KUCHING – The collaboration between Project and Programme Matters Sdn Bhd (PPM) and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus through the recently signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) will be an exciting exploration in the globally proven Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology applied to local contexts.
Signing the MoA on behalf of Swinburne was Chief Executive Officer of Swinburne Innovation Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SWIM) Professor Wallace Wong Shung Hui, while PPM was represented by Managing Director of PPM Raymond Fong. Also present at the signing ceremony were Swinburne’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Professor John Wilson and other representatives from both organisations.
The partnership is part of Swinburne’s effort in supporting the digitalisation of Malaysia’s construction industry as Swinburne is convinced that the use of BIM as a technique will improve project delivery through efficient use of resources, improved safety and accurate timeline.
Under the current arrangement, the MoA for research and development work is entitled ‘Formulation of an Effective Building Information Modelling (BIM) Deployment’. The research will identify what is faced during implementation, and to design, develop and assess a structured BIM deployment process in the Malaysian context, taking into consideration the gaps in supply chain and the availability of skilled workers.
The move to embrace BIM technology is a good step to stay relevant in the industry as BIM is changing the way construction projects are managed and implemented. BIM adopters can maximise the benefits offered by the technique to improve the productivity of a construction project, and continue to provide efficiency by looking ahead via simulations. These tools are capable of producing computer-generated images enabling contractors to visualise the construction process at the planning stage, and how building materials will be estimated and perform over time.
According to Professor Wong, BIM technology is an increasing necessity in the current industry climate. Thus, he urged industry professionals in Sarawak to take full advantage of the facilitation provided at the myBIM Satellite Centre hosted by Swinburne at its Kuching campus. Set up in June 2018, the Centre is a government-backed initiative to embed the new platform within the construction industry nationwide. It is also part of the CIDB roadmap towards Industrial Revolution 4.0.
Professor Wong welcomes the partnership as a huge overdue leap towards the digitisation of the local construction industry.
“The cost and efficiency savings of the platform are well proven and its use will propel Sarawak’s construction industry into a new phase of transformation. Industry professionals in the state simply cannot afford not to implement it in their organisations.”
“Harnessing the power of BIM is the future of construction and a definite reason for the BIM method to be implemented in ambitious construction projects at any scale,” he added.
As this partnership also leverages on the knowledge, resources and research, Swinburne aims to provide a better solution from the industry perspective, as well as creating a positive impact on the education and construction industries in Malaysia. The development of local trained talent that are well versed with the BIM method will put them at par with global standards of the construction workforce. Following the MoA, one Master student will be attached with Swinburne for the research project.
Swinburne’s Sarawak campus offers a wide range of programmes at Foundation, Diploma, Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. One of the postgraduate programmes offered is the Master of Construction Management which will commence class on 2 March 2020. Application for all programmes is now open for March and April 2020 intakes. For details, visit www.swinburne.edu.my, email study@swinburne.edu.my or chat through WhatsApp at 013-886 8353.
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