BIM in Hong Kong: Why Construction Companies Should Start Recruiting and Investing in BIM Engineers
Posted by Ola Bujak, Maxim Recruitment on Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places in the world which makes productive use of its real estate an absolute priority and is one of the reasons why the area is such a popular destination for candidates seeking overseas construction jobs. Hong Kong relies on its construction industry to get the city’s urban development going and help it achieve smart city status. This explains why the Hong Kong government is so keen to try new technologies and actively encourage its construction companies to introduce them. Digital technologies are becoming more and more important when it comes to changing the face of the city’s construction sector. One of the most interesting is BIM.
What exactly is BIM and why is it so useful?
BIM - Building Information Modelling - is a process of creating and managing information used in the engineering and design of building projects. Not only does it integrate structured, multi-disciplinary data to produce a virtual representation of an object, it also goes far beyond standard 3D visualisations we’re all used to. BIM models usually include:
- 4D BIM (4-dimensional building information modelling) which refers to the fourth dimension – time. 4D BIM models include both the standard 3D project visualisation as well as the time- or scheduling-related details.
- 5D BIM which includes both the 3D visualisation with time schedule details and the cost-related information. 5D models allow everyone involved to visualise the construction progress and see the costs related to each stage of the works.
- 6D BIM or “As-Built” model is usually delivered to the owner when a project is finished. It includes information such as product data, maintenance manuals, warranty data, photos etc. It’s intended to help the facility managers with maintenance of the building.
Since the construction industry worldwide seems to be constantly plagued with time and cost overruns, BIM seems to be the perfect solution as it allows owners and investors to make more informed decisions based on the information they get from the digital models.
Not only does BIM facilitate decision making, it also offers a more accurate geometrical representation of the object, enhanced efficiency, and lowered overall risk. It improves the sustainability of the project, reduces its delivery time, and enhances communication between the team members. When used correctly, it also decreases the costs.
The future of BIM in Hong Kong and why it shouldn’t be ignored
BuildingSMART, an international organisation aiming to improve the use of software applications in the construction industry, opened its Hong Kong branch in late April 2012. They created core programs meant to promote the use of BIM and provide governance and guidance for certification of organisations, software, and people through compliance testing and training. Two years later, in 2014, The Hong Kong Housing Authority set a target of full BIM implementation. Since 2018, The Government of Hong Kong mandates the use of BIM for all government projects with value of over HK$30 million. In 2018 alone, two huge BIM-powered initiatives opened, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. It’s really easy to notice the demand for BIM engineers is higher than ever and it keeps on growing, and as employers usually seek candidates with accreditation, it can be a real challenge to find a suitable person.
What can you do as an employer when you struggle to fill your BIM vacancies?
Your BIM recruitment options as an employer may be quite limited if you only see the candidates that apply directly through your website – you will only see a tiny proportion of candidates available on the BIM jobs market. At Maxim, we have a strong team of specialist recruiters and as such have an excellent candidate base, including many BIM Engineers that we are tracking in our talent pool that are not currently actively looking for a new job but would be interested in an outstanding BIM career opportunity. Some of these candidates may be ideal for positions you are currently trying to fill and so turning to a construction recruitment agency like us could make recruiting BIM professionals much easier for you. If you normally advertise construction jobs on your website but see no results with your BIM Engineer search, it is worth reaching out to the Maxim construction recruiters and get access to the BIM professionals that you can benefit from!
If you’re a client or a candidate interested in working with us, please reach out to Ola: ola@maximrecruitment.com
If you are an employer and have a BIM vacancy you can submit it to us here:
https://www.maximrecruitment.com/submit-a-vacancy/
Some of the must urgent BIM roles in Hong Kong include:
https://www.maximrecruitment.com/bim-engineer-job-kowloon-hong-kong-9218
https://www.maximrecruitment.com/bim-manager-job-kowloon-hong-kong-9023
https://www.maximrecruitment.com/bim-modeller-job-kowloon-hong-kong-9026
https://www.maximrecruitment.com/bim-manager-job-hong-kong-island-7948
https://www.maximrecruitment.com/bim-modeller-job-hong-kong-island-7949
https://www.maximrecruitment.com/bim-engineer-job-hong-kong-6967
More about the BIM accreditation:
