Building information modeling, or BIM, is a catch-all term for a wide array of tools and processes for creating digital representations of buildings or building components. These tools have been widely embraced for use in the construction phase of projects, but their potential has only begun to be realized in facility management and maintenance, even though these account for 85% of costs in the life cycle of a building. Organizations controlling diverse estates with multiple buildings of varying ages stand to benefit enormously from a BIM-informed approach to estate management.

The Smart Estate outlines such an approach and its potential to improve facility and estate management. Emphasizing practical applications, it moves beyond the project delivery stage to focus on the much longer - and costlier - period of building operation and maintenance. The result is a thorough and accessible guide to generating collaborative, BIM-informed methods.