In BIM and digital construction, automation is transforming workflows, reducing manual effort, and improving efficiency. But is automating everything always the right move?
Watch this clip on why replacing human roles purely based on function can create unintended consequences.
The Risk of Over-Automation
Automation without Context. The example in the reel of a hotel replacing its doorman with an automatic door to save costs—only to realise later that the doorman did far more than open doors. The same applies in AEC and BIM. Automation handles tasks, but humans provide context, judgment, and adaptability.
Many BIM processes seem entirely automatable. Model coordination, clash detection, data extraction. But who determines what matters? Automated clash detection flags thousands of issues, but which ones actually impact construction? Generative design can create layouts, but does it account for real-world usability?
Clients Don’t Want an Auto-Pilot Workflow. Our projects involve clients, end users, and changing requirements. If you over-automate, you risk delivering rigid, overly standardized solutions that don’t reflect the actual needs of a project.
Where Automation Works—and Where It Has Limits
What to Automate in BIM
- Data validation – Ensuring standards, naming conventions, and compliance are met.
- Model cleanup – Automating repetitive model fixes.
- Repetitive calculations – Automating quantity take-offs, cost estimation, and schedules.
What Not to Fully Automate
- Model auditing & contextual decision-making.
- Client & stakeholder engagement.
- Creative problem-solving & design intent.
The best BIM workflows aren’t fully automated, they’re intelligently automated. The goal is not to replace human expertise but to remove repetitive, low-value tasks so teams can focus on real problem-solving, decision-making, and project strategy.
The next time you’re developing an automation task, ask yourself, what else does this process affect that I haven’t considered? What’s the ‘doorman effect’ in my workflow?
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