Think Differently - Collaborate!

As Chris Preston, chair of RICS Geomatics Professional Group steps down, he reflects on the last three years which have seen unprecedented collaboration between professional bodies.

As I write this I am conscious that it will be my last column for your delectation! My time as Chair of the RICS Geomatics Professional Group comes to an end in early December as I hand over to the capable hands of Gordon Johnston.

It is usual at such times to reflect on what has been achieved during my tenure but I prefer to look forward rather than back as we seek to build on what has been achieved.

It is clear that if nothing else has come from my time at the helm, the most important thing is that “collaboration” has been engendered between our kindred professional bodies and industry colleagues. I consider that this is now starting to be achieved without the finger of suspicion being pointed.

GEO Business 2016 Looms

GeoBusiness has been a fantastic success thanks to the hard work of many and has now been established as a fitting showcase for the industry in the UK. However, there is still work to do on this, the easy part is starting out but as the concept matures where do we go next? By the time you read this a meeting will have been held to pilot the way forward for the 2016 conference and exhibition and things will be up and running again.

Important Showcase

The work of Survey4BIM is ongoing and really needs your support to make the impact that it deserves. The group is now working on the Big5 Geospatial challenges. The digital plan of work has now been published and this augments the work done on the RICS Measured surveys of land buildings and utilities specification 3rd Edition and that related to the International Property Measurement Standard for buildings. This suite of documents is now beginning to build up to being a very useful showcase of the importance of geospatial surveying in many areas of business.

Most are Aware but will BIM Deadlines be Met?

Where are you or your organisation on the road to BIM 2016 Level 2? A recent survey completed by Pinsent Mason’s in Spring of 2015 of over 100 so-called “industry experts” showed that 19/20 were aware of UK Government’s target to use Level 2 BIM by 2016 on all centrally procured projects and 7/10 actively investing in BIM.”  However, less than 30% think the industry will achieve it and the Civil Engineering contractors association’s recent survey found that 74% believed that deadline would not be met. The earlier survey identified a lack of understanding of BIM (33%, especially in the supply chain) and collaboration (24%) to be key issues (it is that word again!). Existing forms of construction and engineering contract are still being used that are not appropriate to the BIM-enabled world, especially when it comes to how collaborative contracting can be achieved. Changes are obviously needed especially as the industry looks to Level 3 BIM. What is your view on this?

An Honour to Serve

It has been a great honour to chair the professional group; I have met and been introduced to so many interesting people and different projects in the many different facets of geomatics. It has simply reinforced my view that this is a fascinating industry that with your help, can go from strength to strength to build a digitally enabled world.

As a final thought I quote Ben Davis in GW May/June: “the dynamics needed to solve today’s problems: think differently, lose self-interest and collaborate.”

This article was published in Geomatics World November/December 2015