Digital Construction Consultant Australia: What They Do

A digital construction consultant helps organise the models and information used to design, build or manage an asset. The required work might involve building information modelling (BIM), coordination, survey information or digital handover. The title alone does not define the service: start with the project’s actual deliverables.

What does a digital construction consultant do?

The role can include agreeing information requirements, coordinating contributions from different disciplines and checking that deliverables can be used by the receiving team. The appointment should identify responsibility, review stages, interfaces and acceptance criteria.

For example, a project team may need to coordinate design models or supply verified asset information to a council. Those are distinct tasks and may involve different specialists. A digital model is not, by itself, proof that construction is compliant or that every concealed condition has been verified.

Common service areas

• BIM coordination: organising model contributions, naming, versions, agreed information and review responsibilities.
• Clash and issue management: checking modelled interfaces, recording issues and tracking the responsible team’s response.
• Spatial information: coordinating survey or scanning inputs, their accuracy, coverage and limitations.
• Asset handover: preparing the specified records and data for the asset owner’s systems.

Checking a model can reveal conflicts within the information supplied. It cannot establish that missing information is correct or that site conditions match the model. Agree how field verification and unresolved issues will be handled.

Choose software around the required outputs and the team’s workflow. Platform administration, account access and information security should be defined in the engagement, rather than assumed from a job title.

Project-specific standards and A-SPEC

There is no single digital-delivery requirement that applies identically to every Australian construction project. Confirm the contract, consent conditions and asset owner’s requirements, including the applicable specification and version.

A-SPEC’s published guidance describes a framework for structured as-constructed asset information. Its focus on GIS-based handover data differs from the broader digital engineering or BIM process. Use the requirements adopted for the project; do not assume every council uses the same specification or portal.

Before collecting information, agree:

• The assets and attributes to be recorded, including who supplies and checks them.
• The required coordinate system, accuracy, file formats and submission method.
• When information must be captured, particularly where work will later be concealed.
• Validation, review, corrections and acceptance responsibilities.

Missing survey information can make later verification harder and more costly. It does not justify a blanket statement that underground assets can never be located later. Obtain specialist advice about appropriate capture and verification methods.

Choosing a consultant

Ask for relevant examples and a clear description of the person’s own contribution. Confirm experience with the required asset type, deliverables and receiving authority, rather than relying only on software credentials or a general professional membership.

Compare proposals on scope, responsibilities, exclusions, access to source files, review time and ongoing support. State who resolves design issues and who certifies or accepts the underlying work. The smallest useful engagement may be a focused review rather than a full project-wide modelling service.

For residential work, assess the actual design, coordination and handover needs. Neither the size of the project nor the presence of a council data requirement alone determines whether digital assistance has value.

When building consultancy or expert evidence is needed

A defect investigation, waterproofing issue, valuation or building dispute needs expertise relevant to that question. Some practitioners combine digital and building expertise; others specialise. Confirm the proposed person’s qualifications, experience and report scope rather than assuming the roles are mutually exclusive.

For tribunal or court work, the report must address the applicable directions and expert obligations. A model may support an investigation, but it does not replace the explanation of observations, assumptions, methods and reasoning.

Awesim Building Consultants was established in 1996 and provides independent building consultancy across NSW. Services include Expert Witness Reports, Scott Schedules, Quantum Meruit Reports and forensic waterproofing investigations, together with contracts administration and construction scheduling. Confirm the particular service and any specialist input through a written proposal.

For a dispute brief, see the guide to engaging a construction expert witness. This article explains digital consulting generally and is not a claim that every digital modelling or scanning service is supplied by Awesim.

Plan the engagement around the deliverables

Identify information requirements early enough for the team to collect and review them. Agree on a practical timetable and the consequence of missing inputs. Broad market forecasts or unrelated project-management employment figures do not establish the capability or availability of a particular consultant.

Common questions

What should a scanning or digital-twin brief include?

State the purpose, required accuracy, coverage, output format and how information will be maintained. Clarify access, occluded areas and what the proposed model will and will not represent.

Is one qualification enough?

Qualifications are part of the assessment. Also check relevant project work, technical responsibility and any registration required for the particular professional service.

Does coordination guarantee a saving?

It can help identify modelled conflicts before work proceeds, but the result depends on input quality, the review process and how issues are resolved. Avoid a guaranteed percentage saving without a defined basis.

Are consultant and BIM manager fixed roles?

No. Job titles and responsibilities vary. The appointment should state the deliverables and accountabilities rather than relying on the title.

Define the required information

Start with the problem to be solved, the recipient’s requirements and the evidence of relevant expertise. For building defects or disputes, define the investigation and report needed as carefully as any digital deliverable.

Awesim

Glen Sim is a highly experienced Building Consultant, Licensed Builder, Construction Consultant, and Expert Witness with more than 35 years of practical experience within the Australian building and construction industry. As the Founder and Director of Awesim Building Consultants, Glen has established a strong reputation throughout Sydney and regional New South Wales for providing independent, evidence-based building consultancy services and expert reporting for complex building and construction disputes.Beginning his career as an apprentice carpenter with TAFE NSW in 1990, Glen completed his apprenticeship in 1993 before progressing into senior construction and management roles across residential, commercial, and remedial building sectors. His extensive industry background provides him with genuine hands-on construction knowledge — something that distinguishes him from many consultants who have limited site-based experience.Glen became a Licensed Builder in Victoria in 2004 before returning to New South Wales in 2011, where he continues to operate under NSW Builder Licence No. 232673C. Over the course of his career, he has worked across all stages of the construction process, including carpentry, supervision, project management, contract administration, construction scheduling, defect rectification, quality control, and dispute resolution.Today, Glen is widely recognised for his expertise in:Expert Witness Reports Scott Schedules NCAT Building Disputes Construction Defect Investigations Building Defect Reports Quantum Meruit Assessments Construction Programming & Delay Analysis Client-Side Project Management Contract & Scope of Works AssessmentsGlen regularly assists homeowners, builders, developers, solicitors, strata managers, insurers, and commercial clients by providing technically detailed and independent reporting for litigation and dispute resolution matters. His reports are prepared with a strong understanding of the requirements of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), court procedures, the Expert Witness Code of Conduct, the National Construction Code (NCC), Australian Standards, and accepted building industry practices. Over 15+ years experience providing litigation support with expert witness reports and Scott schedules. What clients value most about Glen is his practical approach, integrity, attention to detail, and ability to clearly explain complex construction issues in a manner that is easy to understand. His combination of trade-based experience, construction management knowledge, and investigative expertise allows him to identify issues that are often overlooked by less experienced consultants.Over the years, Glen has developed a reputation for producing thorough, methodical, and evidence-supported reports that clients and legal representatives can rely upon during negotiations, mediations, tribunal proceedings, and litigation matters. His commitment to accuracy, professionalism, and impartiality has made Awesim Building Consultants a trusted name in the building consultancy industry across NSW.Glen is also known for his strong commitment to client service, ensuring every matter is approached with professionalism, transparency, and genuine care for achieving practical outcomes. His experience across both metropolitan Sydney and regional New South Wales provides him with a broad understanding of differing construction methods, site conditions, workmanship standards, and project delivery challenges throughout the state.Outside of the construction industry, Glen values family life and regional Australia. He has been happily married to internationally recognised author Audra Starkey since March 2025. Together, they share a passion for supporting rural communities and building trusted professional relationships grounded in honesty and respect.With more than three decades of industry experience, Glen Sim continues to provide trusted building consultancy and expert witness services backed by real construction knowledge, independent assessment, and a commitment to helping clients navigate complex building matters with confidence.

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