Field BIM means using the model on site: in the site office, on tablets at the workface, and through set-out equipment, instead of only on paper drawings. It works in both directions: the site reads current information from the model, and sends back issues, photos, inspections and progress tied to model elements and locations.
At a glance
| Users | Site managers, engineers, supervisors, trade foremen, inspectors, setting-out engineers |
| Typical uses | Viewing current models and drawings, issues and snags with photos, inspections and checklists, setting out, progress marking |
| Hardware | Tablets, phones, site-office screens, total stations and layout tools, scanners |
| Data back to the office | Issues, RFIs, snags, inspection records, progress, as-built changes |
| Key condition | People on site must trust that what they see is the current, approved version |
What the site actually needs
Site teams do not want a design model with everything in it. They want quick answers:
- "What goes here, and at what level?" – the model at the location they stand in, filtered to their trade.
- "Is this the latest?" – status and revision visible, from the CDE's published state.
- "What does it need to have?" – the properties that matter on site: fire rating, product, size, fixings.
- "Who do I tell?" – one button to raise an issue or snag with a photo, linked to the element.
Workflows that pay off quickly
| Workflow | What it replaces | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Snags and inspections linked to rooms and elements | Paper snag lists retyped in the office | A fire-stopping inspection records 40 penetrations with photos and pass or fail per element |
| Model-based setting out | Dimensions measured off drawings | A total station places sleeve positions for 300 penetrations straight from coordinated model points |
| Issues raised from the workface | Phone calls and emails | A pipe fitter flags a clash as a BCF issue; the coordinator sees it in the model the same hour |
| Current-information check | Drawing registers pinned to the wall | The tablet only shows the published versions from the CDE |
Worked example
On a residential block, fire-stopping around services is inspected on tablets. Each inspection is attached to the penetration's model element and room, with a photo. At handover, the fire engineer gets a report by floor, with every penetration's evidence, instead of a box file. The same data shows the three floors where the inspection rate is behind, two weeks before it would have delayed completion.
Common mistakes
- Putting the full design model on a tablet and expecting site teams to navigate it.
- No clear "current" status, so people stop trusting the screen and go back to old prints.
- Issues raised on site that never reach the coordination log.
- Forgetting connectivity: plan for offline use where the signal is poor.
Where to read more
ISO 19650-2 describes the common data environment states that tell site teams what is approved for use. Field BIM and inspection software vendors publish implementation guides; read them with your CDE workflow in mind.