Salford University BIM and lean construction day to hear from international experts

06 September 2011

The University of Salford has gathered experts from the USA, Brazil, Finland, Peru and the UK for an event to provide construction professionals with transformational examples of the use of building information modelling (BIM) and lean construction methods.

On 16 September, the international panel of experts will provide presentations reflecting progress in BIM and lean process improvement from international leaders: Skanska Construction Services of Finland, Arup, Buro Happold, Brazilian contractors C.Rolim Engenharia, Granlund Finland, Peru's Grana y Montero and the Sutter Castro Valley Medical Center hospital project in California.

Recently the UK government requested BIM is adopted by all bidders and contractors on public sector projects. This event aims to equip professionals with the potential for adopting such state-of-the-art innovative practice, resulting in improvement in efficiency, better value and financial savings.

The event will be led by two leading authorities from the Salford Centre for Research & Innovation at the University of Salford: Professors Arto Kiviniemi and Lauri Koskela.

Arto Kiviniemi is Professor of Digital Design and has great experience in the development of BIM, having previously been Vice-President of Innovation and Development at Granlund and leading the Finnish ICT in Construction Research Programme with over 160 projects at a value of €47m.

Lauri Koskela is Professor of Theory Based Lean Project and Production Management. He is a founding member of the International Group for Lean Construction and a Trustee in Lean Construction Institute UK.

Norman Gilkinson, Research Fellow and lecturer at the Salford Centre for Research and Innovation (SCRI) in the Built Environment said: "BIM and lean construction solutions lead to savings in both human and mechanical resource use, enabling improvements in project programme and cash savings.

"The event brings together experts from a number of countries, providing example of how these innovations work in practice and what the UK sector stakeholder needs to do in preparation to gain these same benefits."

'Industry Transformation Day: Building Information Modelling and Lean Process Improvement' takes place on the University of Salford campus on 16 September.

For further information and registration, please go to: http://irw2011.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=12