Blog
BIM, CAD, AI and construction sites: methods, field experience and practical advice.
The BIM "glass ceiling": why so many firms get stuck at 3D
Many engineering firms model in 3D without ever reaching BIM collaboration. Understand the glass ceiling and the levers to break through it.
9 October 2026
Running the BIM transition as an innovation project (Kline and Rosenberg model)
BIM deployment is not linear. Kline and Rosenberg's chain-linked model helps steer it through feedback loops.
9 October 2026
Strategic diagnosis before BIM: Porter, LCAG and PIMS applied to engineering firms
Before investing in BIM, analyse the market and the firm's internal strengths with LCAG, PIMS and Porter's five forces.
9 October 2026
Maslow and socio-dynamics: winning team buy-in for BIM
Individual needs, allies, opponents, undecided: use Maslow's pyramid and the partner map to succeed in BIM change management.
9 October 2026
BIM skills matrix: modeller, coordinator, BIM manager
Which skills should each BIM role have in an engineering firm? A level-based matrix to recruit, train and grow teams.
9 October 2026
BIM governance: designing the target organisation chart of an engineering firm
Strategic, tactical and production levels: how to integrate BIM managers and coordinators into a firm's organisation without conflict.
9 October 2026
BIM process, coordination and standards: IFC, buildingSMART and collaboration
From the overall BIM process to multi-disciplinary coordination: standards, IFC, buildingSMART and a collaborative project method.
9 October 2026From 2D reinforcement drawings to a structural BIM model: what really changes
Rebar, concrete cover, schedules: CAD vs BIM comparison for reinforcement drawings and a method to make the transition work.
9 October 2026
Architecture and structure: a rigorous workflow to synchronise models
How architects and structural engineers exchange models without losing information: milestones, IFC, references and checks.
9 October 2026
French MOP law and the BIM process: aligning the model from sketch design to as-built
Sketch, preliminary, detailed design, construction documents, as-built: how BIM fits into the French MOP stages and why effort moves upstream.
9 October 2026Self-assessing your firm's BIM maturity: the BIMetric grid
Prior experience, skills and strategies: use the BIMetric grid to position your company and track its progress year after year.
9 October 2026
COBie: preparing operations data from the design stage
COBie structures a building's non-graphical information for maintenance. What the engineering firm should fill in, and when.
9 October 2026Visual coordination or automatic clash detection: which to choose?
Visual model review or automatic clash detection: strengths, limits and a combined method for efficient coordination.
9 October 2026bSDD and classifications: giving meaning to model properties
The buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD) harmonises properties and classifications. Why it is the key to truly usable BIM data.
9 October 2026
Crossing the chasm: from a few BIM pioneers to the whole company
Why BIM often stays confined to a few enthusiasts, and how to move from pioneers to the majority of teams.
9 October 2026BIM execution plan, employer's requirements and charter: decoding the documents for engineering firms
Employer's information requirements (EIR), BIM execution plan (BEP) and charter: what each commits the firm to and which clauses to check.
9 October 2026Levels of detail ND1 to ND4: model just what is needed at each stage
Concepts, systems, products, as-built: levels of detail ND1 to ND4 to avoid over-modelling and control time spent.
9 October 2026BIM deployment dashboard: the indicators to track
Time spent, rework, clashes, skills, client satisfaction: a simple dashboard to steer BIM deployment and prove its ROI.
9 October 2026The BCF format: exchanging coordination issues without emails or screenshots
BIM Collaboration Format: how BCF tracks model issues, owners and resolution across different software.
9 October 2026Motivating and organising a BIM team in an engineering firm
Engineering firm and BIM hierarchy, roles of the BIM manager and coordinators, motivation levers: organising people to succeed with BIM.
8 October 2026BIM maturity levels: assess your company before deploying
Pre-BIM, modelling, collaboration, integration: how to assess your company's BIM maturity and steer its progress.
7 October 2026Upskilling: from CAD drafter to BIM modeller
How to evolve CAD drafters' skills towards BIM: skill levels, skill groups and preserving trade know-how.
6 October 2026BIM barriers: cost, skills and resistance to change
Cost (62%), lack of skills (52%), resistance to change (52%): understand and remove the three main barriers to BIM deployment.
5 October 2026Moving from CAD to BIM in an engineering firm: where to start?
A proven method to move an engineering firm from CAD to BIM: assess, plan, train and deploy without extra cost or lasting productivity loss.
4 October 2026