On December 2, the delegation of JSC „Digital Construction“, led by Director Dalius Gedvilas, together with the task groups leaders for BIM development in Lithuania: Dr. Vladimiras Popovas, Dr. Vaidotas Šarka and Dr. Darius Migilinskas from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU), Arvydas Čibirka, the Director of ‘‘Kelprojektas“ and Dainius Čergelis, the Senior Specialist of Environmental Ministry, participated at Building Information Modelling (BIM) Conference. The conference was organised by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in London.

In the UK, the State initiated and supported the implementation and development of digital construction and BIM methodology. The government has set out a strategy for the construction sector that envisions the implementation of BIM level by 2016: to deliver all centrally procured Government construction projects, using Building Information Modelling only. Since 2012, the country has already saved two billion euros, gradually implementing new technologies in large public building projects, and sixty six per cent of major projects have been completed on time and within budget, according to government‘s calculations.

The conference analysed the role of BIM for the country's infrastructure and real estate construction, focussing on the information requirements and design standards, construction and operation stages, promoting cooperation and structured data exchange. The Conference also covered the issues of teamwork psychology, communication culture in the BIM environment, concerning BIM security.

On December 3, the Lithuanian delegation met with BIM experts Nicholas Nisbet and Mervyn Richards, the BIM Task Group members of Great Britain at London office of Bentley Systems, Inc., the digital construction software company. The delegation also met with Greg Bentley, the Head of "Bentley Systems" corporation and David G Robinson, the Director of BIM Academy. During the working session, Andrius Nikitinas, Lithuanian Commercial Attaché to the United Kingdom, and Justas Belevičius, a Lithuanian, working as the team leader of Bentley programmers in London, joined our Lithuanian participants.

"The maturity of BIM made a tremendous impression on us – Great Britain is far advanced in the development of the BIM methodology country-wide. In the office of Bentley corporation, we noticed the professionalism of people, the desire to communicate and assist, as well as goodwill to educate, ‘‘– said Dalius Gedvilas, the President of the Lithuanian Association of Builders and the Director of JSC “Skaitmeninė statyba“. Addressing the benefits of BIM, he said that in the UK, they firstly focus on the speed and accuracy of decision-making, then on the ability of finding relevant data in the large stream of information, and most importantly – on the BIM efficiency and benefits, while applying BIM for the construction and infrastructure sector.

During the conference and meetings at Bentley office, VGTU representatives were mostly interested in the best practices that could be adapted at the Technology Center for Building Information and Digital Modelling of VGTU, designated for the development and promotion of building competencies, innovations, connected with the digital construction development, as well as transfer to market participants. A scientists group from seven VGTU faculties – Construction, Environmental Engineering, Architecture, Transport Engineering, Electronics, Mechanics and Basic Sciences is under creation at the center. They will provide business with scientific-practical services, coordinate the specialists training issues at the University on digital training, carry out the research and consult market participants.

"Great Britain is one of the world leaders in the development of BIM, so during our visit we had the first-hand opportunity to hear their successful digital construction story. After creating the environment for the BIM methodology, the Brits work consistently, improving it, and at the same time educating future market participants: universities are implementing the BIM study programs, developing the professional specialists‘ training and certification system intensively,"– said Dr. V. Popovas, the Director of Technology Center for Building Information and Digital Modelling of VGTU.

Many teachers of VGTU are also actively involved in the activities of JSC "Skaitmeninė statyba", providing suggestions on how to apply the practice of other countries within the University and nationally.