The BIMe Initiative · a not-for-profit knowledge commons

New ways of thinking, researching, learning and collaborating

We accelerate the digital transformation of the built environment with peer-reviewed frameworks, a shared modular language and free tools, developed in the open by practitioners and academics from more than 40 countries.

Explore the knowledge Read the Manifesto

Building on research shared openly since 2005.

Ten people, ten questions. Point to anyone to hear their story, or to a verb above to see who it describes.Ten people, ten questions. Tap anyone to hear their story.

Visual Knowledge Model 01: Tri-Axial Framework diagram
01The Tri-Axial Framework Published Dec 2013 This conceptual model explains the multi-dimensional relationship between the three main components of the BIM framework: BIM fields of activity identifying domain players, their requirements and deliverables; BIM stages delineating minimum capability… Open model 01 → Paused

Visual Knowledge Models

Model 01 · The Tri-Axial Framework

Published Dec 2013

Visual. We will represent knowledge in a visual and colourful manner.

All 46 models →

01Why BIMei exists

07 Respectful. We will respect existing knowledge by building upon it.

Digital transformation needs knowledge that connects

Government committees, commercial organisations and committed individuals have produced excellent strategies, protocols and solutions. Most remain disconnected from each other, restricted by copyright, and specific to the market they came from. BIMei takes a different, complementary path.

From disconnected to Connected

One Knowledge Structure and a modular language, so every framework, term and tool fits with the others.

From restricted to Open

Guides and tools released under Creative Commons, free for individuals and organisations to use on their own projects.

From market-specific to International

Peer-sourced and peer-tested across academia and industry, in more than 40 countries and 26 language teams.

In essence, BIMei complements – and where difficult to complement, provides an alternative to – top-down, authority-led and prescriptive BIM diffusion policies.

From the launch of the BIMe Initiative, March 2017

Innovation before standardisation

02Our mission

02 Practical. We will generate tools and guides of benefit to current and future practitioners.

To accelerate the digital transformation of the built environment.

Our mission is expressed as three complementary goals. Start from the one closest to your work.

Building tools or doing research? The BIMei Ontology and open adoption datasets are made for reuse.

03Knowledge Structure

08 Structured. We will follow a clear structure for collating, organising and sharing knowledge.

One Knowledge Structure behind everything we build

Every BIMei project follows the same five Knowledge Sets. That is why a term in the Dictionary, a statement in a role profile and a requirement in an asset's lifecycle record can all point to the same idea.

Visual Knowledge Model 42: BIMe Initiative Knowledge Structure diagram
Model 42 · BIMe Initiative Knowledge Structure
  1. KS1

    Knowledge Foundations

    Peer-reviewed papers and 46 Visual Knowledge Models.

  2. KS2

    Knowledge Blocks, the modular language

    869terms

    489action statements

    Each with a permanent identifier, published in the BIM Dictionary and the BIMei Ontology.

  3. KS3

    Knowledge Tools

    RPF, Assessor, the Macro Adoption Dashboard, LITE and the resource series.

  4. KS4

    Knowledge Workflows

    Competency flows, assessment campaigns and lifecycle information gates.

  5. KS5

    Knowledge Views

    Visual models, ThinkSpace episodes and dashboards.

04Apps

10 Cohesive. We will deliver products and components which are interconnected and interoperable.

Six apps that speak one language

Follow how the apps connect, from shared terms to single sign-on, then go straight to the one you need. One BIMei account signs you in to all of them.

15 applications and 59 documented connections. Select an app to follow its links, or filter by connection type and evidence stage: recorded, manual or planned.

Open the navigatorFull screen (opens in a new tab)

Go straight to an app

Live

BIM Dictionary

Find and cite published terms, with permanent links and regional wording.

869terms

26language teams

Open to all dictionary.bimexcellence.org
Live

BIMei Ontology

The register of action statements and terms behind every BIMei app.

489statements

57actions

937terms

Open to read ontology.bimexcellence.org
Live

Roles, Profiles and Flows

A common language for competence: roles made of profiles, profiles made of measurable statements.

32roles

53profiles

836statements

Open to browse, free account to author rpf.bimexcellence.org
Live

Macro Adoption Dashboard

Compare BIM adoption across countries: organisations, education and policy.

22datasets

3studies

Open to all mad.bimexcellence.org
Live

Assessor

Run digital-performance assessment campaigns across organisations, projects or a whole sector.

Campaigns at any scale

By arrangement assessor.bimexcellence.org
Testing

LITE

One structured record per asset unit, connecting purposes, requirements and evidence across the lifecycle.

Built on the peer-reviewed LITE framework

By invitation lite.bimexcellence.org

Agility over rigidity

05Ideas in the open

17 Tested. We will test solutions before releasing them as such.

Two decades of ideas, shared as they formed

BIM ThinkSpace began in 2005 as a place to think out loud. Many BIMei constructs were first shared there, then tested through peer-reviewed research and turned into tools.

  1. 2005

    BIM ThinkSpace begins

    A space to discuss BIM, interoperability and process integration.

  2. 2008

    The BIM Framework

    Fields, Stages and Lenses, a tri-axial map of the BIM domain.

  3. 2011

    BIM Wash

    Naming the inflated claim of using or delivering BIM.

  4. 2014

    Middle-out diffusion

    A third dynamic beyond top-down and bottom-up adoption.

  5. 2015

    Point of Adoption

    The moment readiness turns into capability.

  6. 2017

    The BIMe Initiative launches

    With the BIM Dictionary as its first project.

  7. 2020

    The LITE framework

    Lifecycle Information Transformation and Exchange, with Erik Poirier.

  8. 2024

    Integrated Competence Model

    ThinkSpace returns with five components of competence.

  9. 2025

    Adaptive Maturity

    Why organisations respond so differently to disruption.

  10. 2026

    The language becomes tools

    RPF, the Ontology and the Macro Adoption Dashboard go live; LITE opens for testing.

Recent releases

All announcements →
  • 15 Nov 2026

    RPF publishes 32 roles and 836 competency statements.

  • 16 Sep 2026

    BIM Dictionary adds Asset Information Orchestration as a product-neutral term.

  • Aug 2026

    Frameworks adds model 46, LITE Information Gates and Activity Units.

  • 11 Mar 2026

    The Macro Adoption Dashboard launches with free datasets from three adoption studies.

06The Excellence Manifesto

Point to a principle to read its pledge.

Twenty-one principles govern everything we do

All BIMei activities and deliverables are intended to be:

Read the ManifestoSee the signatories

  1. Principle 1 of 21. Open. We will share our knowledge through open channels for all to benefit.
  2. Principle 2 of 21. Practical. We will generate tools and guides of benefit to current and future practitioners.
  3. Principle 3 of 21. Educational. We will learn and educate others about ever-improving practices.
  4. Principle 4 of 21. Collaborative. We will collaborate with others in good faith.
  5. Principle 5 of 21. Neutral. We will avoid prejudice against any idea or solution.
  6. Principle 6 of 21. Equal. We will provide an equal opportunity for all who wish to become members or volunteers.
  7. Principle 7 of 21. Respectful. We will respect existing knowledge by building upon it.
  8. Principle 8 of 21. Structured. We will follow a clear structure for collating, organising and sharing knowledge.
  9. Principle 9 of 21. Modular. We will develop modular solutions for others to build their own.
  10. Principle 10 of 21. Cohesive. We will deliver products and components which are interconnected and interoperable.
  11. Principle 11 of 21. Competent. We will undertake activities when, and if, we are collectively competent to do so.
  12. Principle 12 of 21. Honest. We will be honest about our research and delivery abilities.
  13. Principle 13 of 21. Innovative. We will devise new solutions for new problems.
  14. Principle 14 of 21. Informed. We will investigate existing solutions before suggesting new ones.
  15. Principle 15 of 21. Reliable. We will harvest knowledge from reliable sources and informed peers.
  16. Principle 16 of 21. International. We will cater for the common requirements across national borders.
  17. Principle 17 of 21. Tested. We will test solutions before releasing them as such.
  18. Principle 18 of 21. Testable. We will make tested solutions available for others to test.
  19. Principle 19 of 21. Efficient. We will avoid digital, physical and financial waste.
  20. Principle 20 of 21. Visual. We will represent knowledge in a visual and colourful manner.
  21. Principle 21 of 21. Free. We will release all solutions for practitioners and researchers to freely use.

Visual. We will represent knowledge in a visual and colourful manner.

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07Community

04 Collaborative. We will collaborate with others in good faith.

Built by people who share what they know

Practitioners and academics have contributed to BIMei projects, from translating the Dictionary to leading national adoption studies.

contributors, professionals and academics
200+
countries
40+
Dictionary language teams
26
Visual Knowledge Models
46

Volunteer intake is closed for now. We are not taking on new volunteers at the moment. Subscribe and we will let you know when it reopens.

Mission and principles →Meet the contributors →

Knowledge sharing as a value

08Partner with us

21 Free. We will release all solutions for practitioners and researchers to freely use.

Fund an outcome the whole industry can use

Each partnership produces something specific and open. Supporters receive early access and public acknowledgement. We look for partners who share our principles.

Talk to us about partneringCurrent supporters

Backed by ChangeAgents AEC logo

ChangeAgents AEC, Melbourne, covers basic operating costs to keep BIMei independent and ad-free.

Five outcomes you can fund

Sponsor a topic team

Fund a team of subject specialists to develop and maintain the BIM Dictionary terms for one topic, or open a new topic.

Builds on BIM Dictionary

Ask about this

  • Free and openly licensed

    Frameworks, Dictionary terms, the RPF catalogue, adoption datasets and resources, under Creative Commons.

  • Free with a BIMei account

    Authoring and saving work in RPF, and one sign-in across the apps for organisational members.

  • By arrangement

    Assessment campaigns and LITE pilots, delivered with partners. Service providers require a licence.

Stay informed

Occasional updates on new episodes, studies and releases. No registration is needed to use any resource.