In this post, I explain why we need Information Requirements in a construction project and what are the four types of requirements according to the international standard ISO 19650 (informed by the UK BIM Framework). Watch the video or read the article below.
According to ISO 19650, Information Requirements specify the what, when, how and for whom we should produce data in a construction project. Information Requirements guide the project to be delivered efficiently and effectively. They ensure the appropriate use of information during tendering, appointment, information planning, generation, authorization and delivery.
The production of appointment-specific requirements ensures there is no duplication and gaps, minimizing the waste of information produced by teams. The information requirements address the questions that must be answered to make key asset-related decisions at different points during an asset's delivery and operation.
Information requirements should be specified using the Level of Information Need framework that defines the quality, quantity, and granularity of information for the geometrical and alphanumerical information and documentation. The Level of information need provides a method for describing information to be exchanged according to the Exchange Information Requirements. The prerequisites are the purposes, the information delivery milestones, the actors and the objects.
Information Requirements are expressed in terms of:
(a) the information purpose, for example, the organization's carbon footprint agenda or fire strategy.
(b) the information content summary and breakdown, meaning the geometrical and alphanumerical information for objects.
(c) the form (the way the information is presented) for example a report, schedule or drawing.
(d) the format (the particular form, the information is communicated from one system to another) for example an IFC or PDF file.
In ISO 19650, there are four types of requirements: the Organizational, Asset, Project, and Exchange Information Requirements (the definition of the types of Information Requirements is provided in ISO 19650-1).
Organizational Information Requirements describe the high-level information of the asset lifecycle, for example, information related to asset management, objectives, outcomes and organization policies.
Project Information Requirements may include relative OIRs, the project business case, the strategic brief, project stakeholders and tasks.
Exchange Information Requirements are appointment specific and relate to the information that needs to be exchanged and delivered by the project team.
Asset Information Requirements relate to the asset information in the operational phase, in accordance with the organization's asset management strategy. The four types of Information Requirements relate to each other and specify the Project and Asset Information Models.
See also ISO 19650 in 3 minutes: 10 reasons why your company needs to adopt ISO 19650
Want to learn more? ISO 19650 training by BIM Design Hub helps you understand how to efficiently manage information using the international standard for BIM implementation.
ISO 19650 CPD-certified training includes the BIM Foundations and BIM Information Management courses. Learn more: https://www.bimdesignhub.com/bim-iso19650-course-bundle
Subscribe to the BIM Design Hub youtube channel for more content on BIM and ISO 19650.
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