In all the types of contracts discussed, the project team members need to define how data will be shared and used (see Figure 2.5) in order to do the following:

• Eliminate confusion

• Organize tasks

• Standardize information transfer

• Define the schedule

• Focus on project quality

Figure 2.5: BIM has multiple uses and stakeholders, so defining the rights and responsibilities are critical between team members and model users.

Anticipation is always a better approach than reaction; just ask a goalie. To carry out a BIM project, you need to create two plans at a minimum that anticipate some of these issues. The first is the Information Exchange (IE) Plan. The second is the Model Coordination Plan. Both plans should begin as drafts and then be reviewed and approved by the team in preliminary contract meetings. These two plans or other similar plans will then be carried forward as an addendum to the BIM contract language for the project. Just as the owner, architect, and contracting team must define critical deadlines, goals, and methodologies, you need a road map for the BIM portion of a project as well (see Figure 2.6).

Figure 2.6: Information and model exchange plans are established at the beginning of the project.

There are a number of legal questions arising from the use of BIM, which raise concerns as to a professional's exposure when utilizing BIM. A question of particular concern is: who is held liable when inaccurate information is input into the model?

This...