The fifth JKR BIM Day, co-organised by Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) and strategic partners, the Organisation of BIM Malaysia, the leading body for the BIM community, was successfully held recently and reflected the evolving landscape of Malaysia’s construction and design industry.
Building information modelling (BIM) is a game changer in the digitalisation transformation of the project delivery system in line with National Construction Policy 2030 and Industrial Revolution 4.0.
A biennial event, BIM Day was first initiated in 2015 to promote the transformative power of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Malaysia and its many benefits. The latest edition was particularly significant as it aligned itself with the forthcoming National Technical Profession Day (HPTN), slated for December 2023.
Welcoming a diverse crowd of 400 at the Sime Darby Convention Centre, the event drew participation from JKR officers, representatives from government agencies, statutory bodies, academia, contractors, and consultants.
The event featured an exhibition, seminar, forum, and awards presentation designed to promote an understanding of BIM implementation and its advantages, create avenues for fostering human capital competencies in BIM, and facilitate opportunities for enhanced networking and strategic collaborations.
The seminars were led by 25 expert speakers and divided into Knowledge Arena, Project Showcase, and Technology Update parallel sessions. The forum with four eminent panelists also provided opportunities for participants to hear from some of the industry’s foremost leaders in BIM implementation.
Officiating the event was the guest of honour, director-general of Jabatan Kerja Raya, Datuk Ir Ahmad Redza Ghulam Rasool.
“The digital transformation of Malaysia’s construction industry is seen as critical, particularly in construction project delivery and comprehensive asset management. The Jabatan Kerja Raya has set a target to achieve 70 percent usage of BIM in its projects this year and 90 percent usage by 2025.
“JKR is unwavering in its commitment to BIM adaptation and together with our partners, JKR’s initiatives are geared towards magnifying industry awareness and preparing Malaysia for the global stage of modern construction technology,” said Ahmad Redza.
In July this year, the minister of works announced that it had implemented 297 road and building development projects to date using BIM and Industrial Building System (IBS) methods throughout the country.
Discussions during the day gravitated towards the potential scalability and synergy of BIM with Industry 4.0 technologies.
Razak Wong, president of the organisation of BIM Malaysia said, “Embracing BIM is not just about staying current, it is about looking forward. The synergy between BIM and Industry 4.0 technologies opens limitless opportunities, allowing us to construct not just buildings, but a smarter and more efficient future for Malaysia”.
BIM Day was also made possible with the robust support of prominent industry players including Trimble, Perunding Irzi, MPro, Salur Kuasa, UTNM, Geodelta, Nextdor Property Communications, and Maltimur amongst others.
“BIM Day is a communal commitment towards crafting a technologically progressive and sustainable built environment in Malaysia. Through events and ongoing BIM community engagements, we aim to catalyse the nationwide adoption of BIM practices, driving efficiencies and fostering global competitiveness,” said Wong.
The celebrations of BIM Day are set to culminate in a gala dinner, featuring the prestigious Autodesk-JKR ASEAN Innovation and BIM awards ceremony. The awards are just one of the successful collaborations between JKR and Autodesk, a global software company known for its 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software solutions.
In 2022 JKR and Autodesk signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote greater BIM collaboration and understanding.
The accolades will recognise outstanding BIM practitioners and projects, with a keynote address by the minister of works, Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi emphasising the industry’s significance.
