This chapter examines information management as an umbrella concept and practice, including building information modelling (BIM) and key emerging technologies (e.g. IoT and AI) as they impact facility management.
Greater strides forward are likely through the utilization of BIM, supported by specifications and guidance, enabling an up-to-date digital model of facility assets to be maintained across the life cycle.
The following points, among many others, are covered in the chapter.
- Managing information is a key factor contributing to successful facility management – when facility assets are delivered, so too are information assets.
- In the case of a new or refurbished facility, information and data for operations and management should not be delivered all at once at handover – there must be phased handover to allow for assimilation, training and induction to take place in a controlled manner.
- An information deliverables list with an information handover plan should be prepared for the new or refurbished facility as part of information management.
- An information management strategy and policy should be prepared to support the procedure for collecting, analysing, storing, updating, communicating, controlling and destroying information and data relating to the facility.
- A facility handbook should be prepared to hold information and data required for the safe, secure, correct and efficient operation of the facility, covering legal, commercial, financial, technical and managerial aspects.
- Wherever possible, the facility handbook should be in digital form so that it can be easily kept up to date and used as a shared resource, subject to control over access.
- Building information modelling (BIM) has opened up opportunities for organizations to maintain an up-to-date representation of the facility in the form of a digital twin that integrates geometry and spatial relationships with the quantities and properties of facility assets (i.e. components and systems).
- Artificial intelligence is increasingly replacing the need for human resources on all levels; its impact on facility management is likely to be significant as advanced technology is utilized for people-intensive soft services.