The built environment industry remains one of the most productive sectors of the UK economy with the British construction market valued at c.£375 billion, as of December 2022. The industry shows no sign of slowing down; but with a lack of skilled applicants, companies operating in and around the built environment are currently facing a challenge in meeting the rising demand for work.

As a forward-thinking company, Glider acknowledges the importance of educating the next generation of the built environment industry on information management and BIM. To carry out these aims, John Adams, Head of Product at Glider has been visiting the University of Nottingham since 2020 to help educate its students on BIM. The university also teaches students gliderbim® software as part of its architectural and engineering courses.

Commenting on the university’s partnership with Glider, Sarah Davidson, Associate Professor and Director of Education and Student Experience for the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering said: “For the third year running the University of Nottingham has been using gliderbim® to help develop students’ understanding of the UK BIM Framework and management of information through a Common Data Environment.”

“With John Adams’ support, undergraduate and postgraduate students have successfully configured and implemented gliderbim®, developing their skills to create a digital, rules-based approach to information management. They have been able to set up various data requirements, enhancing their understanding of different plans of work, Uniclass, and the UK BIM Framework, they have structured naming conventions and workflows and have explored how to use gliderbim® to collaborate and share information efficiently.  This practical process is proving to be a hugely beneficial experience that will serve them well as they progress their careers in the built environment.”

Commenting on the partnership, John Adams, Head of Product at Glider, added, “It’s not only rewarding to help students with their studies and to prepare for their careers, but imparting our knowledge at educational institutions is vital for the future of the industry. BIM is now a mainstay of the AEC industries, so it’s essential for any young people who want to go into these sectors to have at least a foundational understanding of BIM software and how it works. At Glider, we’re proud to support BIM career planning through the provision of educational resources.”

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or email info@glidertech.com.

The recent reforms in defence regulations have highlighted the need for a shared goal of improving the speed of acquisition within the marketplace. As a result, the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy (DSIS) was conceived, which aims to promote the collaboration between industry, government and academia to drive research and innovation in the defence industry.

DPRTE 2023 aims to set the stage for a coalition of key decision-makers, academics, government officials and buyers from across the industry to network with the joint purpose of education and innovation. The event is free to attend and will include an exhibition arena, knowledge transfer zones and keynote presentations. DPRTE is taking place at Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre and strives to provide buyers with the opportunity to connect with leading, innovative suppliers. They will also be giving buyers the chance to enhance their commercial skills through a range of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training sessions. For suppliers, the event allows them a unique opportunity to engage with the supply chain in a constructive way.

Glider is pleased to be attending DPRTE 2023 as part of its ongoing partnership with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and the defence sector. The DIO plays a critical role in supporting the UK’s armed forces by building, maintaining and servicing the UK’s defence infrastructure. Glider has supplied integral support in helping the DIO reinforce and comply with the Government Construction Strategy (GCS). Glider’s digital information management platform, gliderbim® is providing the DIO with a seamless, integrated Asset Information Management (AIM) solution that will facilitate improved management of its data, models and documents to enable efficient collaboration. They continue to successfully meet the DIO’s requirement for an ISO 19650-compliant CDE and are working alongside the DIO to define a holistic set of requirements to be implemented.

Glider’s work with the DIO continues to be a success, and they have recently welcomed new client Ingleton Wood LLP, an active member of DIO’s supply chain. Ingleton Wood LLP is a multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy that supports the defence industry in its evolving assets by implementing physical alterations to Defence Estates with minimal impact on operational efficiency. Glider supports Ingleton Wood in its work with the DIO and shares its knowledge of DIO-specific BIM protocols and practices, delivering a pre-configured gliderbim® CDE platform to improve the capture of supply chain deliverables and enable an effective handover to the DIO.

Darren Fowler, Partner and Architect of Ingleton Wood LLP commented: “We are delighted to be one of the first SMEs working with Glider to support and enhance our defence delivery capabilities sharing and managing information within a secure environment. Working with Glider we will be able to collaborate and share information compliant with DIO’s latest information delivery plan, ensuring efficiency and seamless transition between consultant and asset owner for ease of operation, maintenance, and closure of their assets throughout its operational life”.

Glider is a key solution in transforming the future of digital solutions in the infrastructure of our defence industry. It provides AIM CDE solutions that have become a key component of the DIO’s Asset Information Architecture and is delighted to be able to attend the DPRTE.

Further details on Glider’s work with clients DIO and Ingleton Wood LLP can be found here.

• DPRTE 2023 is taking place on the 29 March 2023 from 08:30-16:00 at the Farnborough Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glider will be at stand number 29. More information can be found here: https://www.dprte.co.uk/

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or email info@glidertech.com.

About the list

Build in Digital, the digital news platform for digital construction professionals has highlighted the leading construction technology (contech) partners through its Top 50 Contech Partners list. Although the list was originally created as the Top 25 Contech Partners, Build in Digital received hundreds of submissions from both national and international contech firms, resulting in the expansion of the pool of finalists from 25 to 50.

Build in Digital’s list provides a comprehensive account of the most innovative contech companies that are advancing the way the built environment operates. The high volume of applicants reflects the rapid digital transformation of construction, with new innovations developing all the time.

Ranked 23rd

Glider has been recognised as a leading organisation. As a result it is placed 23rd out of 50.

All submissions were ranked by Build in Digital’s independent panel of judges according to the core criteria areas of innovation, adoption and customer satisfaction. The panel of expert judges determined 70% of the final score. The remaining 30% represented the voices of the industry.

Glider was recognised by Build in Digital as a digital solutions provider and BIM consultancy for the built environment. The company was formed as a response to a growing industry need for trusted, structured data to support the digitisation of the industry.

Glider’s mission

Glider’s mission is to revolutionise how asset information is managed throughout the design, construction, and operation of a built asset. Its ground-breaking, data-driven, Common Data Environment (CDE) for full lifecycle information management is called gliderbim®. It provides asset owners with the tools needed to manage the production, approval, and delivery of all asset information.

A year of success

This success follows a year of outstanding achievement for Glider. It was shortlisted for 11 industry awards, and took home the CABE Digital Transformation Award and the Collaboration Project of the Year 2022 award at the Construction Computing Awards, for its contribution to HMP Five Wells.

Commenting on the accomplishment, Nick Hutchinson, Managing Director of Glider, said: “We are delighted to have been recognised as one of the Top 50 Contech Partners. This title acknowledges innovative data-driven solutions for managing asset information that Glider offers to the industry. It is  elevating the way companies design, construct and operate their buildings.”

Nick continued, “A huge well done to the entire team for starting the year off with this great achievement.”

Get in touch

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or email us.

Ingleton Wood joins as an Enterprise gliderbim® customer. They work within the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) supply chain via Facilities Management contractors, Vivo Defence and Tetra Tech.

Glider is already working with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, an operating arm of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The DIO builds, maintains, and services the infrastructure needed to support defence. The organisation manages around 1.8% of the UK’s landmass, including 115,000 non-residential buildings and 50,000 houses. By acquiring DIO’s suppliers as gliderbim® customers, Glider is improving the accuracy, consistency and access of information between organisations. Therefore, improving efficiency at handover.

Ingleton Wood is one of DIO’s suppliers. It is a multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy. Mace provides a wide range of services across the majority of industry sectors. This includes commercial, health, education, defence, residential, and community. The company’s wide-ranging services include architecture, building surveying, building services engineering, planning and interior design. They also focus on sustainability, civil and structural engineering, quantity surveying, project management, CDM, and health and safety services. Ingleton Wood currently has offices in London, Billericay, Cambridge, Colchester, Norwich, and Oxford.

Alongside the Enterprise implementation, Glider has bid for a range of project services to support Ingleton Wood on its DIO delivery. We currently await the outcome of these tenders.

Supporting defence delivery

Darren Fowler, Partner and Architect of Ingleton Wood LLP commented: “We are delighted to be one of the first SMEs working with Glider to support and enhance our defence delivery capabilities sharing and managing information within a secure environment. The platform will be accessed by our key clients; contractors, FDIS Partners (Vivo & Vinci) and DIO.”

He continued, “Working with Glider we will be able to collaborate and share information compliant with DIO’s latest information delivery plan. This ensures an efficiency and seamless transition between consultant and asset owner for ease of operation, maintenance, and closure of their assets throughout its operational life”.

Setting the blueprint

Stuart Bell, Director of Sales and Marketing at Glider commented: “We are delighted to welcome Ingleton Wood LLP as a client. This sets a blueprint for the approach we would like to take with DIO suppliers. Following this model, Glider is sharing its knowledge of DIO’s specific BIM protocols and practices, to deliver a pre-configured gliderbim® CDE platform. This will improve the capture and validation of supply chain deliverables and an efficient and effective handover to the DIO.”

Get in touch

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or email us.

Having worked closely with gliderbim® Enterprise user Coventry University on the digitalisation of its built estate, Glider was delighted to hold its user group meeting at Coventry University’s Coventry TechnoCentre, where many of its key associates such as Coventry University, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Deutsche Bank, Mace, Kier, Arcadis, and the Government Industry Interoperability Group (GIIG) came together in person to share in industry discussions.

The day kicked off with Douglas Fewkes from Coventry University welcoming the attendees to the campus and its estate. Douglas commented, “Digital technology and the support Glider will provide to use here at Coventry University is crucial for all ongoing growth and activity.”

Following this, Paul Wilkinson delivered a keynote talk highlighting the trends impacting the industry and the growing significance of information management, security, openness and interoperability. Paul stated, “NIMA as an organisation used to be the UK BIM Alliance, and has been heavily involved in the last 10 years with digital progress. And that has now shifted its focus slightly more to a wider brief talking about information management as a much bigger picture. We help the industry make all the appropriate connections and to learn, grow and seize the opportunity of good information management.”

Paul Wilkinson’s write up of the event can be found on Extranet Evolution.

Diving into Glider’s Roadmap

Glider’s Managing Director, Nick Hutchinson then walked through the plans for the company growth plans and 2023 focus, summarised as ‘much more of the same’ as Glider cemented a position as a leading information management platform and services provider. The next 24 months, for me personally, are going to be probably the most exciting period so far for us. We are very close to securing some significant funding, as we are now in a healthy position financially to make the conscious decision to take on board some additional capital.”

He continued, “This move is really going to accelerate the growth and scaling of what we do. That’s going to be focused primarily on building out the product and development teams, much bigger than what they currently are, and that is going to allow us to accelerate the delivery of our product road map.”

John Adams, Head of Product at Glider, moved the focus towards gliderbim® and the exciting roadmap plans over the next 6-24 months. Key focus areas highlighted were the scaling of data validation capabilities, the introduction of multi-file viewing capabilities and the incorporation of a powerful enterprise search and reporting capability. This presentation also included Luke Pibworth walking through the exciting new features coming to gliderbim®.

Commenting on scaling and SaaS, John said: “We are getting bigger, the platform is getting bigger, and we are getting more users. The last thing we want you to do is wait behind another customer to process a model. We want your models to process quickly; we want your data to process quickly. So, we are investing in making sure we are fit for that growth.”

Steve Rukuts, co-founder and Technical Director of Glider, continued the ‘Deep Dive’ of Glider’s roadmap, focusing on Glider’s security posture and continued technical hardening of the platform. Steve shared Glider’s plans to further strengthen Glider’s cyber security credentials which will enable us to support government clients as well as their supply chains to securely manage and share asset information deliverables.

Steve noted, “For the future we are looking to target secret and top-secret projects and our customers will also get the benefit of that investment. We are rapidly gaining a reputation as a provider of secure CDEs and we are seeing higher and higher demands for assurance. Many of our customers in defence and finance are very keen to see our security credentials and very keen to test us robustly.”

Stuart Bell, Director of Sales and Marketing at Glider, delivered a presentation on ‘Data Insights’, discussing the operational benefits that can be unlocked from a standard COBie data deliverable, and stressing the importance of starting with the end in mind with regards to information procurement. Clients specifying a requirement for highly structured asset data need to ensure this data has purpose and downstream value. Stuart also covered the growing portfolio of services that Glider provides to asset-owning clients and contractors/lead appointed parties, highlighting an increasing focus on structured asset data definition and delivery.

Stuart stated, “We like to talk to clients practically about what you can achieve with very good structured data, your carbon net zero and sustainability drivers or your space optimisation drivers for the estate. Starting with the end in mind is essential to creating the information requirements to achieve these aims.”

Upcoming Glider developments

Following the information management services theme, Henry Saunders, Head of Operations at Glider, took to the stage to discuss Glider’s focus on quality management and IM practitioner training for the team, along with the pending appointment of a new as Head of Information Management Services to further strengthen Glider’s delivery capability

Industry experts take the floor

• GIIG: the significance of the Client Information Management Platform

Glider was delighted to be joined by a new and emerging voice in Information Management. Nicola Pearson, Engagement Lead at the Government and Industry Interoperability Group (GIIG) introduced the work of the GIIG and the positioning of a Client Information Management Platform. GIIG is working to address interoperability issues on behalf of both the UK Government and Industry, turning the telescope around to look from an asset owner perspective at how they can take secure ownership and drive insights from their buildings and wider estate. Glider is now engaged with the GIIG and its Technology Group, looking at how to develop aspects of the Information Management Platform.

Nicola Pearson commented on gliderbim® as a client information management platform: “The glider information management approach enables organisations to manage their data, to drive value and better societal outcomes.”

• DIO: the challenges of implementing a Common Data Environment (CDE)

Jon Hallam, Senior Asset Information Manager at Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), joined the stage to discuss the opportunities and challenges of implementing a new Asset Information Management Common Data Environment (AIM CDE) and how the DIO is embracing the opportunities of closer supply chain engagement, and overcoming the cultural challenges of adopting new standards and processes. When your estate is global and has in excess of 150,000 buildings to manage, it was no surprise to learn about the phased and workstream approach the DIO are taking, and the number of collaborating parties supporting the change programme.

• Kier: dealing with complex BIM requirements

James Franklin, Head of BIM Projects at Kier, delivered a talk titled ‘Delivering Against Complex BIM Requirements’, where Glider worked in conjunction with Kier to deliver handover information on HMP Five Wells. As a result of this collaboration, HMP Five Wells project data was handed over on time and within budget, demonstrating the positive effects of a Managed Service inclusive of gliderbim® COBie validation and IFC management.. As a side note, HMP Five Wells is a project which has now generated two awards wins this year from CABE and Construction Computing.

Commenting on HMP Five Wells, James Franklin said: “Glider has worked with use on HMP Five Wells, we have delivered what we think is the most complex BIM project to date and we have 100% compliance which is fantastic. In terms of software vendors you have got the good people and they go on a journey with you; they help you when you’re struggling and Gliders are in that camp firmly.”

• Arcadis: the importance of the Golden Thread

The penultimate speaker, Ed Gibbs, Head of Digital at Arcadis, discussed the importance of the Golden Thread, pertaining to the Building Safety Act (2022), and how having the relevant software and workflows in place is essential in facilitating this. He announced the Arcadis partnership with Glider and use of gliderbim® to power and underpin their new Building Safety Digital Service.

• Smart Buildings and Net Zero Panel Discussion

Finally, a panel that included James Franklin from Kier, Ivo Krastins from Hoare Lea, and Matthew Bott from ScanTech, joined John Adams on stage to partake in a Smart Buildings and Net Zero Panel to discuss the part IM will play in the UK’s journey to net zero and the development of Smart Buildings.

Nick’s Final Thoughts

Nick Hutchinson, Managing Director of Glider wrapped up the conference, concluding, “I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to attend today. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the backing of each and every one of you, so thank you for your continued support.”

Nick added, “We take user feedback seriously, so it’s important for us not only to educate on the platform and to share our news but to hear your experience of Glider. We look forward to executing ambitious plans in the next 24 months to make the Glider user experience even better for all our users!”

Stuart Bell added, “We are absolutely thrilled with the attendance today and most of all, the participation to help drive positive change in the industry. This event just shows how much we can achieve in a single day and it was fantastic coming together physically and engaging with our clients and friends of Glider.”

You can watch the highlights of the day here.

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or email info@glidertech.com.

About the Podcast

Presented by Rebecca de Cicco, the Women in BIM podcast is a not-for-profit initiative aimed at supporting and growing the number of women in BIM and digital related roles. The podcast aims to enable a future construction industry where diversity is no longer an issue. Information management specialist Glider takes the same approach towards diversity. As a gold sponsor of the Women in BIM podcast, with Glider’s Managing Director, Nick Hutchinson, being one of its earliest supporters, the Glider team was invited on the podcast to share their thoughts on BIM.

Sarah Marshall, Digital Delivery Manager

Sarah Marshall is in charge of project delivery at Glider. Her focus is on asset information delivery, verification of data and BIM execution plans amongst other things. Sarah has a background in architectural technology, where she learnt about asset data management and delivery.

When asked about the importance of diversity in BIM, Sarah replied: “It’s key to have female role models in the industry; people you can relate to and rely on for support. If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”

John Adams, Head of Product at Glider

John is responsible for ensuring that projects are suitable for the market. He works closely with customers to understand their information management needs.

On the same topic, John added: “Diversity is the right initiative. And it should be made clearer that there are roles for everyone within BIM.”

What makes Glider different?

Introducing Glider, John discussed the company’s key offerings and relevance to the construction industry within the UK and on a global level. John explained that Glider is a technology business with a strong consultancy at its heart. “Nobody knows where their digital journey is going to end, but they know that there are challenges.” Therefore, Glider’s information management specialists can offer long term value to clients on their BIM journey.

Rebecca mentioned that currently one of the greatest problems facing the market is the lack of knowledge in relation to Asset Information Requirements (AIRs) and Exchange Information Requirements (EIRs).

Sarah agreed, and stated that the main challenge businesses face is the lack of knowledge around utilising their data. Glider helps this by assisting clients in getting to the roots of their AIRs and EIRs. She remarked, “We’re in a position where we’re helping people to understand what they want. Glider is key in that we can use our industry experience and knowledge to guide them through the project and to help them understand what they need”.

Bridging the gap

John also mentioned the challenge of bridging the gap between ambition and reality. Particularly as the BIM industry is now making ambitious advances, such as smart buildings and digital twins.

He commented, “Some people have not adopted BIM yet and some people are doing some really clever innovative things. But what people really need to grasp about the smart building, digital twin and BIM trifecta is that if you want a digital twin, you can’t do it without good BIM.  A digital twin relies on good data”.

BIM careers

On the topic of careers in BIM, Sarah commented, “Other than the one module in my university degree I didn’t really know what BIM. Or that it could be a standalone career! Through my first role in an architect’s practice, BIM was just creating 3D models. I realised I had more of an interest in the software than creating a model of a how a window sits in a brick wall. Then an opportunity came up for me, and I found out that the asset management is the ‘why it happens’ and I wanted to explore it more.”

In terms of advice to the next generation starting a career in BIM, Sarah said: “Ask questions, stay curious and be inquisitive. Take any opportunities that come your way and take in any information that comes your way.”

John added “Keep your eyes open, take opportunities as they come and don’t stop reading! This is an industry you’ll never complete, and there’s always something new to read, so don’t stop reading.”

Harmony for digital

As asset information management is a complex process. Glider aims to bring harmony to the digital approach, making it as simple as possible for its clients. Glider not only aims to be progressive in terms of its products, but in terms of its company culture and always champions diversity.

To hear the full conversation where Glider discusses challenges facing the market, diversity in the BIM sector and how the company is simplifying the BIM process, listen to the Women in BIM podcast.

Get in touch

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or email us.

Held from 4-6 October 2022, at NEC, Birmingham, UK Construction Week, the UK’s largest built environment event will host more than 600 exhibitors from across the industry, to bring together thousands of the brightest minds in construction to network, educate, and gain insights into the advances within the sector.

John Adams, Head of Product at Glider, will be representing the BIM software specialists on a panel discussing information management. The panellists have been curated by nima (formerly the UK BIM Alliance) to discuss their thoughts on BIM. Although it is still perceived by many as simply a 3D model of a built asset, the panellists will shed light on how BIM is revolutionising the sector and the innovative prospects it offers.

Information Management  – What Does it Mean?

• Speaker: John Adams, Head of Product
• Date: 5th October 2022
• Time: 2.45 pm
• Stage: Digital Construction Zone

Glider specialises in information management and is powering the digitalisation of the built environment with its data-driven Common Data Environment (CDE), gliderbim®. The team is enthusiastic to participate in one of the industry’s premier events, where it has the opportunity to share how BIM is powering the virtual built environment with a large audience.

Commenting, John Adams said: “I’m looking forward to joining fellow members of the UKBIMA Technology Group to discuss what BIM really offers to construction. BIM has the potential to create a far more efficient, productive and safe sector and following the 2016 BIM Mandate, it will be increasingly important for companies to know about this. This is a great opportunity to share insights on BIM with an audience that will truly benefit from this knowledge.”

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or email info@glidertech.com.

The adoption of BIM

Central to the slow adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM), is the fact that BIM itself is misunderstood and misinterpreted. Many within client organisations, as well as within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) disciplines still see BIM as a technology for the construction phase. Especially for creating virtual 3D models of buildings. When in reality, BIM offers so much more to organisations, teams and projects.  BIM processes are just as applicable to existing assets as to new builds. BIM is building information management – the process and approach for standardised capital project development, delivery and ongoing operational management of built assets.

Common Data Environment (CDE)

One of the central pillars supporting the BIM process is a collaborative working environment. This creates, exchanges, manages and utilises information in a centralised area: a Common Data Environment (CDE). A CDE is deployed by clients to assure project deliverables and manage asset information on an ongoing basis. Additionally, it is used by design and construction firms to manage their supply chain in the digital delivery of projects.

Using a CDE configured to BIM standards (ISO 19650) and exchanging open standard file formats like Industry Foundation Class (IFC) and Construction Building Information Exchange (COBie) allows independent teams to coordinate their processes in a standardised and uniform way. This protects the client’s (asset owner) long-term interests as they’re not locked into a proprietary file format or technology. It also facilitates efficient cooperation, and mitigates the risk of referencing wrong versions, or losing information.

Improved collaboration

Digitising information is hugely beneficial for construction projects. Teams can improve collaboration between stakeholders in construction projects, across the entire asset lifecycle. All the way from conceptual design, through to building completion and maintenance, progressively assuring handover deliverables as the project progresses.  Importantly, in the BIM process, asset owner clients can clearly specify their information needs to ensure at Practical Completion (PC) that they receive a complete digital dataset and asset records for utilisation throughout the operational phase of the asset.

Although some firms have moved from paper-based to digital processes, by not fully adopting BIM and having a CDE, their digital records (documents, data and spatial information like drawings and models) are not centrally organised or formatted. This results in data inconsistency and conflicts of information. Even simple tasks like finding a drawing or inspection record in support of a query or claim can prove difficult.

The second reason is that the construction industry is a traditionally siloed industry. It is characterised by multiple designers, consultants, trade contractors and suppliers who are often constrained by traditional attitudes.

The prime example being the common practice of different members of the supply chain working independently of one another. Contrary to this widely held belief, collaboration across the supply chain significantly improves return on investment for projects, which tend to be overrun and over budget.

Effective supply chain collaboration

The adoption of BIM standards (ISO 19650) and the use of Common Data Environment’s (CDEs) presents an ideal solution. It enables effective supply chain collaboration. A CDE is a centralised area so project team members and estate and facilities teams can access current and trusted information. A CDE acts as a bridge between disciplines. Independent teams can securely access information that has been made available to them in a secure, controlled manner. This leads to greater levels of collaboration, productivity, and accuracy. Therefore, teams can effectively mitigate the risks of time loss, and incurring costs as a result of a lack of productivity, and/or data inaccuracy.

Manage risk

In the aftermath of Grenfell and Brexit, and with the Building Safety Bill recently receiving Royal Assent, compliance has become a greater priority for the industry. Maintaining a Building Safety Case for a building of structured, verified and compliant records provides the industry with another catalyst to improve information management practices and get organised. CDEs help manage contractual risk. They ensure teams work with trusted and current information. All while maintaining a robust audit trail of information exchanges and communications between project parties.

Likewise, the ability to communicate and respond to information requests, as well as, delivering, verifying and approving data deliverables ensures a client’s specific requirements are met. This accessibility allows clients to be involved at every stage of the design and build process, ensuring timely  decisions are made.

Greater success

While 3D modelling is an important component of the BIM design process, it is part of a wider framework for information management. Asset owning clients and AEC firms should now reframe their understanding of BIM as a data-driven, collaborative business process. Better information management allows all stakeholders across the full asset lifecycle to execute projects across disciplines. They are also able to manage risk effectively, and remain compliant. Investing in BIM leads to the greater success of projects and the longer term health and effectiveness of our built assets.

Get in touch

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or email us.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has successfully led a phased deployment of a new AIM CDE. They will be using the gliderbim® platform with the support of Glider’s information management consultants. The latest phase of go-live sees the platform being made available to DIO’s Regional Delivery teams and their Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) contractors. This implementation has been executed by the Asset Information Management (AIM) team who sit within DIO’s Data Exploitation (DEx) department.

About the DIO

The DIO is an operating arm of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and plays a critical role in supporting the UK’s armed forces by building, maintaining and servicing the UK’s defence infrastructure. Defence maintains over 130,000 buildings and infrastructure assets including some 50,000 houses. DIO required a CDE platform which is capable of securely managing this level of asset data and integrating with operational systems that enable actionable insights on their large and complex estate.

The Solution

To support and comply with the Government Construction Strategy (GCS), gliderbim® is providing the Defence with a seamless, integrated AIM solution that will facilitate improved management of its data, models and documents to enable efficient collaboration with technical service partners, industry partners and suppliers.

Dave Simpson, AH Asset Management in DIO Accommodation commented: “AIM CDE is a step change in how DIO will manage asset information, and it will substantially enhance information flow and communication across the varied work streams that we deliver in, enabling a ‘one-stop shop’ approach for project delivery and asset detail. AIM CDE’s advent on the 1st August signals the end of an intense development phase and the start of a new era in how DIO manages its data.”

Industry Standards

Glider successfully meets Defence Infrastructure’s requirement for an ISO 19650-compliant CDE, which is specified as part of the GCS. The Glider team, together with DIO, has worked to define a holistic set of requirements to be implemented.

The CDE became available to Accommodation, Regional Delivery and MPP (including internal colleagues and external suppliers) from 1 August 2022. This is a celebratory milestone for the DIO, as it achieves its strategic goal in the DIO Strategy of implementing an asset management system. This will enable the team to be data centric, digitally capable and to innovate by default, transforming the contribution of infrastructure to Defence.

Achieving Milestones

Nick Hutchinson, Managing Director commented: “We are pleased to have helped Defence achieve this milestone in their digital transformation journey. Managing a government body’s volume of data is no easy task and security is a heightened concern, but the AIM CDE enabled by gliderbim® will significantly improve data control.”

“The CDE will provide a clear master record of all of their estate asset information, provide a robust audit trail for better security and compliance, and will improve collaborative working through the use of the MOD’s secure cloud deployment.”

The gliderbim® CDE will become a key component of the Defence infrastructure’s Federated Data Architecture to manage asset information for both capital delivery projects and maintenance of their existing estate.

Find Out More

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or get in touch.

What does digital transformation mean to you?

Digital transformation means moving from the old paper-based, physical meeting style of planning to a more asynchronous and virtual one. It represents a move from a method which was previously slow and with a high potential for errors to a faster and more robust one.

How is the construction industry modernising, and where do you see Glider in this movement?

With the higher building standards being brought into play paired with the recent pandemic, digital collaboration has become increasingly important. Glider’s tools facilitate this style of collaboration more. Additionally, we take away a lot of the work that might otherwise have been done manually allowing businesses to focus more on the project at hand rather than the paperwork alongside it.

If someone asked you, what would be the core reasons to go digital?

Going digital provides a way to speed up collaboration on various aspects of your projects. Through this ease of collaboration, your projects can be completed quicker. Some tasks might not even require collaboration at all with the applications driving them taking some of the necessary brain power – and thus the implied human error – away. As a Senior DevOps Engineer, the benefits of automation are all too real. With the increased reliance on digital, it’s also more feasible to involve parties from further away than was previously possible which opens up a world of opportunities for everyone in the industry.

Digital transformation can be complex. How can we simplify the process?

As a Senior DevOps Engineer, it is part of my role to break people out of their previous rhythm. Sometimes this can be more difficult than others. The easiest way to do it is to make it convenient. Where a procedure was manual in the past, automate it as much as you can. By taking advantage of the processes Glider offers, you can encourage widespread appeal within your organisation. People also feel less anxious when their responsibility is removed. The tools we have can remove some of that weight, which further encourages trust in the tool.

What stage in the transformation journey would you find most businesses today?

Many businesses outside of the building industry are quickly seeing the impact of digital services with monolithic, yet easy to use, applications becoming the norm for even the most mundane task. Ordering a taxi, having food delivered, budgeting and banking are some of those tasks and for a long time people were scared that their taxi would arrive at the wrong place or their food might have onions. Over time this has changed as people saw the convenience on offer and the widespread trust.

The building industry is going to go through the same change – undoubtedly so. The benefits for a well managed project aren’t just convenient, they stand to represent a huge financial saving and a reduction in human error. On the ground, your clients stand to benefit from better maintained, quicker delivered and more robust projects. The advantages on offer are staggering.

What is your favourite part of your role at Glider?

Glider is making people rethink how they build their projects and the impact we have on them is already being felt in the industry, with some really interesting clients coming to us, preferentially, for similarly interesting projects. It’s a great time to be here to see Glider rise up amongst our competitors, some of whom have simply been the go to for many years. There are many interesting ideas we can implement, and not just from the infrastructure perspective that I deal with!

Working with the team to allow us to deliver releases to our users quicker is rewarding enough never mind seeing our own infrastructure grow as new problems need solving as we go. It shows no sign of stopping and that’s the beauty of it!

To learn more about Glider and how to join our team of digital experts visit our dedicated careers page now.