United Nations Public Service Awards Case Studies

The vision for Singapore’s construction industry is that of a highly integrated and technologically advanced sector, including leveraging on information technology to improve productivity and effectiveness across the entire construction value chain.

To construct a building in Singapore, it is necessary to obtain various building approvals from 16 government regulatory authorities, which regulate different aspects of the building construction (eg. building safety, fire safety, drainage, sewerage). Over the years, a whole-of-government approach has been adopted to leverage on information technology to address the inefficiency of a manual submission system, the lack of up-to-date building-related information and the limitations of traditional 2-dimensional (2D) drawings.

(A) Manual submission system to multiple regulatory agencies
Prior to 2001, building professionals had to make frequent trips to manually submit hard copy application forms, plans and calculations to each of the 16 regulatory agencies, including the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). These submissions were necessary to meet the stringent building safety requirements in high-rise and high-density Singapore.

As an example, a medium-sized building would require an average of 800 hard copy plans to BCA alone (besides other documentation) and loads of submissions to the other 15 authorities. It is also estimated that the professional would need to make at least 50 trips to BCA and the relevant regulatory agencies for each project.

(B) Lack of up-to-date building-related information from multiple regulatory agencies
At the same time, building professionals had to make sure that they comply with the latest building codes, regulations and guidelines. This was a challenge as there were different requirements which were subject to changes from each of the 16 government regulatory agencies. Hence, unproductive time was spent to keep track of changes to the requirements to avoid delays in approvals.

(C) Limitations of 2-dimensional drawings
Building professionals in Singapore were also limited by the use of 2D drawings to communicate their designs across the construction value chain.

Design stage.
During the design stage, layout designs and changes by the architect need to be correctly communicated to the engineers for them to develop the structural, mechanical and electrical designs. However, in the past, the various parties might be working on different 2D platforms which did not optimise information flow. Any miscommunication would require much re-works and re-design separately by each building professional. In addition, the 2D models had to be separately tediously translated into 3D models to run 3D simulation softwares (e.g. energy modelling and structural analysis software).

Construction stage.
Subsequently, during the construction stage, 2D drawings are difficult to visualise. The contractors, suppliers and fabricators have to tediously cross-reference across the different sets of 2D architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical drawings before they can plan the fabrication and construction process/sequence.

At the same time, it is also difficult for each government regulatory authority to visualise and check the 2D designs.

Industry feedback
With the above challenges, there were feedbacks from stakeholders that the process of obtaining building approvals was taking too long - leading to delays in completion of infrastructures and businesses.

What is the initiative about? (the solution)
Initiative Over the years, BCA has collaborated with the other 15 government regulatory authorities to make it faster to obtain building approvals and boost construction productivity by leveraging on information technology. In 2001, this collaboration resulted in the one-stop e-submission system for building professionals to make electronic submissions to the 16 government regulatory authorities from anywhere at any time. Our one-stop system was the first of its kind in Singapore and probably first in the world at that time as internet technology was relatively new then. Riding on the e-submission system, the latest enhancement in 2010, which allows 3-Dimensional Building Information Modelling (3D BIM) e-submission for regulatory approval, is another 1st in the world. 3D BIM provides a common platform to synchronize information flow across the construction value chain and boost productivity. To enable wide-spread adoption of 3D BIM, BCA led whole-of-government approaches which include getting public sector organizations to stipulate BIM as a tender requirement in all new building projects from 2012 and incentivizing private sector organizations to adopt BIM quickly. Benefits The pro-enterprise initiative, comprising a one-stop 3D e-submission system and a self-help e-information centre, has integrated multi-agency building approval services. One stop 3D BIM e-submission system: Instead of manual 2D submissions, the BIM e-submission system is a one-stop shop for building professionals to make 3D BIM e-submissions to the 16 regulatory authorities from anywhere at any time. Compared to traditional 2D drawings, it is much easier for government regulatory agencies and building professionals to visualise the building design and construction process with a 3D BIM model. Self-help e-information centre: Furthermore, the system provides a one-stop information dissemination channel and a self-help repository for the authorities to broadcast and post circulars on new regulations or changes to existing regulations, building codes and guidelines in a timely manner. This empowers building professionals to make timely decisions based on up-to-date information anytime, anywhere. Achievement The whole-of-government approach in leveraging on information technology to enhance public service delivery has transformed a time-consuming and complex building approval process into one which is faster, cheaper, paperless, easily accessible and highly efficient. It has reduced the building approval process from 102 days in 2006 to 26 days in 2012 (as reported in the World Bank Doing Business Reports). Building industry professionals have also saved more than SGD$30 million in printing and dispatch costs. Nationally, BCA was awarded with the Ministry of National Development Minister’s (Team) Award in 2011 for leading multi-agency collaborations to enable BIM e-submissions for regulatory approval. Our BIM approaches have also been cited by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister as an example for other sectors to emulate. Internationally, the one-stop system has contributed to Singapore being ranked the fastest in the world to issue construction permits from 2010 to 2013 and the world’s most business-friendly economy from 2007 to 2013 in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report. BCA was also awarded with the Autodesk BIM Recognition Award for being the world’s first government body to pilot 3D BIM e-submission in 2009.

Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
The one-stop 3D BIM e-submission was conceptualised as part of the national plan which aimed to leverage on information technology to make it faster to obtain building approvals and boost construction productivity. Design & Implementation involving collaboration amongst key stakeholders To make it easier and faster for businesses to obtain building approvals, BCA first took the lead to set up the steering and working committees to develop and launch the one-stop e-submission system in 2001. The steering and working committees comprised key stakeholders who included 15 other government regulatory agencies and 6 key building industry associations. This enabled key concerns from the key stakeholders to be directly addressed in designing the one-stop CORENET system. Over the years, the committees enhanced the one-stop e-submission system to ensure that the system remains adequate and relevant Subsequently, BCA enhanced the system to allow 3D BIM e-submission to move the construction industry towards adoption of BIM, which brings about greater integration and collaboration between government regulatory agencies as well as between building professionals (i.e. developers, designers, builders and fabricators) across the construction value chain. BIM Steering Committee. To steer the industry-wide adoption of BIM, BCA took the lead to set up the BIM Steering Committee (BIMSC) comprising key government and industry stakeholders. The BIMSC set out to lead the development of BIM standards and supporting resources to facilitate the collaborative use of BIM eg. a BIM Guide which was introduced in May 2012, a legal and contractual framework for BIM and the review of a payment schedule to remunerate BIM modelling efforts. Public sector taking the lead. At the same time, BCA collaborated with government procurement agencies to ensure that all public building projects adopt the use of 3D BIM. This is a strategic effort as the procurement of public building projects is the key driver for construction demand in Singapore, constituting about SGD$10-15 billion annually (40-60% of total construction demand). Phased Mandatory BIM e-submission. BCA has also collaborated with the other 15 government regulatory agencies who regulate different aspects of building construction to pilot and mandate 3D BIM submissions progressively for architectural submissions (by 2013), structural and Mechanical & Electrical submissions (by 2014) for larger projects with more than 20,000 m2 GFA and eventually for projects with more than 5,000 m2 GFA by 2015. These whole-of-government collaborative efforts have led to BCA being awarded the Ministry of National Development Minister’s (Team) Award in 2011. These sustained efforts have also resulted in a steady increase in the online submission volume to BCA from 8,000 transactions in 2002 to more than 450,000 transactions in 2011. To date, the building industry has saved more than SGD$30 million in printing and dispatch costs, just based on the submission to BCA. Moreover, since 2010, more than 700 BIM e-submissions had been submitted to the various regulatory agencies for approval. This has led to time and manpower savings as costly reworks and wastages at the construction stage are minimised.

Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
a. What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
Alignment to Whole-of-Government Strategic Outcomes BCA’s multi-agency collaborations to leverage on information technology to make it faster to obtain building approvals and boost construction productivity over the years are part of the national IT Master Plan. Objectives The main objectives of the 3D BIM e-submission system was to put in place pro-enterprise initiatives to transform a time-consuming and complex submission process into one which: • is faster, paperless, easily accessible and highly efficient; and • leverages on 3D BIM technology to improve information flow and to enhance productivity in the entire building and construction value chain. Key Strategies The key strategies used to achieve industry-wide adoption of BIM address both demand and supply issues. To build up a demand for BIM, the key strategies cover the following: • Public sector taking the lead. BCA has collaborated with government procurement agencies to require all public building projects to adopt 3D BIM. This is a strategic effort as the procurement of public building projects is the key driver for construction demand in Singapore, constituting about 40-60% (vary from year to year) of total construction demand in Singapore. • Phased Mandatory BIM e-submission. BCA collaborated with the other 15 government regulatory agencies to mandate 3D BIM submissions progressively for architectural submissions (by 2013), structural and mechanical & electrical submissions (by 2014) for larger projects with more than 20,000 m2 gross floor area (GFA) and eventually for smaller projects with more than 5,000 m2 GFA by 2015. These whole-of-government collaborative efforts have led to BCA being awarded the Ministry of National Development Minister’s (Team) Award in 2011. • Promoting success stories. To build greater awareness and for industry firms to see for themselves the benefits of BIM, BCA is also organised seminars, workshops, roundtable, roadshows, awards, competitions as well as overseas learning journeys. On the supply side, the key strategies cover the following: • Handholding through CCIT. In September 2010, BCA established the Centre for Construction IT (CCIT) to chaperon the industry in its BIM journey. Since then, CCIT has been reaching out to private-sector developers, consultants and contractors, through short seminars, workshops and even 1-to-1 handholding sessions to help them set up their BIM systems. • Building BIM capability and capacity. To ensure that existing building professionals and new entrants are BIM-ready, BCA has adopted a 2-pronged approach. To train existing building professionals, BCA Academy has launched a comprehensive suite of training and certification programmes which include the new Specialist Diploma Programme in BIM in May 2011. To equip new entrants to be BIM-ready, CCIT has also engaged institutes of higher learning in Singapore to incorporate BIM as part of their curriculum. • Incentivising BIM adopters. To encourage the industry to come onboard the BIM journey as early as possible, BCA rolled out the BIM Fund in Jun 2010. The funding defrays BIM adoption costs on training, consultancy, software and hardware. So far, nearly 500 firms have benefitted from nearly SGD$10 million in funding.

b. What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
The chronology of the key development and implementation steps are as follows: 1995: A steering committee and a working committee led by BCA were formed to identify areas where IT can be a key enabler for improvements. The committee members included all 16 building regulatory agencies and 6 key building industry professional associations. 1999: BCA took the lead with all participating agencies and the building industry professional association to carry out the procurement, requirement study, design, prototype, development, testing and commissioning of the one-stop e-submission system 2001: BCA launched the one-stop e-submission system during BAUCON Asia 2001 (international industry trade show) 2002 : BCA carried out public awareness and consultation, set up customer care centre and programme, conducted customers survey and focus group discussions and implemented continuous fine-tuning, capacity expansion and functionality enhancement 2004: BCA progressively phased in mandatory online electronic submissions for different types of projects over a 6-month period 2008-2009: BCA worked closely with the government regulatory agencies, professional building associations and leading software vendors to enhance the system to allow 3D BIM e-Submission as BIM helps to improve productivity across the construction value chain. At the same time, BCA conducted a 12-month pilot exercise with multiple government regulatory agencies and selected firms on BIM electronic submission for regulatory approval. January 2010: With the industry moving towards 3D BIM, BCA achieved the first breakthrough in January 2010 by successfully collaborating with the other building regulatory agencies to accept architectural BIM models for regulatory approval. June 2010: To encourage the industry to come onboard the BIM journey as early as possible, BCA rolled out an initial $6 million BIM Fund to defray BIM adoption costs. September 2010: The 1st Singapore BIM Roadmap was formulated and BCA established a dedicated Centre for Construction IT (CCIT) to oversee the implementation of various initiatives under the BIM Roadmap, especially in helping to build up BIM capability and capacity industry-wide. April 2011: BCA collaborated with the government regulatory agencies to accept structural as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) BIM models in 2011. This made Singapore the world’s first government to accept 3D BIM e-submission for regulatory approval. July 2011: The BIM Steering Committee was established to synergise the various BIM initiatives and to look into the development of BIM Standards in Singapore. The Committee consists of industry key leaders, representatives of local professional associations, regulatory agencies and government procurement entities. Nov 2011: During the 1st BIM International Panel of Experts meeting in Singapore, experts from USA, UK, Norway, Germany and Korea endorsed the key strategies under BCA’s BIM Roadmap. 2012: Government Procurement Entities started to stipulate the use of BIM in all new public sector building projects of more than SGD$10million in project value. May 2012: The 1st Singapore BIM Guide was launched during the Singapore Construction Productivity Week. 2013-2015: As a further push, BCA will progressively phase in mandatory 3-D BIM electronic submissions for different types of new building projects from 2013 onwards.

c. What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
As with most new systems launched, there were issues which impeded widespread acceptability of the 3D BIM e-submission system. Initial launch of the one-stop e-submission system In 2001, the online e-submission system was launched at a very early stage of the internet era when many were still unfamiliar with this new technology. To remove these barriers, a comprehensive hand-holding programme that included mass briefing, class-room hands-on training, comprehensive audio-visual user’s guides, phone and on-site technical support, setting up of e-kiosks, focus group feedback sessions, as well as the provision of incentives to ensure availability of assistance to overcome the learning curve. The effect of these programmes moved the e-submission volume up steadily from 8,000 transactions in 2002 to more than 450,000 transactions in 2011. To date, the building industry has made almost 3 million online submissions and saved more than SGD$30 million in printing and dispatch costs, just based on the submission to BCA. Enhancement to allow 3D BIM e-submission In 2010, the enhancement of the e-submission system to allow 3D BIM e-submissions also faced the following key challenges: • Industry’s entrenchment in traditional 2-dimensional drafting practices; • Steep learning curve to build up BIM expertise; and • Lack of ready pool of skilled BIM manpower To overcome these challenges, the key strategies focussed on the following: • Public sector taking the lead to adopt 3D BIM; • Regulatory Approval; • Removing impediments; • Building BIM capability and capacity; and • Incentivising BIM adopters. In particular, these efforts include the set-up of a dedicated Centre for Construction IT (CCIT) to provide a comprehensive hand-holding programme that included mass briefing, class-room hands-on training, comprehensive user’s guides, phone and on-site technical support, focus group feedback sessions, as well as the provision of incentives to ensure availability of assistance to overcome the learning curve. Training for all construction professionals/firms involved in BIM submissions were provided to ensure capability building and embracing of key BIM technology that would give our built environment sector the competitive edge and achieve productivity improvements. These programmes have been successful in achieving more than 700 BIM e-submissions submitted to the various regulatory agencies within the short time since the BIM e-submission system was launched in 2010. To drive wider BIM adoption, mandatory regulatory BIM e-submissions would be progressively introduced for architectural submissions (by 2013), structural and M&E submissions (by 2014) for larger projects with more than 20,000 m2 Gross Floor Area and eventually for smaller projects with more than 5000 m2 by 2015.

d. What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
Financial resources The development of the e-submission system started in June 2000 at a capital cost of SGD$1.65 million and was commissioned in November 2001. With the enhancement to allow BIM e-submissions, a $15 million BIM Fund was set up in June 2010 to incentivize industry to come onboard the BIM journey early. So far, nearly 500 firms have benefitted. Human & Technical resources • Handholding through CCIT. In September 2010, BCA established the Centre for Construction IT (CCIT) to reach out to developers, consultants and contractors through seminars, workshops and briefing sessions. • Building BIM capability and capacity. To ensure that existing building professionals are BIM-ready, the BCA Academy launched a suite of programmes including a Specialist Diploma in BIM. To equip new entrants to be BIM-ready, CCIT has engaged institutes of higher learning to incorporate BIM in their curriculum. • Public sector taking the lead. BCA has collaborated with government procurement agencies to ensure that all public building projects adopt the use of 3D BIM. • Phased Mandatory BIM e-submission. BCA is also collaborating with the other 15 government regulatory agencies to mandate 3D BIM submissions progressively for architectural submissions (by 2013), structural and mechanical & electrical submissions (by 2014). • BIM Steering Committee. To steer the industry-wide adoption of BIM, a BIM Steering Committee (BIMSC) comprising key stakeholders was set up to develop BIM guides, standards and other supporting resources. Benefits The whole-of-government approach in leveraging on information technology to enhance public service delivery has transformed a time-consuming and complex building approval process into one which is faster, cheaper, paperless, easily accessible and highly efficient. It has reduced the building approval process from 102 days in 2006 to 26 days in 2012 (as reported in the World Bank Doing Business Reports). Building industry professionals have also saved more than SGD$30 million in printing and dispatch costs. At the same time, BIM facilitates better teamwork among the professionals, helping to lower material waste, lesser rework and higher productivity eg. the Housing and Development Board, HDB (the national public housing board) enjoyed manpower savings of 40%-45% in the design drafting stage, as compared to conventional 2D software. Nationally, BCA was awarded with the Ministry of National Development Minister’s (Team) Award in 2011 for leading multi-agency collaborations to enable BIM e-submissions for regulatory approval. Our BIM approaches have also been cited by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister as an example for other sectors to emulate and by Singapore’s National Development Minister as playing a key role in enhancing construction productivity. Internationally, the one-stop system has contributed to Singapore being ranked the fastest in the world to issue construction permits from 2010 to 2013 and the world’s most business-friendly economy from 2007 to 2013 in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report. BCA was also awarded with the Autodesk BIM Recognition Award for being the world’s first government body to pilot 3D BIM e-submission in 2009.

Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
Sustainability Over the years, BCA has closely monitored the performance of the one-stop e-submission system to ensure that the system remains adequate and relevant. These sustained efforts include regular dialogues with key stakeholders to address further concerns as well as seminars for adopters to share their best practices. Based on the concerns raised, BCA had taken the lead in making enhancements to ensure that the online system remains adequate and relevant. These enhancements include upgrades to major hardware and software in 2008 and 2010. In 2010, the system was also enhanced to leverage on the latest 3D BIM technology to improve construction productivity across the construction value chain. To ensure industry-wide BIM adoption, the key strategies include : • Building BIM capability and capacity; • Phased Mandatory BIM e-submission ; and • Outreach & Awareness Most importantly, the actual time and cost savings realised by industry professionals are key to the sustainability of the one-stop 3D BIM e-submission system. Since the introduction of the one-stop e-submission system, building industry professionals have saved more than SGD$30 million in printing and dispatch costs (just based on the submission to BCA alone). The World Bank Doing Business Reports have also reported that the one-stop system has contributed significantly in reducing the building approval process from 102 days in 2006 to 26 days in 2012. As a result, the industry has now become so dependent on the one-stop e-submission system, it cannot do without it. Transferability At the time of its implementation in 2001, the one-stop e-submission system was the first of its kind in Singapore and the world. It allowed virtually every building submission type to be made electronically via the internet from businesses to government agencies. As a result, there was significant savings in terms of materials and time as public need not make multiple hardcopies of drawings and need not make frequent trips to agencies for submission. These factors have contributed to Singapore being ranked 1st in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report as the most business-friendly economy in the world for the past seven consecutive years. The strategies that have been adopted to promote wide-spread adoption of BIM in Singapore can also be easily adopted by others to improve public service delivery. In fact, these strategies under the BIM Roadmap have received effusive accolades from international experts from USA, UK, Norway, Germany and Korea during an International Panel of Experts meeting in 2011. In addition, the success of BCA’s e-submission system in transforming the building regulatory system has been studied by many countries such as Brunei, Malaysia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Russia, Finland, Norway, Nigeria, Denmark, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, China, Thailand, Belgium, Dubai and Indonesia. This included a workshop in October 2010 for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) delegates who were keen to learn how BCA reformed the building regulatory system through the one-stop e-submission system. So far, Norway followed suit to implement a similar e-submission system in 2003.

What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
The following are the key elements that have contributed to the success of the e-submission system and the increasing adoption of 3D BIM in Singapore: • Getting buy-in from key stakeholders: The steering committee, which was set up to address key challenges and promote e-submission and 3D BIM, comprised key stakeholders who included the other 15 government regulatory authorities and the key building industry professional associations. The collaborative approach in working with these key stakeholders has been critical in ensuring that key concerns from the key stakeholders were directly addressed. To facilitate further buy-in from building industry professionals, a comprehensive hand-holding programme was implemented. This included mass briefing, class-room hands-on training, comprehensive user’s guides, phone/on-site technical support, focus group feedback sessions and incentives to overcome the learning curve. In addition, submission templates and guidelines were developed by the steering committee to standardise and make 3D BIM preparation easier. • Building industry capability: After the implementation of the one-stop online system, a 3-year transition period was introduced before online submission was mandated. This realistic transition period allowed the building industry professionals adequate time to build up their capability. More importantly, this transition period allowed the building industry professionals to experience and be convinced of the benefits of the one-stop online system in making it faster and cheaper to obtain construction permits. The set-up of a dedicated Centre for Construction IT (CCIT) to provide a comprehensive hand-holding programme has also been instrumental to the success adoption of BIM in Singapore. This programme included regular seminars, workshops, roundtable, roadshows, awards, competitions, overseas learning journeys as well as the provision of incentives to ensure availability of assistance to overcome the learning curve. Training for all construction professionals/firms involved in BIM submissions were provided to ensure capability building and embracing of key BIM technology that would give our building & construction industry the competitive edge and productivity improvement. • Building industry capability In addition, a calibrated approach in slowly phasing in mandatory BIM submissions from 2013 onwards will ensure an adequate transition period for industry to build up their capability. This realistic transition period allows the building industry professionals adequate time to build up their capability. More importantly, this transition period allows the building industry professionals to experience and be convinced of the benefits of 3D BIM in improving construction productivities. Going forward, the widespread adoption of BIM is expected to bring about significant productivity improvements. It will also bring immense benefits in terms of cost savings if implemented successfully in projects across the entire value-chain. Going forward, BCA will progressively phase in mandatory 3-D BIM electronic submissions for different types of new building projects from 2013 onwards.


Institution Name:		Building and Construction Authority
Institution Type:		Government Agency
Contact Person:		Hui Chun Phua
Title:		Deputy Director for Managing for Excellence Office
Telephone/ Fax:		65-6325-5024
Institution's / Project's Website:		www.bca.gov.sg
E-mail:		grace_chng@bca.gov.sg
Address:		5 Maxwell Road #17-00 Tower Block MND Complex Singapore
Postal Code:		069110
City:		Singapore
State/Province:		Singapore
Country:		Singapore

The Problem

Solution and Key Benefits

Actors and Stakeholders

(a) Strategies

(b) Implementation

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

(d) Use of Resources

Sustainability and Transferability

Lessons Learned

Contact Information