CSI announces digital construction initiative

Alexandria, Va. — Driven by rapid change and the need to better integrate specifications, building products, and building information modeling (BIM), the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) announced CSI Project Dynamo, an initiative to expand its industry standard organizing principles to work more effectively with BIM to support the digital needs of design and construction professionals.

CSI Project Dynamo is a pilot program to expand the North American MasterFormat, Uniformat, and Omniclass standards for organizing construction information by creating a more robust connection between the standards and BIM objects. These standards are used by tens of thousands of AECO professionals globally and embedded in a wide range of design and project software.

CSI Board Chair, Ron Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, said, “CSI is founded on the principle of working across the spectrum of a project — from ownership, through design to construction and facility management — and serving the industry by meeting those broad and inter-connected needs. Because of this interdisciplinary approach, CSI can ensure the capabilities envisioned for this project serve the entire industry.”

“The focus of the effort is to ensure that data is accurate, timely and available when and where it is needed throughout the lifecycle of a project,” added Mark Dorsey, CSI Chief Executive Officer. “CSI Project Dynamo will consult with subject-matter experts, industry associations, and Construction Specifications Canada to create the pathway towards improved workflow and better organization of information to ensure we keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital world and meet diverse industry needs.”

More information about Project Dynamo is available at www.CSIProjectDynamo.org.