Reimagining AEC

In Reimagining AEC, his own podcast, Dr Sepehr Abrishami reads the RIBA AI Report 2026 through one routine task, the door schedule, which architects in the report see both as work AI could take on and as work through which junior staff learn. He sets out who answered the 2026 survey and where its limits lie, then follows adoption, uses, reported gains, concerns and governance, before attributing each essay's argument to its author. The episode closes with an answer to where AI belongs in an architect's work and who stays accountable for what it produces.

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening: a door schedule and a choice
• 2:30 Who answered the survey, and its limits
• 4:52 Adoption, depth and uses
• 8:43 Gains, doubts, concerns and governance
• 12:57 Essays on the practice: operations, people, members and information
• 19:52 Essays beyond the practice: decisions, inclusion, data, foresight and trust
• 27:57 Close: where AI belongs and who answers for it

After listening, you should be able to:

• Interpret the RIBA 2026 survey findings on adoption and uses, with their sample and limits.
• Explain the benefits and concerns that architects report.
• Distinguish the main arguments of the report's essays and their authors.
• Evaluate where AI fits in practice workflows, RIBA Plan of Work stages and governance.

References

• Allsopp, P. D. (2026). AI's role in human habitat: The silent architect of wellbeing. In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 49-55). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• Anderson, S. (2026). Current and expected use of AI among RIBA members: Findings from some qualitative research. In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 56-59). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• Bono, G. (2026). AI in architectural practice: From design assistance to business transformation. In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 5-9). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• British Standards Institution. (2018). BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets (UK National Annex revised 2021). BSI.
• Dimka, N. (2026). AI as decision infrastructure. In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 39-42). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• Fisher, K. (2026). Who is AI being designed for, and who gets left out? In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 44-48). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• Holberton, T. (2026). Describing, deriving, doing. In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 33-38). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• International Organization for Standardization. (2010). ISO 26000:2010 Guidance on social responsibility. ISO.
• International Organization for Standardization, & International Electrotechnical Commission. (2020). ISO/IEC TR 24028:2020 Information technology. Artificial intelligence. Overview of trustworthiness in artificial intelligence. ISO.
• International Organization for Standardization, & International Electrotechnical Commission. (2023). ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Information technology. Artificial intelligence. Management system. ISO.
• Malleson, A. (2026). RIBA AI survey findings. In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 15-31). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• NBS. (2025). Digital construction report 2025. Hubexo. https://www.thenbs.com/digital-construction-report-2025
• Rossiter, D. (2026). In AI we 'trust'. In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 66-70). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• Royal Institute of British Architects. (2020). RIBA Plan of Work 2020 overview. RIBA.
• Royal Institute of British Architects. (2026). RIBA AI report 2026. RIBA. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. (2025). Responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying practice (1st ed.). RICS. https://www.rics.org/content/dam/ricsglobal/documents/standards/Responsible-use-of-artificial-intelligence-in-surveying-practice_September-2025.pdf
• Stobs-Stobart, O. (2026). People first, technology second: Lessons from AI use in design management. In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 10-14). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• Storey, T., Sawhney, A., & Pitman, K. (2026). AI in commercial property and construction report 2026. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. https://www.rics.org/news-insights/ai-in-commercial-property-and-construction-report-2026
• Van, F., Dabrowska, M., & Harrington, G. (2026). How could foresight help architects navigate an AI-shaped future? In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 60-65). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf
• Williamson, C. (2026). Foreword. In RIBA AI report 2026 (pp. 3-4). Royal Institute of British Architects. https://www.riba.org/media/fecm2pl5/riba-ai-report-2026-final_v3.pdf

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast. Related episodes take up neighbouring subjects one at a time, among them the RICS report on AI in commercial property and construction, the NBS Digital Construction Report 2025 and information delivery planning, and each can be heard in any order.

In this episode of Reimagining AEC, his own podcast, Dr Sepehr Abrishami tests a claim from the RICS AI in commercial property and construction report 2026, that adoption of artificial intelligence has crossed an inflection point, against the survey evidence behind it. He sets out who answered the survey and where its limits lie, then explains why so many AI pilots stop short of routine practice. The episode follows one invented cost consultancy through the requirements of the RICS professional standard on responsible use of AI, ending with the named surveyor's written decision on whether an AI output can be relied on.

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening: a new duty and a claim to test
• 2:27 Who answered and how far the results apply
• 4:07 Adoption and the gap between piloting and embedding
• 6:43 Expectations, barriers and spending plans
• 10:46 The RICS AI standard applied to one pilot
• 15:21 Alignment with the standard and what the report asks
• 17:54 Close: what has been crossed

After listening, you should be able to:

• Describe how the RICS 2026 survey was designed and where its limits lie.
• Compare AI adoption, expected uses and barriers across construction and commercial property.
• Explain the gap between piloting AI and embedding it in practice.
• Apply the main requirements of the RICS AI standard to an AI pilot.

References

• Building Safety Act 2022, c. 30. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/30
• European Parliament and Council of the European Union. (2024). Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act). Official Journal of the European Union. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. (2025). Responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying practice (1st ed.). RICS. https://www.rics.org/content/dam/ricsglobal/documents/standards/Responsible-use-of-artificial-intelligence-in-surveying-practice_September-2025.pdf
• Storey, T., Sawhney, A., & Pitman, K. (2026). AI in commercial property and construction report 2026. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. https://www.rics.org/news-insights/ai-in-commercial-property-and-construction-report-2026

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast. Related episodes take up neighbouring subjects one at a time, among them the RIBA AI Report 2026, the NBS Digital Construction Report 2025 and delivering valuable data, and each can be heard in any order.

In this episode of Reimagining AEC, his own podcast, Dr Sepehr Abrishami reads the NBS Digital Construction Report 2025 through one sentence from a client board paper, written for teaching, that turns a survey figure into a requirement for every bidder. He sets out who answered the survey and what that does to its figures, then works through its findings on BIM, classification, digital objects and product data, cloud working, artificial intelligence and environmental measurement. The episode closes by rewriting the board paper sentence so that the evidence supports it.

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening: a survey figure on its way into a board paper
• 1:59 Who answered: sample, method and three limits
• 4:49 BIM adoption and what respondents mean by BIM
• 7:38 Inside the model: digital objects, classification, product data and passports
• 12:38 Cloud working and artificial intelligence
• 17:52 Environmental measurement and the industry's view of itself
• 20:31 The board paper rewritten
• 21:21 Close: what the survey can and cannot carry

After listening, you should be able to:

• Describe how the NBS 2025 survey was run, who answered and where its limits lie.
• Interpret the findings on BIM, classification, digital objects and product data.
• Explain the trends in cloud working, artificial intelligence and environmental measurement.
• Evaluate what the survey can and cannot support as evidence for practice and research.

References

• British Standards Institution. (2018). BS EN ISO 19650-1:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 1: Concepts and principles. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2021). BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 & revised NA. Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets. BSI.
• Construction Project Information Committee. (1998). Common arrangement of work sections for building works (2nd ed.). CPIC.
• European Commission. (n.d.). CPR 2024 revision. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/construction/construction-products-regulation-cpr/cpr-2024-revision_en
• European Union. (2024). Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 laying down harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products and repealing Regulation (EU) No 305/2011. Official Journal of the European Union. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3110/oj
• Ford, J. (2020). Information management according to BS EN ISO 19650: Guidance Part C: Facilitating the common data environment (workflow and technical solutions) (Edition 1, D. Churcher, S. Davidson, & A. Kemp, Eds.). UK BIM Framework. https://imiframework.org/resources/
• International Organization for Standardization. (2015). ISO 12006-2:2015 Building construction. Organization of information about construction works. Part 2: Framework for classification. ISO.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2024). ISO 7817-1:2024 Building information modelling. Level of information need. Part 1: Concepts and principles. ISO.
• Market Research Society. (2023). MRS code of conduct. https://www.mrs.org.uk/standards/code_of_conduct
• NBS. (2025). Digital construction report 2025. Hubexo. https://www.thenbs.com/digital-construction-report-2025
• NBS. (n.d.). Uniclass. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://www.thenbs.com/our-tools/uniclass-2015
• nima. (2026, March 12). Consultation opens on proposed changes to ISO 19650 Parts 1 and 2. https://wearenima.im/consultation-opens-on-proposed-changes-to-iso-19650-parts-1-and-2/
• Royal Institute of British Architects. (2025). RIBA artificial intelligence report 2025. RIBA. https://www.riba.org/work/insights-and-resources/ai-report/riba-ai-report-2025/
• UK BIM Alliance, Centre for Digital Built Britain, & British Standards Institution. (2019). Information management according to BS EN ISO 19650: Guidance Part 1: Concepts (2nd ed.). UK BIM Alliance. https://imiframework.org/resources/

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast. Related episodes take up neighbouring subjects one at a time, among them the RICS report on AI in commercial property and construction, the RIBA AI Report 2026 and the Information Management Initiative, and each can be heard in any order.

In this episode of Reimagining AEC, his own podcast, Dr Sepehr Abrishami follows a twenty-storey residential tower in England, invented for the purpose, through the government's proposals for a single construction regulator, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's first recommendation. He sets out why the Inquiry rejected a fragmented regulatory system, the outcomes and objectives proposed for the new body, and how buildings, construction products and professions would be drawn together on the foundation of the Building Safety Regulator. The episode closes with what the reform means for clients, designers, contractors and information managers, and with the position at the end of October 2026, agreed in principle with legislation still ahead.

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening: residents who rarely complain
• 3:07 Why one regulator: the Inquiry's verdict and the reforms since 2017
• 6:52 What the regulator would be for: outcomes, objectives and functions
• 10:58 What it would bring together: buildings, products, professions and residents
• 18:17 How the system would work: roles, a digital-first regulator and implications by role
• 22:50 Where the reform stands: timeline and status
• 25:03 Close

After listening, you should be able to:

• Explain the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's case against a fragmented regulatory system.
• Describe the proposed outcomes and objectives for the new regulator.
• Distinguish how buildings, construction products and professions would be integrated.
• Evaluate the implications for clients, designers, contractors and information managers.
• Summarise the transition and the status of the reform in October 2026.

References

• British Standards Institution. (2018a). BS EN ISO 19650-1:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 1: Concepts and principles. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2018b). BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets. BSI.
• Building Control Independent Panel. (2026, May 20). Building Control Independent Panel report. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-control-independent-panel-report
• Building Safety Act 2022, c. 30. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/30/contents
• Building Safety Regulator & Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2026, January 27). BSR becomes standalone body in landmark step towards single construction regulator [Press release]. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bsr-becomes-standalone-body-in-landmark-step-towards-single-construction-regulator
• Grenfell Tower Inquiry. (2024). Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 report (Vol. 7). https://grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/report/phase-2/volume-7.html
• Hackitt, J. (2018). Building a safer future: Independent review of building regulations and fire safety: Final report (Cm 9607). HM Government.
• Hodges, C. (2022). Outcome-based cooperation: In communities, business, regulation and dispute resolution. Hart Publishing.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2024, July 18). English Housing Survey 2022 to 2023: Satisfaction and complaints fact sheet. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-housing-survey-2022-to-2023-satisfaction-and-complaints-fact-sheet
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2025a, July 17). English Housing Survey 2023 to 2024: Leasehold experience fact sheet. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-housing-survey-2023-to-2024-leasehold-experience-fact-sheet
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2025b, December 17). The single construction regulator: Prospectus. Consultation document (CP 1464). HM Government. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/single-construction-regulator-prospectus
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2026a, May 20). Building Control Independent Panel report: Government response. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-control-independent-panel-report-government-response
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2026b, February 25). Construction products reform white paper (CP 1515). GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/construction-products-reform-white-paper
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2026c, October 2). Progress report September 2026: The construction industry. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grenfell-tower-inquiry-government-progress-report-september-2026/progress-report-september-2026-the-construction-industry
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2026d, July 9). Single construction regulator prospectus: Government response. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/single-construction-regulator-prospectus/outcome/single-construction-regulator-prospectus-government-response
• Morrell, P., & Day, A. (2023). Testing for a safer future: An independent review of the construction product testing regime. Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-the-construction-product-testing-regime
• The Building Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2214. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/contents

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast. Related episodes take up neighbouring subjects one at a time, among them the golden thread, digitising CDM and Government Soft Landings, and each can be heard in any order.

As host of Reimagining AEC, a show that belongs to him rather than to an employer, Dr Sepehr Abrishami charts one fire door through the life of a residential tower invented for the purpose, to explain the golden thread, the information and processes that English law requires for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022. Duties are traced from design and construction through gateways two and three to the accountable persons who keep and share the information and base their safety case report on it, ending with the eight principles for holding the golden thread and where ISO 19650 practice can help meet them.

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening: a decision whose reasons must survive
• 2:51 The golden thread and the law
• 8:59 Design, construction and handover at gateways two and three
• 16:23 Occupation, accountable persons and the safety case report
• 23:05 Holding the golden thread: eight principles and ISO 19650
• 28:55 Close

After listening, you should be able to:

• Explain the purpose of the golden thread and its basis in the Building Safety Act 2022 and its regulations.
• Identify the golden thread information dutyholders keep and hand over through gateways two and three.
• Describe how accountable persons use the golden thread for safety case reports and residents.
• Apply the eight principles for storing the golden thread and relate them to ISO 19650 practice.

References

• British Standards Institution. (2018a). BS EN ISO 19650-1:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 1: Concepts and principles. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2018b). BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2022). BS 8644-1:2022 Digital management of fire safety information. Design, construction, handover, asset management and emergency response. Code of practice. BSI.
• Building Regulations Advisory Committee. (2021, July 21). Building Regulations Advisory Committee: Golden thread report. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-regulations-advisory-committee-golden-thread-report
• Building Safety Act 2022, c. 30. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/30/contents
• Building Safety Regulator. (2026, March 31). Building Safety Regulator strategic plan 2026 to 2027. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-regulator-strategic-plan-2026-to-2027
• Building Safety Regulator & Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2026, January 27). BSR becomes standalone body in landmark step towards single construction regulator [Press release]. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bsr-becomes-standalone-body-in-landmark-step-towards-single-construction-regulator
• Construction Leadership Council. (2024, August). Delivering the golden thread: Guidance for dutyholders and accountable persons. https://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CLC-Golden-Thread-Guidance.pdf
• Hackitt, J. (2017). Building a safer future: Independent review of building regulations and fire safety: Interim report (Cm 9551). HM Government.
• Hackitt, J. (2018). Building a safer future: Independent review of building regulations and fire safety: Final report (Cm 9607). HM Government.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2020a). ISO 19650-3:2020 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 3: Operational phase of the assets. ISO.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2020b). ISO 19650-5:2020 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 5: Security-minded approach to information management. ISO.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2024). ISO 7817-1:2024 Building information modelling. Level of information need. Part 1: Concepts and principles. ISO.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2026, July 9). Single construction regulator prospectus: Government response. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/single-construction-regulator-prospectus/outcome/single-construction-regulator-prospectus-government-response
• nima. (2025, May 30). New IMI Framework to extend UK BIM Framework. https://wearenima.im/new-imi-framework/
• nima. (2026, March 12). Consultation opens on proposed changes to ISO 19650 Parts 1 and 2. https://wearenima.im/consultation-opens-on-proposed-changes-to-iso-19650-parts-1-and-2/
• The Building Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2214. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/contents
• The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023, SI 2023/909. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/909
• The Building Safety Regulator (Establishment of New Body and Transfer of Functions etc.) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/20. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/20
• The Higher-Risk Buildings (Keeping and Provision of Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2024, SI 2024/41. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/41
• The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc) (England) Regulations 2023, SI 2023/907. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/907

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast. Related episodes take up neighbouring subjects one at a time, among them digitising CDM, the single construction regulator and the operational phase of an asset, and each can be heard in any order.

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast on information in the built environment, and here he follows one pane of glass high on an illustrative tall building from a client's first project meeting to the information kept once the building is in use. Along the way he sets out the documents the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require, explains why ISO 19650-6:2025 has replaced PAS 1192-6:2018, and traces health and safety needs down the ISO 19650 information requirements into the project and asset information models. The episode closes with the plain language questions and maturity matrix a client can use to decide how far to go.

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening: a pane of glass and a client's first meeting
• 2:53 CDM duties and the move to ISO 19650-6
• 7:10 Requirements at four levels
• 11:25 Health and safety information in the model, the CDE and the file
• 15:04 Plain language questions and maturity
• 18:04 Close

After listening, you should be able to:

• Explain the CDM 2015 duties and documents that carry health and safety information.
• Explain why ISO 19650-6:2025 has replaced PAS 1192-6:2018 as the current reference.
• Trace health and safety needs from organisational and asset information requirements (OIR and AIR) through project and exchange information requirements (PIR and EIR) into the project and asset information models (PIM and AIM).
• Apply the plain language questions and maturity matrix to set project requirements.

References

• BIM4 Health and Safety Working Group. (2022). Digitising CDM: A client's guide to improving information management in construction projects. A bridge between PAS 1192-6 and ISO 19650. UK BIM Framework. https://imiframework.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/UKBIMF-DigitisingCDM-Final.pdf
• British Standards Institution. (2018a). BS EN ISO 19650-1:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 1: Concepts and principles. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2018b). BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2018c). PAS 1192-6:2018 Specification for collaborative sharing and use of structured Health and Safety information using BIM. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2025, January 28). Bridging safety and technology: The role of BS EN ISO 19650-6:2025 in the built environment. BSI Knowledge. https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/articles/bridging-safety-and-technology-the-role-of-bs-en-iso-19650-6-2025-in-the-built-environment
• British Standards Institution. (n.d.). PAS 1192-6:2018 Specification for collaborative sharing and use of structured Health and Safety information using BIM [Product page, status withdrawn 23 January 2025]. BSI Knowledge. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/specification-for-collaborative-sharing-and-use-of-structured-health-and-safety-information-using-bim
• The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023, SI 2023/911. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/911/contents/made
• The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, SI 2015/51. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/contents
• Health and Safety Executive. (n.d.). F10: Notification of construction project. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://www.hse.gov.uk/forms/notification/f10.htm
• International Organization for Standardization. (2025). ISO 19650-6:2025 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 6: Health and safety information. ISO.
• nima. (2025a, January 21). Published: New international standard for sharing health and safety information. https://wearenima.im/published-new-international-standard-for-sharing-health-and-safety-information/
• nima. (2025b, May 30). New IMI Framework to extend UK BIM Framework. https://wearenima.im/new-imi-framework/
• nima. (2026a, March 12). Consultation opens on proposed changes to ISO 19650 Parts 1 and 2. https://wearenima.im/consultation-opens-on-proposed-changes-to-iso-19650-parts-1-and-2/
• nima. (2026b, June 22). IMI Framework expanded to include ISO 19650-6 health and safety guidance. https://wearenima.im/imi-framework-expanded-to-include-iso-19650-6-health-and-safety-guidance/

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast. Related episodes take up neighbouring subjects one at a time, among them the golden thread, the operational phase of an asset and Government Soft Landings, and each can be heard in any order.

Speaking on Reimagining AEC, a podcast he owns and makes himself, Dr Sepehr Abrishami walks a hypothetical engineering consultancy, invented for teaching, through the Information Management Initiative, the industry programme led by nima and the Construction Leadership Council, and sets it beside ALEC Holdings, one of the first international contracting groups reported to have completed the Initiative's four steps. The history from the earlier BIM and information management mandates comes first, then the five layers, the organisations the Initiative touches and its four steps, from on-boarding and the Sector-Wide Directive to an Organisation-Level Mandate and the role-specific rules of the IMI Framework. A final section covers how an organisation takes part today and where the Initiative stood by mid 2026.

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening: a contracting group that has completed the steps
• 2:23 From government mandates to an industry initiative
• 5:11 Five layers and four steps
• 6:45 Committing at the top: on-boarding, the Directive and the route map
• 10:39 Carrying it down: the internal mandate and the Framework rules
• 13:38 Taking part, and where the Initiative stands
• 15:56 Close

After listening, you should be able to:

• Explain why the Information Management Initiative was set up and who leads it.
• Describe the structure of the Initiative and the players it involves.
• Distinguish the four steps of its procedure and what each commits an organisation to.
• Apply the procedure to plan how an organisation would take part.

References

• British Standards Institution. (2018a). BS EN ISO 19650-1:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 1: Concepts and principles. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2018b). BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets (UK National Annex revised 2021). BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2020). BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 3: Operational phase of the assets. BSI.
• British Standards Institution, & nima. (n.d.). IMI Framework. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://imiframework.org/
• Infrastructure and Projects Authority. (2021). Transforming infrastructure performance: Roadmap to 2030. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-infrastructure-performance-roadmap-to-2030
• nima. (n.d.-a). IMI FAQs. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://wearenima.im/imi/imi-faqs/
• nima. (n.d.-b). IMI: The Information Management Initiative, empowering change, summary. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://wearenima.im/imi/
• nima. (n.d.-c). Introducing the Information Management Initiative (IMI). Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://wearenima.im/imi/about-information-management-initiative-old/
• nima. (2024, November 11). Construction Leadership Council and nima launch Information Management Initiative (IMI). https://wearenima.im/construction-leadership-council-and-nima-launch-information-management-initiative-imi/
• nima. (2025a, May 30). New IMI Framework to extend UK BIM Framework. https://wearenima.im/new-imi-framework/
• nima. (2025b, September 4). nima quarterly forum, Q3 2025 [Presentation slides]. https://wearenima.im/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Nima-quarterly-forum-Q3-2025-1.pdf
• nima. (2026a, March 12). Consultation opens on proposed changes to ISO 19650 Parts 1 and 2. https://wearenima.im/consultation-opens-on-proposed-changes-to-iso-19650-parts-1-and-2/
• nima. (2026b, June). Nima Q2 quarterly forum [Presentation slides]. https://wearenima.im/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nima-Q2-quarterly-forum-slides.v2.pdf
• nima. (2026c, July 29). UAE-based ALEC Holdings embraces the Information Management Intiative [sic]. https://wearenima.im/uae-based-alec-holdings-embraces-the-information-management-intiative/
• nima, & Construction Leadership Council. (n.d.). Summary: The Information Management (IM) Initiative for the built and managed environment. nima.

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast. Related episodes take up neighbouring subjects one at a time, among them information management concepts under ISO 19650, the information management function and the NBS Digital Construction Report 2025, and each can be heard in any order.

On Reimagining AEC, his own podcast, Dr Sepehr Abrishami follows a plant room with two cramped boilers, the worked example in the 2019 Government Soft Landings guidance, from the business case through design review to aftercare. He sets the guidance against BS 8536:2022, the code that has replaced the standards it applied, and shows how the GSL champion, four themes of target outcomes and plain language questions carry operational needs into ISO 19650 information requirements. The episode closes with handover from the project to the asset information model, aftercare, post-occupancy evaluation and the golden thread of information.

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening: a plant room and three years of aftercare
• 2:37 What GSL is and the code that now governs it
• 7:09 Roles, the champion, targets and plain language questions
• 14:54 The five GSL stages and handover
• 18:48 Aftercare, evaluation and the golden thread
• 22:11 Close

After listening, you should be able to:

• Explain what Government Soft Landings (GSL) requires beyond a smooth handover, and where it stands now that BS 8536:2022 has replaced the 2015 and 2016 codes.
• Describe the client-side roles in GSL, and the GSL champion in particular.
• Apply plain language questions and target outcomes to ISO 19650 information requirements.
• Plan GSL tasks, handover and information transfer across the five GSL stages.
• Evaluate how aftercare and post-occupancy evaluation close the loop and support a golden thread of information.

References

• British Standards Institution. (n.d.). BS 8536: How we've revised our guide to improving built asset operability [Blog post]. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://www.bsigroup.com/en-AE/blog/built-environment-blog/bs-85362022
• British Standards Institution. (2015a). BS 8536-1:2015 Briefing for design and construction. Code of practice for facilities management (Buildings infrastructure). BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2015b). PAS 1192-5:2015 Specification for security-minded building information modelling, digital built environments and smart asset management. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2016). BS 8536-2:2016 Briefing for design and construction. Code of practice for asset management (Linear and geographical infrastructure). BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2018). BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2020a). BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 3: Operational phase of the assets. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2020b). BS EN ISO 19650-5:2020 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 5: Security-minded approach to information management. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2022). BS 8536:2022 Design, manufacture and construction for operability. Code of practice. BSI.
• BSRIA. (2018). Soft Landings Framework 2018: Six phases for better buildings (BG 54/2018). BSRIA.
• Building Safety Act 2022, c. 30. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/30/contents
• Cabinet Office. (2011). Government construction strategy. Cabinet Office. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-construction-strategy
• Centre for Digital Built Britain. (2022). Centre for Digital Built Britain completed its five-year mission and closed its doors at the end of September 2022. University of Cambridge. https://www.cdbb.cam.ac.uk/
• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. (2006). TM22 Energy assessment and reporting method (2nd ed.). CIBSE.
• Department for Education. (2026). Soft landings guide (Revision C01). GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/design-standards-employers-requirements-supporting-documents
• Hackitt, J. (2018). Building a safer future: Independent review of building regulations and fire safety: Final report (Cm 9607). HM Government.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2024). ISO 7817-1:2024 Building information modelling. Level of information need. Part 1: Concepts and principles. ISO.
• Philp, D., Churcher, D., & Davidson, S. (2019). Government Soft Landings: Revised guidance for the public sector on applying BS8536 parts 1 and 2. Updated for ISO 19650. Centre for Digital Built Britain, UK BIM Framework. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.45315
• Royal Institute of British Architects. (2020). RIBA Plan of Work 2020 overview. RIBA.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. (2021). NRM 1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works (3rd ed.). RICS.

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast. Related episodes take up neighbouring subjects one at a time, among them the operational phase of an asset, information requirements and the golden thread, and each can be heard in any order.

Dr Sepehr Abrishami, host and producer of Reimagining AEC, which no university owns, leads an invented owner of office buildings through a roof inspection, a lightning repair and the purchase of a further building to explain how ISO 19650-3 keeps an asset information model accurate while an asset is in use. He then places the standard in the life of an asset and in asset management, compares it with ISO 19650-2, explains trigger events and the pathways and loops of the process, and shows how organisational, asset and exchange information requirements lead every pass back to the asset information model.

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening: an audit of a damaged roof
• 2:48 Where ISO 19650-3 sits in the life of an asset
• 8:01 What carries across from ISO 19650-2, and the eleven clauses that do not
• 11:24 Trigger events, pathways and loops
• 15:22 Requirements and the asset information model
• 18:27 Close

After listening, you should be able to:

• Explain the purpose, scope and users of ISO 19650-3 and its link to asset management.
• Distinguish the clauses ISO 19650-3 shares with ISO 19650-2 from those unique to the operational phase.
• Explain trigger events and how decision H routes information through pathways B, C and D.
• Describe how OIR, AIR and EIR (ISO 19650-3) are arranged and how the asset information model is kept current.

References

• British Standards Institution. (2014). PAS 1192-3:2014 Specification for information management for the operational phase of assets using building information modelling. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2018a). BS EN ISO 19650-1:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 1: Concepts and principles. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2018b). BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2020). BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 3: Operational phase of the assets. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2022). BS 8536:2022 Design, manufacture and construction for operability. Code of practice. BSI.
• Churcher, D. (2020). Information management according to BS EN ISO 19650: Guidance Part 3: Operational phase of the asset life-cycle (Edition 1, S. Davidson & A. Kemp, Eds.). UK BIM Framework. https://imiframework.org/resources/
• International Organization for Standardization. (n.d.). ISO/DIS 19650-2 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management. Part 2: Information management process [Draft International Standard, catalogue record]. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://www.iso.org/standard/89704.html
• International Organization for Standardization. (2021). ISO 21500:2021 Project, programme and portfolio management. Context and concepts. ISO.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2024a). ISO 7817-1:2024 Building information modelling. Level of information need. Part 1: Concepts and principles. ISO.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2024b). ISO 55000:2024 Asset management. Vocabulary, overview and principles. ISO.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2024c). ISO 55001:2024 Asset management. Asset management system. Requirements. ISO.
• nima. (2025a, May 30). New IMI Framework to extend UK BIM Framework. https://wearenima.im/new-imi-framework/
• nima. (2025b, June 27). Evolving the IMI Framework for FM. https://wearenima.im/evolving-the-imi-framework-for-fm/
• nima. (2026a, March 12). Consultation opens on proposed changes to ISO 19650 Parts 1 and 2. https://wearenima.im/consultation-opens-on-proposed-changes-to-iso-19650-parts-1-and-2/
• nima. (2026b, May 18). Consultation on revisions to ISO 19650 Part 3 opens. https://wearenima.im/consultation-on-revisions-to-iso-19650-part-3-opens/
• Royal Institute of British Architects. (2020). RIBA Plan of Work 2020 overview. RIBA.
• UK BIM Framework. (2021). BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 information management [Infographic]. https://imiframework.org/resources/

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast. Related episodes take up neighbouring subjects one at a time, among them Government Soft Landings, information requirements and delivering valuable data, and each can be heard in any order.

On Reimagining AEC, his own podcast, Dr Sepehr Abrishami starts from a reported court case in which a contractor lost access to the design data it needed, and asks what technology must do to keep an owner's information findable, trustworthy and usable for decades. He works through the interoperability code of practice Delivering Valuable Data, published by the Government and Industry Interoperability Group in April 2023, testing its core principle and its five supporting principles of longevity, security, ownership, value and competition against a hypothetical hospital estate moving to a new information management provider. The episode ends by setting the code beside the ISO 19650 series and the other open standards it relies on.

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening: a contractor locked out of its design data
• 2:40 Why the code was written, and for whom
• 6:54 The core principle and its technical requirements
• 11:03 Longevity and security
• 15:37 Ownership, and the court's answer
• 17:53 Value and competition
• 20:26 What each party must do, and the standards behind the code
• 22:21 Close

After listening, you should be able to:

• Explain what interoperability means for information about built and managed assets.
• Identify the objectives and primary audiences of the code.
• Distinguish the five principles that underpin interoperability.
• Apply each principle to the duties of technology providers and clients.
• Relate the code to open standards in the ISO 19650 series.

References

• British Standards Institution. (2014). BS 1192-4:2014 Collaborative production of information. Part 4: Fulfilling employer's information exchange requirements using COBie. Code of practice. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2018a). BS EN ISO 19650-1:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 1: Concepts and principles. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2018b). BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets (incorporating corrigendum February 2021, UK National Annex revised 2021). BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2020a). BS 7666-2:2020 Spatial datasets for geographical referencing. Specification for a land and property gazetteer. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2020b). BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 3: Operational phase of the assets. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2020c). BS EN ISO 19650-5:2020 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 5: Security-minded approach to information management. BSI.
• British Standards Institution. (2022). BS EN ISO 19650-4:2022 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM). Information management using building information modelling. Part 4: Information exchange. BSI.
• Building Regulations Advisory Committee. (2021). Building Regulations Advisory Committee: Golden thread report. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-regulations-advisory-committee-golden-thread-report
• Cabinet Office. (2022a). The construction playbook: Government guidance on sourcing and contracting public works projects and programmes (Version 1.1). HM Government.
• Cabinet Office. (2022b). The digital, data and technology playbook. HM Government.
• Central Digital and Data Office. (n.d.). Central Digital and Data Office. GOV.UK. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/central-digital-and-data-office
• Central Digital and Data Office. (2021). Technology code of practice. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-technology-code-of-practice
• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Government Office for Technology Transfer, & HM Treasury. (2021). The Rose Book: Guidance on knowledge asset management in government. HM Government.
• Government and Industry Interoperability Group. (2022). GIIG glossary [Unpublished glossary, cited in Government and Industry Interoperability Group, 2023, footnote 1].
• Government and Industry Interoperability Group. (2023). Delivering valuable data: An interoperability code of practice for technologies in the built and managed environment (Version 1.0). UK BIM Framework. https://www.ukbimframework.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/GIIG-DVD-ICoPT-2023-04.pdf
• Government Digital Service, & Central Digital and Data Office. (2019). Describing RESTful APIs with OpenAPI 3. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recommended-open-standards-for-government/describing-restful-apis-with-openapi-3
• Home Office. (2023, March 13). National Protective Security Authority [Blog post]. Home Office in the Media. https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/03/13/national-protective-security-authority
• IMI Framework. (n.d.). Resources. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://imiframework.org/resources/
• Infrastructure and Projects Authority. (2021). Transforming infrastructure performance: Roadmap to 2030. HM Government.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2019). ISO 8601-1:2019 Date and time. Representations for information interchange. Part 1: Basic rules. ISO.
• International Organization for Standardization. (2024). ISO 16739-1:2024 Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) for data sharing in the construction and facility management industries. Part 1: Data schema. ISO.
• International Organization for Standardization, & International Electrotechnical Commission. (2022). ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection. Information security management systems. Requirements. ISO.
• Mosey, D., Bahram, D., Dartnell, R., Hallam, C., Howard, C., Maqbool, A., Murray, K., Rawlinson, S., & Winfield, M. (2016). Enabling BIM through procurement and contracts. King's College London Centre of Construction Law and Dispute Resolution. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/construction-law/assets/bim-research-report-1-jul-2016.pdf
• National Cyber Security Centre. (n.d.). Cyber Essentials. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberessentials/overview
• nima. (n.d.). GIIG: History. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://wearenima.im/giig-history/
• nima. (2025, May 30). New IMI Framework to extend UK BIM Framework. https://wearenima.im/new-imi-framework/
• nima. (2026a, March 12). Consultation opens on proposed changes to ISO 19650 Parts 1 and 2. https://wearenima.im/consultation-opens-on-proposed-changes-to-iso-19650-parts-1-and-2/
• nima. (2026b, May 18). Consultation on revisions to ISO 19650 Part 3 opens. https://wearenima.im/consultation-on-revisions-to-iso-19650-part-3-opens/
• OpenAPI Initiative. (2017). OpenAPI Specification (Version 3.0.0). https://spec.openapis.org/oas/v3.0.0
• Trant Engineering Ltd v Mott MacDonald Ltd [2017] EWHC 2061 (TCC).

Reimagining AEC is Dr Sepehr Abrishami's own podcast. Related episodes take up neighbouring subjects one at a time, among them open data, buildingSMART and COBie, the operational pha...