Continuing its push for more efficient work practices in the construction industry, CITA (Construction IT Alliance) have set up a series of Regional Hubs around the country to help promote BIM.

Through these hubs and the many events held throughout the year, CITA is determined to lead the Irish AECO industry in advancing its use of ICT which will lead to the implementation of more efficient work practices into the future.

The regional hubs have been developed to serve the needs of local communities. They’ll facilitate regional collaborative activity to support the development of the supply chain’s BIM capabilities and they’ll also enable regional engagement in national discussions. Perhaps most importantly, the regional hubs will encourage the sharing of BIM knowledge and best practice within the networks.

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Michael Murphy, BIM Operations Manager at BAM Ireland will lead the Eastern BIM Hub, while Mark Costello, Director of RPS will lead the CITA Western Ireland BIM Hub. The Northern Ireland branch will be led by Mark McKane with Datech Ireland‘s Ger O’Sullivan Leading the CITA Southern Ireland BIM Hub.

“The hubs have really followed the BIM4 Communities Group in the UK. There are 11 hubs set up in the UK and NI following an initiative from the UK Construction Industry Council which was to spread the message that the industry needed to get ready for the BIM mandate,” says Dr Alan Hore, one of CITA’s founders. The hubs in Ireland have been set up similarly to the hubs in the UK with each hub signing up to a BIM Charter. “Each region will need to reach out to regional needs and activities thus they may operate differently but with a common purpose. CITA don’t want to dictate how exactly the regional hubs will work but certainly there is enthusiasm to set them up and to spread the new that BIM is here, here to stay and will in the long run make our industry leaner and fitter to respond to clients’ needs. We also want them to develop case studies and perhaps help businesses locally with queries and advice.”

Regional CITA BIM Hubs are “communities” of local architects, engineers, contractors, and building owners or operators, who are prepared to come together on a regular basis, to network, to share information and knowledge, to help each other grow in their understanding of BIM, and to leverage these connections and technologies to improve the way we do construction in Ireland. Keeping the BIM Hubs within the network of CITA, allows information, knowledge and resources to be easily shared across the broader regions in Ireland. CITA encourages people in other regions to talk to CITA about establishing further regional CITA BIM Hubs.

Meet or contact the chairperson of your Regional CITA BIM Hub in Ireland, to get involved, make suggestions, to keep up to date on local BIM events and activities.

CITA Eastern BIM Hub
Group Link: https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=8350112
Chair: Michael Murphy https://ie.linkedin.com/pub/michael-murphy/17/600/269

CITA Southern BIM Hub
Group Link https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=8349929
Chair: Ger O’Sullivan https://ie.linkedin.com/pub/ger-o-sullivan/3/2a7/573

CITA Western BIM Hub
Group Link: https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=8352222
Chair: Mark Costello https://ie.linkedin.com/pub/mark-costello/94/7b0/449

CITA BIM Group (National)
Group Link: https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=3238552
Coordinator: Ralph Montague https://ie.linkedin.com/in/ralphmontagueless