Seven levels can be constructed, and the primary strength of the BIM project management approach is its ability to recreate an installation across conceptual, geometric, spatial, temporal, economic, sustainability, and maintenance dimensions. BIM makes it possible to build in seven sizes, a point highlighted by Gregorio Hernández during an information meeting on the project. The event, titled BIM. A sustainable vision to build the future, was organized by the Valencia Community College of Industrial Engineers and the COIICV in collaboration with Upgrade-EMVnewspaper, a media group in the same network.
The meeting underscored the advantages of a methodology already in use across many European nations. The current expansion aims to promote BIM among small and medium enterprises in the Valencia region, emphasizing improvements in efficiency, sustainability, resource management, cost savings, and overall process optimization.
The event was moderated by journalist Julio Monreal, with Nieves Romero, dean of COIICV; Nuria Matarredona, Managing Director of Ecological Innovation in the Generalitat Valenciana Construction; and Eva Marco and Pere Mallol, presidents of COIICV in Valencia and Alicante. Also in attendance were Ángel Ortiz, director of the UPV Technical School of Industrial Engineering, and Isabel Jordán, coordinator of the European University Project Management Graduate Specialists in education. Representatives from the business sector included Benjamin González, CYPE corporate development director; David Martínez, managing partner of IBIM; the aforementioned Gregorio Hernández; Igor Ortuose, project manager at Idom; Jesús Paniagua, Grupotec director of organizational and management systems; and Sergio Moral and Javier Lledó, IT managers at Mercadona’s Construction Sites.
Keys to understanding BIM
BIM is more than a tool; it is a working method that unites all project processes on a single platform. This is the concise definition offered during the meeting. The goal is to improve the technicalization of the workflow by listing every step and clearly showing changes made by all current participants. The result is a real time overview that makes it essential for all users to know how to operate the system. The standardization of software and tools connected to BIM has progressed accordingly.
As Martínez explains, errors are reduced and costs are lowered through simulations on screen, making it cheaper to test scenarios. For buyers, BIM helps ensure maximum product quality and supports promoters in achieving the best possible balance of price, maturity, and quality. Public administrations benefit from better audit trails and maintenance planning, while care organizations can optimize resource management through real time information.
The economic benefits of BIM rise with project complexity, and the methodology is gradually becoming more widely adopted. Jordán notes that early projects may be less profitable, but the learning curve eventually drives significant productivity gains. Paniagua adds that excess engineering effort during construction is reclaimed as skills mature.
University education
The Valencian Community has integrated BIM into university curricula to reach companies with solid infrastructure for future professionals. Institutions such as the Valencia Polytechnic University and the European University provide training, though time constraints limit the depth of expertise students can achieve. By the end of their study, students acquire the fundamentals needed to accelerate learning and reach advanced levels quickly.
Valencia’s universities also train professionals who bring practical experience and have updated their competencies through international exposure. Training in countries like the United States, the Netherlands, and France has clarified BIM as a practical choice rather than a regulatory obligation, and it is seen as a tool that improves overall performance.
Unlike some European peers, BIM use is not mandatory in Spain yet its adoption is growing. The regional administration has promoted proactive implementation and public-private collaboration, anticipating broader uptake rather than enforcing a top-down mandate.
From the Generalitat Valenciana, a commitment to cooperative models rather than rigid hierarchies has been emphasized as a model for adoption.
BIM convinces the industry
The day helped confirm BIM benefits through private sector experiences. Mercadona uses BIM for all new projects, and executives say there is no alternative to BIM in their workflow. The company manages hundreds of stores and logistics facilities with a forward-looking digitization approach that centralizes data and enhances decision making.
Similarly, Idom leverages BIM as a core project approach, recognizing its value at every stage. A recurring theme among participants is that BIM consolidates information and streamlines communication between diverse teams. This translates into cost savings and a higher final product quality. Real-time visibility on screen makes the process tangible and credible for every stakeholder.
The experience is also seen as a decisive example for Valencian SMEs. BIM is presented as a tool that rewards investment and belief in long-term gains, with a clear message that BIM is accessible to everyone rather than exclusive to large firms.