreshed designs for our new Women and Children’s Hospital,” says Brian Johnson, Director of Estates and Facilities at RCHT and Senior Responsible Officer for the Women and Children’s Hospital Programme. “Our contractor will be able to build our new hospital extremely efficiently and to exact specifications. Clashes in design from our subject matter experts should be minimised; no confusion between different entities; exact measurements to the millimetre, and a smart hospital that’s capable of improving patient experiences of the physical environment.
“Once our new hospital is open,” he continues, “our estates and maintenance teams will have a digital version of the new Women and Children’s Hospital with which they can manage maintenance and onward asset management in the most efficient and cost effective way for the building’s lifespan.”
The new Women and Children’s Hospital is part of the national New Hospital Programme, Wave 1, and is expected to be built by 2031. It will bring together all our family services – maternity, paediatrics, neonatal, obstetrics and gynaecology – into one dedicated and purpose-built clinical space that is fit for the 21st Century. Delivering transformative, sustainable and digitally-enabled models of care will transform the way clinicians work and improve the safety and experience of our patients.
More information about the new Women and Children’s Hospital can be found on our dedicated website.
