Sustainability is an increasingly important topic within the business world and in facilities management, driving the re-thinking of many traditional practices. Improving an organization\'s contribution to sustainability involves increasing the life span on human systems, such as the built environment, while reducing their impact on the natural environment. Sustainable practices aim to improve the stewardship of our resources for the future - a goal consistent with effective facility management.

Over the past twenty-five years, professionals involved in developing and managing building projects have used a range of software applications to assist their efforts.

Simulated or virtual environments have been regarded as the province of video gamers operating in make-believe worlds, the film industry, or high-end government or research applications. Looking ahead, we can foresee the use of realistic 3D virtual environments to manage development of the building projects and the complex issues that affect the built environment.

The integration of information technologies has allowed every U.S. industry except the construction industry to achieve notable productivity gains during the past four decades. Productivity in the construction industry during the same period has remained essentially unchanged.

Although technology is used widely and routinely throughout the design and construction industry, the fragmented business model of the industry prevents any real efficiencies to be leveraged across disciplines.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a young technology that is praised by architects for its versatility in developing design solutions and 3D visualizations. Less well publicized is the use of BIM as a construction productivity tool. Many large construction companies are experimenting with BIM to generate cost and schedule savings.

Significant initiatives in the last few years to improve the Federal Government\'s management of its vast and diverse portfolio of real property holdings, valued over $328 billion dollars worldwide, have experienced mixed success.

The initiative to standardize real property assessment of federal facilities is a positive step, but without further refinement, may create more confusion as existing business models and technology are being adapted by each agency in different ways.

The business model of the construction industry remains essentially unchanged since the Renaissance. The challenge for building owners is to create a new integrated business model that optimizes the likelihood of successful results on our projects - while maintaining the valuable historical attributes of the construction industry culture.

As the largest consumer of design and construction services in the world, the United States Government is uniquely positioned to benefit from improved efficiency in the construction industry. Agencies are beginning to explore ways to change their business process by leveraging the benefits of new technology - and their influence will be profound.

As a visual database of building components, BIM can provide accurate and automated quantification, and assist in significantly reducing variability in cost estimates.

Exchanging data is a challenging aspect of AEC information technology. BIM applications are evolving and standard formats to organize and share building information are far from fully mature as well.

If architects do not take the leadership role on integrated practice, they will cede this turf to another entity. It is incumbent upon architects to develop a succinct business case for their service, infusing some “red” values into their typically “blue” business model.

Building Information Modeling is the latest software technology being introduced throughout the AEC profession. A complete 3D digital representation of a building system or subsystem, this sophisticated technology is both a visually accurate model of a building and a database for recording the breadth of information developed and associated with building components.

Beyond being a drawing and documentation tool, BIM offers a platform for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, the capability to manage change, and the ability to extend information support throughout the building lifecycle.

Federal building owners have an opportunity to take a leadership role in the use of building information modeling technology and process innovation.

The VA continues to amass vast quantities of data and information about their facilities from existing systems. New systems being implemented will increase the quantity and quality of data available. To leverage this wealth of data to intelligently manage the facility life cycles, all systems and users must be able to seamlessly share and integrate the available data.