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Announcement by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security: BIM roles included among new occupations. Recently, the **Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security issued a new announcement stating that Building Information Model technicians (BIM engineers) are to be classified as part of the new occupational categories. This means that BIM engineers have officially become a **new career path that is recognized and in demand in the market.** 1. Why is BIM being promoted so much? Working in the construction industry, it’s clear that there has been a strong push for the use of BIM in recent years; many large companies have established their own teams dedicated to BIM development and modeling. As a revolutionary new technology, why has BIM become such a promising force for the growth of the construction industry? (1) Visual operations – full control over on-site details. BIM enables visual operations through 3D modeling, allowing for the intuitive representation of vertical spaces and actual on-site details that cannot be accurately shown in 2D plans. This facilitates an early understanding of the overall project layout, enables timely correction of any unreasonable designs, and reduces the likelihood of errors. (2) Big data collection and management to improve accuracy: BIM aggregates data from various sources, enabling us to create a multidimensional, structured engineering database. The data in this database has high precision, and fast computational analysis is possible across multiple dimensions, thereby providing accurate data for all parties involved in the project. (3) Collision checking to improve accuracy: Use BIM software to conduct collision checks on the model; the reports generated allow for a clear identification of the conflict points between various components and structures, enabling all parties to adjust the project plan based on these conflict points. (4) 4D information model: Progress is clearly visible. BIM can be used to create a 4D information model for construction conflict analysis and management, allowing for real-time control over the arrival and departure of materials as well as various construction workers. This helps to avoid delays and repeated work that result from unreasonable construction plans or poor communication among the various parties involved in the project. (5) 5D model: Precise and standardized cost management. By utilizing the 5D building model in BIM along with the construction schedule, project cost management can be achieved. Additionally, BIM can be used to plan the use of various resources, enabling cost control prior to project implementation and thus reducing waste. (6) Database: Unlike traditional models, it enables efficient sharing of information among all parties involved. A BIM model is not merely a representation of the building; it is a database that contains all the detailed information related to the entire project. All parties involved in the project can share this information, facilitating the exchange of data between different departments. (7) During operation and maintenance, in addition to the project construction phase, BIM can also serve a role in operation and maintenance once the project is completed. By integrating with camera sensing devices, it enables building monitoring and emergency management. In addition, it can integrate various types of data to manage energy, maintenance, and property management. 2. What do industry insiders think? Given the many advantages of BIM, does this mean that CAD will fade from the stage and give way to the BIM market? Regrettably, that is not the case; at least in the current domestic situation, BIM cannot fully replace these basic software tools, and it even struggles to gain acceptance. Why is it still so difficult to popularize BIM in the industry? ①Cost vs. Return: The biggest issue with the promotion of BIM is that the costs incurred are not proportional to the returns obtained, and the benefits generated do not meet the company’s expectations. Many companies are also aware of the benefits of BIM, but at the same time, the costs associated with BIM modeling deter many small businesses. Furthermore, BIM makes the entire project process transparent, which may reduce profit margins. ②As a technology that has been newly introduced in recent years, few people are truly proficient in the core BIM technologies; most only understand the superficial aspects of it without grasping its essential elements. ③The \"divinization\" of various institutional forums has occurred alongside the promotion of BIM; numerous training institutions have emerged as well. While they actively recruit students, some of these institutions exaggerate the capabilities of BIM, suggesting that it can solve any problem if used, yet in reality such \"overstated expectations\" may not be fulfilled. (The above images are from the Internet.) ④ After all, the BIM construction method is a technology introduced from abroad, and it does not fully suit China’s national conditions, especially in terms of construction. China’s construction model is characterized by fragmentation, whereas BIM represents an integrated systematic workflow. Furthermore, during the project implementation process, issues such as tight construction schedules, heavy workload, and the limited skills of the construction workers prevent BIM from being utilized in a truly effective and proper manner. ⑤Currently, the development of BIM software is still dominated by Autodesk’s Revit abroad. Although domestic developers of traditional cost estimation software are also actively working on creating BIM software tailored to China’s conditions, such software has not yet been fully localized and cannot be fully integrated with the actual practices in China’s construction industry. 3. Does BIM have a promising future? After reading these issues, some engineers can’t help but ask: It seems that there are still many obstacles to the full adoption of BIM, so does BIM still have a future? Don’t rush to draw conclusions; let’s analyze it first. (1) **Strong policy support:** Since the introduction of BIM, various policies have been issued to support its development and assist the construction industry. It is expected that by 2020, the rate of integrated BIM application in the survey, design, construction, and operation and maintenance of new projects will reach 90%. Furthermore, as is evident from the current situation, there is a significant shortage of BIM engineers. (The above images are from the Internet.) (2) BIM-related occupations: Although BIM has been in use for only a short time, there are many BIM-related occupations that have emerged as a result, offering engineers new career options. For example: ① BIM modelers: Responsible for creating models; this is a fundamental and essential task in BIM. ② BIM technology engineers: They occupy a key position within BIM teams and need to possess specialized BIM knowledge as well as an understanding of cutting-edge BIM technologies. ③ BIM consultants: They provide consultation and support related to BIM projects at various stages. ④ BIM project managers: While technical skills aren’t required at such a high level, their role is mainly to coordinate the project’s progress and oversee its overall implementation. (3) How much do BIM engineers earn? According to a comparative analysis of the average salaries of BIM engineers across the country, the overall average salary is 7,132 yuan per month. The majority of BIM engineers earn more than 6,000 yuan per month, and 4.1% of them earn high salaries ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 yuan per month. Due to strong market demand, the educational requirements for BIM engineers are not very high at the moment; the majority have an associate degree or higher. In other words, if one’s educational background is relatively low, they can consider learning BIM technology and working in this field. From a work experience perspective, there is a high demand for BIM engineers with 1–3 years of experience, and as work experience increases, salaries rise significantly. In other words, if you want to work in the BIM field, keep going ahead – experience and salary are always proportional to each other. The data comes from online surveys and represents the national average; there are differences in some regions. It can be said that BIM is a technology that benefits designers, developers, contractors, and property managers alike. Its widespread adoption is an inevitable trend for the future, and the clearer our understanding of BIM, the more we can appreciate its importance in the years to come. 4 What should we do? Given the current state of BIM development, I want to move in this direction, but although I understand the principles involved, I’m not sure exactly how to do it (1) For a company to transform its BIM team, it is first necessary to change its mindset, to realize that BIM represents the future direction of development and to be willing to embrace this trend ； Secondly, it is necessary to thoroughly analyze the strengths and weaknesses of one’s own team, identify the right timing, and find the appropriate points for adaptation as well as entry points for projects ； In addition to forming a team, it is also necessary to establish BIM operating guidelines and train employees, so that the core aspects of BIM can contribute to the company’s desired outcomes. (2) An individual’s BIM career plan: For personal purposes, it is necessary to prepare in advance by gathering relevant information and learning the associated knowledge, putting it into practice, and even obtaining BIM-related certificates that are recognized more widely in society ； Secondly, if one intends to pursue a career related to BIM, it is necessary to understand the different career paths available in this field, such as BIM modeling, BIM information management, and BIM consulting. One should learn about the tasks involved in each of these roles as well as the requirements associated with them, choose a path that suits oneself, develop a career plan, and acquire the relevant knowledge. In new job descriptions, the tasks of BIM engineers are outlined as follows: In short, although there are many obstacles to the adoption of BIM at present, it is an undeniable fact that BIM is developing rapidly in our country. For engineers, it is always beneficial to learn an additional skill, regardless of whether BIM will eventually replace CAD as the preferred tool in this industry.