Navigating Standards

Misconceptions
Unpacking ISO 19650 and the
route to BIM standards adoption
in the Middle East
The role of BIM mandates
and standards in driving
digital transformation

The technology used to design and construct

projects has come far in recent years, with
the architecture, engineering, construction
and operations (AECO) industry now having One of the key challenges is
digital tools that provide the ability to leverage the lack of understanding at
an increasingly intricate level of detail. the senior project management
Building information modelling (BIM) in
level. Many senior leaders
particular has advanced, developing into often associate BIM solely
a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach with 3D model coordination,
that is the foundation to the organisation
overlooking its broader
of the entire digital footprint of an asset
across its lifecycle, from the planning and purpose as a structured
design to construction and operations. process and a collaborative
way of working. This
With more than $850bn worth of projects
in the design or bidding phase in Saudi misunderstanding impacts
Arabia and the UAE, the scale and complexity buy-in, as partners may view
of construction in the region is at an all- BIM as an optional technical
time high. This surge in development has
already highlighted the urgency for greater
tool rather than a strategic
efficiency across the industry, and BIM, if framework integral to
implemented correctly, can be one of the project success.”
greatest project assets in this regard.
Derek Bourke,
Industry players have repeatedly called for Digital Construction & BIM Manager
governments and project owners to mandate Khansaheb
the use of BIM standards to ensure their
adoption by all projects stakeholders, as
well as to drive the development of more
sophisticated tools from solution providers.

Still, even the most comprehensive BIM

mandates and best tools will only see success
in pockets if project teams do not have a
shared language for managing the complexity
of project data. Herein is the strong need
for project teams to adopt strict adherence
to common standards for organising and
digitising shared building information.

This is precisely where the ISO 19650 standard

plays a crucial role in delivering projects on
time, within budget and with sustainable
outcomes. Yet the industry’s adoption can only
go so far if misconceptions about the benefits
and implementation of these standards persist
within the AECO sector. Awareness is therefore
crucial to bringing the wider industry on-board.

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Can the construction
industry thrive without
standardisation?
Standards in the construction industry
define common specifications, methods
and procedures, enabling collaboration and
improving efficiency, transparency and risk DID YOU KNOW?
management. They range from professional
codes to international standards, such
as those by ISO, which address project The road to ISO 19650
challenges and enhance workflows.
To guide the application of BIM on
Standardisation can significantly reduce industrial projects, the Switzerland-
costs, particularly in large-scale projects, by based International Organisation for
providing a shared framework for diverse Standardisation (ISO) developed the ISO
stakeholders, including architects, engineers, 19650 international standard, building
contractors, owners and management teams. on industry best practices. Published in
2019, ISO 19650 was based on the British
ISO 19650, for instance, establishes a common standard BS 1192 and PAS 1192-2, which
language to streamline communication, had at the time already been shown to
especially in complex, multi-disciplinary or save up to 22% in construction costs.
international projects, where inconsistent
terminology can create misunderstandings. BS 1192, introduced in 1990, outlined the
Employer’s Information Requirements
However, standards require widespread (EIRs) and introduced provisions for
adoption to be effective, and this is why 2D and 3D modelling, as well as BIM
major clients – often government bodies – Execution Plans. PAS 1192-2, created
are rolling out mandates on the technology in 2013, focused on information
and standards that must be used on their management during construction,
projects. In fact, it was the UK Government’s forming a cornerstone of ISO 19650 for
Construction Strategy that led to the collaborative construction practices.
creation of PAS 1192, and then ISO 19650.
ISO 19650 makes project owners central
In the GCC, while not all countries have to the selection and adoption of shared
mandates at the national level, more practices and ensures that projects
authorities have started mandating BIM. are started with the end in mind. By
Dubai Municipality, for instance, mandated implementing project mandates through
the use of BIM as early as 2013 for larger an EIR, project owners can define the
structures, and Abu Dhabi mandated BIM in conventions and common rules, shaping
2019 for all major construction projects. the standards that will guide project
planning, construction and delivery.
In Saudi Arabia, the National Building
Information Modelling (NBIM) initiative was
launched in 2021 to encourage BIM adoption
across public projects. The Public Works
Authority of Qatar then mandated the use of
BIM on all public infrastructure and building
projects in 2023 based on ISO 19650.

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The benefits of adoption
To use BIM effectively, and to coordinate with file compatibility, reduces conflicts and
other stakeholders, adherence to the same fosters informed decision-making. It also
standards has many benefits. prevents misunderstandings, promoting
collaboration by ensuring all parties
have equal access to up-to-date data.
Benefit 1: Operational impact

Operational costs (OpEx) account for Benefit 3: Quality assurance

about 80% of an asset’s total lifecycle and risk mitigation
cost, making effective information
management critical. Employer’s Information Adhering to international standards ensures a
Requirements (EIRs) and BIM Execution consistent level of quality, building client trust
Plans (BEPs), aligned with standards like and enhancing brand reputation. Standardised
ISO 19650, play a key role in increasing workflows help clients and contractors manage
the operational efficiency of the asset. risks in large or complex projects by enabling
early identification of potential issues. Clear
The EIR, a pre-tender document, outlines the information exchange fosters a proactive
information to be delivered and the standards approach, minimising delays and cost overruns.
to follow during a project. The BEP describes
how the delivery team will implement BIM to
meet these requirements. While the BEP is
created early in the project lifecycle, it should
be treated as a dynamic, evolving document A BEP clearly defines
that adapts as the project moves forward,
processes, responsibilities
rather than as a static one-time deliverable.
and expectations from the
Together, the EIR and BEP ensure the outset. The BEP serves as
operations team has the necessary data a roadmap that ensures
for efficient project handover, maintenance
and eventual decommissioning, reducing alignment across all project
delays and unforeseen costs. stakeholders, minimising the
risks of miscommunication,
Non-ISO-compliant projects often require
expensive and time-consuming reality capture
rework and delays. This
and validation of the asset information post structured approach leads to
handover. By contrast, compliance with smoother workflows and more
standards enables optimal “as-built” results.
efficient project delivery.”
Andy Boutle,
Benefit 2: Collaboration and transparency Head of Digital Construction
ALEC
A Common Data Environment (CDE) serves
as a shared, centralised platform for all
project data, acting as a “single source of
truth” accessible to stakeholders such as
owners, contractors, architects, engineers and
operations teams. Traditionally, organisations
worked from their own plans and standards,
leading to reduced interoperability and
outdated information sharing. A CDE
eliminates these issues by enabling real-time
collaboration and ensuring data consistency.

Mandating a CDE, supported by practices like

ISO 19650 naming conventions, enhances

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Dispelling common misconceptions
So why is the adoption of standards not universal? There are a number of reasons.

Initial cost and resourcing, cultural resistance, skill gaps and a lack of standardisation across
regions and sectors all serve to throw up obstacles in the path of adoption. The perceived
issue of initial cost can prove deterring for smaller firms working on projects, while cultural
challenges are a common phenomenon when working with professionals accustomed to a
certain way of working and reluctant to change or abandon established workflows.

Leadership buy-in, good communication, education, training and increasing understanding

are all key to overcoming the barriers to BIM standardisation by helping all project partners
understand and embrace the advantages that adherence to standards brings.

Below, we explore four common misconceptions that can lead to the AECO industry’s
hesistance to adopt BIM standards such as ISO 19650 on projects.

Misconception 1 A smooth BIM standards-enabled handover

BIM standards don’t have a place from the design and build teams to facilities
on my small projects; they only management also means a project can come
make sense for larger projects online fast and start generating revenue sooner.

Without standards in place stipulating

The truth: Approximately 80% of a the format of the Employer’s Information
facility’s total lifecycle cost is realised Requirements (EIRs) and BEP, asset operator
during operations. This means that
while larger projects can save tens of millions
of dollars by adhering to BIM standards and
a BIM Execution Plan (BEP), smaller projects
can also realise significant efficiencies There is the belief that smaller
throughout the project lifecycle, from design
and construction through to operations.
projects do not benefit from
these standards. In reality,
Standards establish industry-driven best the principles of BIM and ISO
practice and with proper implementation, 19650 are scalable and can
these frameworks streamline workflows by
standardising processes and reducing rework, enhance efficiency even in
conflicts and delays. Standards ensure that small projects by ensuring
the needs of the project’s operator have been consistency and better
assessed and recorded from the start of the
project, that the data has been collected wholly coordination across teams.
and accurately, and that it is formatted in a Moreover, smaller entities who
way that is accessible to the operator. This is adopt these practices position
essential for all projects regardless of their
value or level of complexity or sector.
themselves competitively to
take on larger, more complex
Rather than being an overhead, the projects in the future.”
application of BIM in accordance with
standards ensures that all teams collaborate Mina Nessim,
efficiently with clear expectations, minimising Head of Engineering & BIM
the relatively high costs associated with Binladin Contracting Group
miscommunication or design errors.

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 For companies that have already adopted
the PAS 1192-2 standard, or BIM Level 2, this
BIM frameworks, as outlined misconception can also take the form of not
seeing the current impact from it or the benefits
in the ISO 19650 series, of going further and adopting the ISO 19650
help address challenges like standard. However, the use of an increasingly
limited resources and tighter outdated standard shares the same issues
with using internal or local-only standards.
timelines. For smaller projects
in volatile or rapidly changing By contrast, when companies adopt the
environments, the structured latest international standards, this enables
data and streamlined them to work seamlessly with any other
company anywhere in the world that
coordination BIM provides can operates within the same framework.
make the difference between
success and failure.” The common language and frameworks provided
by project standards enhances cooperation,
Kendall Wilson​​​, communication and coordination between
Senior Manager – Digital Twin team members within organisations and
Modon Real Estate between partner organisations on a project.
The resulting reduction of errors early in the
project’s lifecycle clearly saves time and money
over the design and construction process, and
companies often have to re-survey projects even into the operations and decommissioning
if they do not have access to the right phases. Adherence to standards also
plans and specifications. This can be due leads to higher quality throughout.
to the plans not being generated or being
inadequately produced during the build Workforces can often adopt standards on
phase, or due to the asset operator team a project and apply them to future projects
being unaware of where to find the data. with minimal additional training. Adopting
BIM and ISO 19650 also fosters continuous
Beyond the lifecycle of individual projects, improvement, future-proofing businesses
adherence to the latest BIM standards on any for evolving industry demands and ensuring
project, regardless of size, also helps firms alignment with global standards.
organise their experience for their workforce
better and design and construct future projects.

Misconception 2
I already have my own
standards, therefore I do not
need to adopt ISO 19650

The truth: While internal, local or

existing standards provide benefits
when working with any partner that
shares them, inefficiencies can occur when
onboarding new partners. If the new partners
have to be trained on uncommon, project-
or locale-specific standards, precious time
can be lost. Although it also takes time to
adopt international standards, these sunk
costs can be more readily amortised through
implementation on future projects with
other partners due to their greater cross-
compatibility across the AECO industry.

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 Yet this misses what is perhaps the preeminent
purpose of standards, which is to ensure that
Internal standards every participant in the contracting supply
chain has the access they need to accurate and
might seem sufficient up-to-date project information. Conformity to
for isolated use, but they BIM standardisation ensures that the entire
lack the interoperability supply chain is providing the right services
and materials and is appraised of any changes
needed in today’s
to quantities or specifications as soon as
complex, interconnected they are made. The outcome of this is less
environments. Frameworks wasted time and materials, better business
like the ISO 19650 series practices and more sustainable projects.

offer the adaptability At the same time, any company process change
and scalability required – especially one involving the adoption of new
to navigate cross- technology – requires education and training.
Enablement should be a collaborative effort
organisational collaboration. between the project stakeholders and led by
These standards also the owner to ensure the supply chain is skilled
mitigate ambiguity by to deliver the right information requirement.
providing clear guidelines,
Inclusion in training programmes can also
which is particularly help subcontractors feel more comfortable
important in uncertain or and invested in what may feel at first like
dynamic ecosystems.” a challenging new way of working. While
the costs of educating and training supply
Kendall Wilson​​​​,
chain partners might be borne by other
Senior Manager – Digital Twin parties in a project, the savings, efficiencies
Modon Real Estate and growing maturity of the ecosystem
will ultimately be felt across the board.

Misconception 3 By integrating smaller

My supply chain is immature and contractors into our
not capable of transitioning to
ISO 19650, therefore I cannot change workflows, offering
structured training and
setting clear expectations
The truth: While BIM standards
are widely adopted, adoption is
through detailed BEPs,
typically inconsistent across the we help raise the level of
contracting supply chain, leading to the competence within the
perception that the ecosystem is not ready for
supply chain, ensuring
a wider rollout. Cultural resistance across the
wider ecosystem can also contribute to the better alignment with BIM
perception that the process of implementing standards over time.”
BIM standards more widely throughout the
supply chain may be too complex or logistically Mina Nessim,
problematic to be worth carrying out. Head of Engineering & BIM
Binladin Contracting Group

Project owners may also be concerned

that by insisting on the implementation
of a given BIM standard that they could
reduce their options for potential partners
within the contracting supply chain.

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 reputation in the eyes of new talent. In fact,
Misconception 4 according to a SHRM report, more than 80%
There is no point in training my staff of HR managers surveyed said training was
on ISO 19650. They are going to leave beneficial for employee attraction and retention.
me if I improve their capabilities Another bonus is the more employees are trained
in both BIM and the standards associated with it,
the greater the employee buy-in to the standards.

The truth: It’s true that it takes time On the business side, knowing that a company
and money to train to proficiency in BIM is willing to train and invest in its workforce
standards, such as ISO 19650, including also undeniably positions it at the forefront
the opportunity cost of having employees in a of the market for new and existing clients
classroom when they could be on-site. However, who are looking to work with competent
companies that hold the myopic view of staff stakeholders trained in ISO 19650 best practice.
attrition when trained, without considering the
upside of the training programme on factors In a fast-evolving and competitive construction
such as employee satisfaction and engagement, market, learning and development programmes
stand to lose more than just business. to upskill to the latest standards – if considered
a company priority – are just as crucial for
Choosing to invest in a BIM standards upskilling staff retention as they are for the business.
programme will lead to a better trained, loyal
workforce that will enhance the company’s

Short-term workers often

contribute to critical project
Training a transient
phases. Their understanding
workforce provides
of ISO 19650 ensures
significant value and is
alignment with standards
essential for maintaining
and minimises disruptions.”
consistent project quality
and long-term success. Even Tala Damra,
Managing Director
though workers may not IVY
stay with the organisation
indefinitely, equipping
them with the necessary
skills ensures that they can
contribute effectively during
their time on the project.
Well-trained personnel
reduce the risk of errors,
improve collaboration and
ensure smoother project
delivery, regardless of
workforce turnover.”
Mina Nessim,
Head of Engineering & BIM
Binladin Contracting Group

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Acting together:
ISO 19650 adoption
The progression of standards over the last organisations that have already adopted
decade from BS to PAS to ISO 19650 should ISO 19650 will also find themselves
already demonstrate the validation of ISO 19650 at a competitive advantage in both
through extensive testing by industry leaders. local and cross-border markets.

Companies that have integrated BIM Simply put, in the face of an evolving AECO
standards have reported significant returns on industry, adoption of ISO 19650 is not merely
investment through reduced errors, minimised a trend but a long-term strategy for shared
project delays and improved alignment with collaboration, resilience and innovation. By
client expectations. Non-compliant project investing in standards, organisations will
management, by contrast, can result in both position themselves as not only collaborative,
costly re-surveys and challenges in terms of forward-thinking partners, but they will
data management, interoperability and the also be well-prepared to meet the complex
efficient maintenance of the building lifecycle. demands of modern construction.

As the framework has become an essential

approach to managing complex data and
ensuring streamlined project delivery,

Supporting your ISO 19650 journey

Autodesk is dedicated to facilitating your adoption of ISO 19650 by offering comprehensive
guidance documents and templates for owners, consultants and contractors, and through
Autodesk’s own design and collaboration platform that supports compliance of ISO 19650.

Visit Autodesk’s Standards Resource Hub for materials on how to meet ISO 19650
standards, including our:

Asset Information Requirement (AIR) template

Employer’s Information Requirement (EIR) template
BIM Execution Plan (BEP) template
BIM Implementation Guide and more

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Autodesk is ready to be a partner in your
digital transformation journey.

Visit our Standards Resource Hub:

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