Facility managers work behind the scenes to connect the physical infrastructure of a building with the daily activities and needs of its occupants. With so much to stay on top of, adopting tech-forward solutions can be easier said than done — enter Building Information Modeling (BIM). Commonly used in design and construction, BIM is a digital process that creates and manages data-rich digital representations of buildings and infrastructure. Unlike blueprints or CAD drawings, BIM models integrate physical and functional data, allowing professionals to visualize a building in real-time, track assets, and optimize systems performance.

BIM extends well beyond the initial phases of a building’s lifecycle, serving as a digital foundation for maintenance, space management, and resource allocation. It isn’t just for architects and engineers, but is a powerful tool for facility managers seeking smarter building operations.

In this guide, we’ll explore best practices to apply BIM for facility management.

Leveraging BIM for facility management

BIM is a convenient asset for both day-to-day operations and long-term maintenance. By creating a comprehensive digital representation–including all physical and functional characteristics–BIM provides facility managers with a wealth of information to optimize their operations. With real-time access to critical building data, teams can proactively manage repairs, reduce operational costs, and improve energy efficiency, ensuring optimal performance throughout a building’s lifecycle.

Further, facility managers can integrate BIM with existing facility management software and emerging technologies to create a more connected ecosystem. Using a combination of accurate spatial data, cross-system analytics and predictive insights facility managers can improve collaboration, prevent data silos, and future-proof their operations for scalability and efficiency.

6 benefits of using BIM for facility management

While BIM is not typically used in a facility management context, there can be a range of strategic advantages to integrating BIM in your facility management strategy. We’ll explore some of them in this section. 

1. Centralized, accurate spatial data

BIM serves as a single source of truth, giving facility managers access to up-to-date, comprehensive building information at all times. Accessible, real-world data enables cross-functional collaboration for stakeholders and streamlines decision-making. 

High levels of transparency and accessibility are particularly valuable during emergencies or unexpected equipment downtime, as they allow for faster response times and minimizes disruption to building operations. Improved levels of adaptability reduce errors and rework, keep facility data current, and provide a future-proof strategy to manage evolving operations.

2. Efficient space planning and utilization

BIM provides clarity on how different areas of a building are being used by tracking occupancy, space, and resource allocation. 3D digital twins and integrated data sources enable better decision-making when it comes to layouts, resource distribution, and occupancy planning.

3. Enhanced maintenance cost forecasting

Facility managers can leverage the wealth of information stored within the BIM model to forecast maintenance needs, anticipate potential issues, and allocate resources more effectively.

MEP components, equipment and furniture are tagged and assigned unique identifiers or relevant metadata within a BIM model for effortless tracking, servicing and replacement. By integrating real-time data–such as from HVAC systems and machinery–facility managers can implement predictive maintenance. Improved foresight not only saves money but also extends the lifespan of critical assets, ensuring a more sustainable operation.

4. Integration with facility management software

One of the key strengths of BIM lies in its ability to integrate seamlessly with other software systems, creating a unified facility management ecosystem. By supporting industry-standard formats such as IFC and COBie, BIM ensures a smooth flow of data across platforms. Facility managers can connect BIM with a wide range of tools, including Autodesk products, CDEs, cloud storage solutions, IoT sensors, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) applications, as well as facility management software like Procore, real estate platforms, and project management tools.

5. Improved safety and compliance

With BIM, facility managers can keep a close eye on digital records of fire exits, emergency routes and hazardous zones. Detailed BIM models help to track safety equipment locations and inspection schedules, reducing the risk of violations. By integrating real-time sensor data and simulations, managers can identify potential hazards, optimize evacuation plans, and improve fire protection systems. Remote site visits via virtual 3D models can also reduce the time and risk involved in evaluating facilities.

6. Dynamic change management and scalability

One of the most significant advantages of BIM for facility management is its ability to reflect renovations, retrofits, and expansions in real-time. BIM evolves with a facility as it develops through its lifecycle, accommodating changes and ensuring that facility data remains accurate and up-to-date. Whether dealing with incremental changes or large-scale expansions, BIM provides the scalability and flexibility needed to keep pace with the dynamic nature of modern buildings.

BIM and 3D digital twins

By combining building design data such as detailed geometry, systems layout, and asset information from the BIM process with operational data from 3D twins, you can create a dynamic model of a facility that supports monitoring, analysis, and predictive maintenance.

Creating living facility models for continuous updates

Ongoing 3D scans synced with BIM data ensure that facility managers always have an up-to-date model reflecting real-world conditions. Matterport's 3D capture capabilities make it easy to create these living models, allowing teams to document and update spaces at speed. With the ability to capture every detail of a facility, from the layout and dimensions to the location of equipment and assets, Matterport provides a comprehensive foundation for BIM-based facility management.

Enhancing MEP and equipment tagging for asset management

Labeling critical systems can dramatically simplify work on equipment and facility assets. Matterport's annotations feature is particularly powerful in this context. Building components are “tagged” and interactive labels can be placed directly within the 3D model, providing additional context and data about specific assets or areas of interest. A tag might include maintenance records for a piece of equipment, or links to relevant documentation such as warranties or operating manuals.

3D digital twins can also be used to capture photorealistic and dimensionally accurate records of mechanical, engineering and plumbing (MEP) assets on site so that they can be monitored throughout the building lifecycle, like the construction documentation used by Takenawa Corporation.

Leveraging LiDAR and AR

Matterport’s Pro3 camera uses high-precision LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors, providing facility managers with even richer 3D intelligence. By leveraging the rich spatial data captured by LiDAR scans and overlaying it with augmented reality visualizations, facility managers can more accurately assess wear-and-tear and forecast service needs, potentially saving significant time and reducing costly downtime.

For instance, AR overlays on LiDAR-fueled digital twins can highlight areas that require attention or predict when certain components may need replacement based on usage patterns and historical data. Proactive maintenance strategies help to minimize disruptions and extend the lifespan of critical assets.

Integration with AR also permits teams to make virtual visits to hazardous or difficult-to-access sites. Danone’s team uses Matterport’s 3D captures of their production facilities to allow site visits without attendees having to complete specialized training, or risk cross-contamination.

Ensuring data consistency across software

Software integrations with platforms like Revit, Maximo, and others help maintain a consistent dataset across stakeholders and processes. Seamless data flow allows all parties to work from the same up-to-date information and eliminates data silos.

Matterport scans can be easily integrated into popular BIM/FM software, with data exported in industry-standard IFC and COBie formats. These standards allow facility managers to exchange, organize, and use building data across different platforms without being locked into proprietary formats.

How to integrate BIM data and 3D digital twins with existing facility management workflows

1. Assess current facility data and objectives: Before diving into BIM implementation, take the time to evaluate your organization's existing systems, data formats, and maintenance schedules. This will help you to identify areas where BIM can offer the greatest return on investment and set clear goals and priorities for the integration process.

2. Capture accurate 3D digital twins and generate point clouds: High-quality 3D scans, such as those captured with a Matterport Pro3 camera, form the foundation for precise as-built models and effective BIM-based facility management. Accurate scans generate detailed point clouds that serve as the basis for creating effective digital twins and integrating them with BIM data.

3. Configure IFC and COBie outputs for interoperability: Adhering to industry standards is essential for ensuring smooth data flow across different platforms and facility management software. Take the time to properly configure these outputs and test them for compliance to avoid compatibility issues down the line.

4. Implement or update to 7D BIM: 7D BIM incorporates facility management data and costs throughout a building’s entire lifecycle. The latest BIM dimension offers significant benefits for long-term facilities management, asset tracking, and sustainability modeling for long-term operational efficiency.

5. Incorporate AI and AR tools: Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality can greatly enhance the capabilities of BIM for facility management. Predictive maintenance and fault detection from IoT sensors, AI-powered space automation and energy consumption detection and remote AR inspections, repair guidance and inspections all contribute significantly to a more efficient building management system.

Maximizing efficiency with BIM for facility management

BIM is really a bit of a silver bullet when it comes to facility management–streamlining workflows, optimizing assets, reducing costs and cutting down miscommunication.

Facility managers negotiate a dynamic and challenging range of responsibilities to ensure that everything in a building, from systems to services, functions smoothly. By integrating BIM with Matterport’s 3D digital twins, and other emerging technologies, facility managers can remain agile and in a rapidly evolving industry.