The new Building Information Modeling (BIM) method of designing and constructing buildings is challenging the legal system and insurance structure that protects architects, designers, building contractors, construction companies and owners as the line dividing responsibility blurs. This leaves questions about how to protect each participant in the building process, as well as the intellectual property and confidential information that may be contained in the building model.

According to experts presenting at Applied Software's Executive Roundtable on "Confronting the Challenges and Opportunities in Integrated Practice, Collaborative Design and BIM" held earlier this year in Atlanta, BIM is changing the paradigm from the traditional design/bid/build process to a "shared project model." Applied Software is rapidly establishing itself as the regional expert in the emerging BIM space.

"BIM technology allows for the development of a collaborative framework for design and construction," said moderator Gregg Bundschuh, J.D., executive vice president and partner at the specialty insurance brokerage of Ames & Gough. "As such, it can expand or lessen the boundaries of project delivery responsibility depending on the extent of risk assumed by the participants, traditional insurance policies will need to be modified."

According to Tony Smith, senior partner for Construction & Infrastructure Projects at Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP, BIM is viewed as a new project delivery method as opposed to an influence on traditional building approaches, and with it comes new risks, new rewards and new relationships.