BILT summary FI

My reflections on BILT 2024

What an event! BILT was definitely the best conference I’ve ever attended! Why am I so enthusiastic? Let me do some recap of the event and underline the winning points for that conference among all the others I have attended.

Sessions

There were a lot of great sessions. Oftentimes it was a struggle to choose one from among 5 concurrent presentations. I had to make some hard choices. If I were to pick top three, where I learned the most or got some perspective on a topic I think those would be:

Next-Level Data Visualisation

Great lab held by Kevin Fielding showcasing the possibilities behind connecting Speckle viewers with PowerBI. We sliced Revit model schedules, connected to PowerBI and transformed data. We also used Speckle server to visualise the model within PowerBI and interconnected it with the schedules. Afterwards, we created a dashboard with a bunch of visuals that gave both data and model overviews. Much appreciated, especially the help from Speckle, as it turned out the PowerBI is not consistent for every user, as one would expect.

BIM Integration for Built Asset Operation

Session held by Lindsay Offner and Ben Bentley about Facility Management of a tunnel in Sydney. They presented their workflow between model and Maximo (FM tool) and how they store and update data during maintenance. I noticed that their challenges and proposed solutions are similar to those we are having now at Stavanger University Hospital preparing for the handover.

How to succeed in building an 8 km subway with 6 stations directly from BIM.

Magne Ganz showed another example of a model-based building project in Norway. His presentation was focused on design processes set up to automate mundane tasks and to make it possible for the construction site to work without drawings. This was a session with a topic similar to mine, but it covered a little bit of a different area. Thanks to that, participants of both Magne’s and my sessions could understand the concept even better.

Discussion panel

There was also a great discussion panel about integrating design technology into education and professional development thoughtfully led by Joel Martineau. What is the different approach to professional development across countries and companies? How does academia prepare students for participation in the job market? How to stay competitive there? What should be the division of the responsibility between employer and employee? A lot of good questions and different answers and approaches.

My presentation and feedback

I also held a session at BILT. I was doing a case study on how to build a billion dollar hospital based on models.

I have spoken about core assumptions we did on site. Some of them I have already described on our blog (introduction here) and some of them I will continue on presenting here. The four main chapters were:

Data quality

Processes

Technology

Software we use, what tool is responsible for what task and how do they talk to one another.

Construction site

how we set up our site. One topic I have already covered here: https://bimcorner.com/bim-stations-do-we-need-them-on-construction-site/

I took the same approach as we do on our blog – kept the presentation practical, giving loads of value, but low key and no bragging and blabbering.

I devoted myself to creating and delivering an outstanding presentation. Fine-tuned it many times. I was doing absolutely the opposite of the saying “Done is better than perfect.”

My presentation had to be perfect.

How did it go? From the reaction of the class and comments afterwards and during the gala dinner – it went indeed great. I have received many positive comments. Moreover, I had some long discussions on how to deliver without drawings and why would it be beneficial for each stakeholder!

Each session has been rated. We are still awaiting the results and feedback. I’m thrilled to see how listeners reacted to what I presented!

Networking!

Networking at BILT is exceptional! Everybody is easily approachable and approaches you with ease. No closed mutual admiration societies. No self-selling. Instead, open minds, curiosity and genuine interest in the fields one another are representing. What do you do? How do you solve these challenges? Have you tried this or that?

I have had numerous high-lever BIM discussions which only proved my assumptions that BILT might be the collection of the sharpest minds in the AEC industry.

It was eye-opening and horizon-broadening to learn a different approach to the same problems. I came home with much more understanding of how the industry is doing in other parts of Europe (and world). What are the hot topics, what is on the horizon, what are the law regulations and challenges.

Thanks to everybody at the event I had a chance to speak to!

Key take-aways

After three hectic days of full attention during the classes and massive networking in breaks and afternoons, the BILT event came to an end. I was exhausted. But in this positive way that gives you new fuel and new ideas the next day you go to work.

What is my take on that?

  1. BILT is the best conference I’ve ever attended

Low key, friendly and very knowledgeable. Everyone gives and everyone takes. It’s not massive in scale, but also not small, so you do meet a lot of new people throughout the day.

2. 60 minutes is a long speech, but it goes fast!

When I started preparing for the presentation I thought it was an enormously long time. After I had prepared the first mind map and presentation agenda, I realised this could easily be a three hour speech. I had to kill my darlings and shorten the session. But thanks to that it was concise and full of knowledge. And so were all the other sessions.

3. Model-based began to be a subject in many European countries.

A few years back, it was a complete novelty, now more and more countries are trying this approach or at least discussing the possibilities. I was very pleased when on a short survey at the closing plenary, some people, as the biggest take-away from the whole BILT event wrote “no drawings” and “less drawings”. That gives me motivation to further preach this method of construction and spread the word further!

4. It’s worth it to go outside of your bubble.

We are stuck in bubbles. Designers, contractors, building owners. Such an event can help us to not only meet people outside it, but talk to them beyond the current project and understand their take on the AEC industry. And this gets us step closer to better collaboration.

That was a great adventure and I felt welcomed by the BILT family. I encourage every one of you to consider this event for next year. Or even better – submit your abstract! The call for abstracts is soon to be open 🙂

One more time, a big thank you to DBEI for organising this event!

P.S. If you want to get access to all presentations and handouts from this and previous BILT conferences you can have it after buying membership at https://community.dbei.org/

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