BIM-GIS Integration Research Articles

Integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS): a new approach for IFC to CityJSON conversion

Within the contemporary urban development discourse, the paradigm of smart cities has gained prominence over the past two decades. Ensuring sustainability in smart cities requires coherent orchestration of processes that span design, construction, operations, and management. Central to this orchestration are technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), which provides detailed architectural data, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which provide comprehensive geographic intelligence. However, a significant challenge remains: data degradation during BIM-GIS integration. This data inconsistency, exacerbated by the different data structures of BIM and GIS, is a barrier to true interoperability. One promising solution to this conundrum is the use of Semantic Web technologies. In this study, we leverage Semantic Linked Data and geometric conversion tools to develop an algorithm that mitigates the loss of semantic information during the BIM-to-GIS conversion process. The effectiveness of this approach is underscored by a 95% accuracy rate of the converted semantic information.

Bridging Geo-Data and Natural Gas Pipeline Design Standards: A Systematic Review of BIM-GIS Integration for Natural Gas Pipeline Asset Management

In today’s world, effective management and the use of spatial data are of great importance in many sectors. Industries such as land management, asset management, and infrastructure management are areas where spatial data are heavily utilized. Advanced technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) are used in the processes of collecting, analyzing, and managing geographically enabled data (geo-data). These technologies enable the effective processing of large datasets, improve decision-making processes based on geographic information, and facilitate more efficient collaboration across sectors. This study conducts an in-depth examination of the existing literature on asset management, infrastructure management, and BIM-GIS integration using bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review methods. Bibliometric analysis is employed to determine statistical values such as current research trends, frequently cited authors, most used keywords, and country performances in the relevant field. This study’s results highlight future research trends and significant gaps in the areas of asset management, infrastructure management, natural gas pipelines, and BIM-GIS integration. In particular, this study demonstrates the critical importance of asset management and BIM-GIS integration for sustainable infrastructure design, construction, and management. In this context, attention is drawn to the importance of data standardization, digitization, systematic integration, and contemporary land management requirements.

A modular graph transformation rule set for IFC‐to‐CityGML conversion

AbstractConversion of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) building models into CityGML city models is one of the operational scenarios for BIM–GIS integration, with a variety of applications producing and consuming data on either side. Given the in‐depth cross‐domain knowledge required to specify such conversions, the heterogeneity of the IFC input data and the use cases for the resulting CityGML, flexible and configurable solutions are needed that make conversion details accessible to domain specialists. Graph transformation as a conversion method fulfils these requirements. We propose to extend the modularity given by single transformation rules at a more coarse‐grained level and identify four layers with modules of associated rules. We describe a self‐contained set of rules across these modules and demonstrate its application to a range of building models.

THE NEED FOR A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN HETEROGENEOUS INFORMATION INTEGRATION APPROACHES IN THE FIELD OF “BIM-GIS INTEGRATION”: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract. The heterogeneous character of information models results in communication barriers between subsystems in railway organizations dealing with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic information systems (GIS). The integration of information is a promising way to bridge the heterogeneity of information models and satisfy the need for a more efficient communication. Integration efforts exploited in expert literature are often referenced using umbrella terms like “BIM-GIS Integration” or “GeoBIM”, although dealing with different challenges and addressing different purposes. This paper highlights the need for a differentiation between integration efforts covered by the umbrella term “BIM-GIS integration”. For this, a new approach for the categorization of information integration efforts was developed based on a literature research. Afterwards, challenges concerning information integration efforts in the field of “BIM-GIS Integration” were exploited and assigned to the respective categories to illustrate the importance of differentiation between heterogeneous information integration efforts.

Logistics Planning and Visualization of Modular Integrated Construction Projects Based on BIM-GIS Integration and Vehicle Routing Algorithm

Logistics planning is a critical part of developing supply chain for modular integrated construction (MiC) projects in Hong Kong where high-rise, high density and hilly landscape is the norm. It is important to minimize the total logistics and to guarantee timely delivery of modules, especially for several MiC projects being constructed during the same period. Nevertheless, there is a significant lack of studies on logistics planning, optimization and visualization for MiC projects. The aim of this paper is to establish an integrated MiC logistics planning and visualization platform, which is grounded on the integration of building information modeling (BIM), geographical information system (GIS) and vehicle routing problem (VRP) algorithm. The framework is then presented and evaluated using a case study to identify optimal logistics scenario of trailer routes to meet the installation time window of MiC projects in Hong Kong. The paper finds that the proposed platform has the ability to make optimized logistics scenario for MiC projects, and to visualize the logistics scenario in a 3-dimentional interactive environment. Future study will focus on adopting flexible control strategies and including more decision-making criteria of logistics planning in MiC projects such as road width limitation, travel speed and different module types

BIM-GIS Integration as Dedicated and Independent Course for Geoinformatics Students: Merits, Challenges, and Ways Forward

Information mined from building information models as well as associated geographical data and Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses can increase the success of construction processes and asset management, including buildings, roads, and public facilities. The integration of information from both domains requires high expertise in both spheres. The existing B.Sc and M.Sc. programs linked to the built environment at the Technical University of Munich offer courses for the Building Information Model (BIM) and GIS that are distributed among study programs in Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Geomatics. Students graduating as professionals in one of these domains rarely know how to solve pre-defined technical problems associated with the integration of information from BIM and GIS. Students in such programs seldom practice skills needed for the integration of information from BIM and GIS at a level that is needed in working life. Conversely, the technologies in both domains create artificial boundaries that do not exist in reality—for example, water and electricity would not be of use if the utilities terminated in front of buildings. To bring a change and bridge the gap between BIM and GIS, a change in the teaching methods of BIM/GIS needs to be considered. The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has developed a master’s course (M.Sc. course) for students in Geoinformatics which focuses on competencies required to achieve BIM/GIS integration. This paper describes the course development process and provides a unique perspective on the curriculum and subjects. It also presents the course objective, course development, the selection and development of learning materials, and the assessment of the intended learning outcome of the course. The developed course is validated through a questionnaire, and feedback is provided by participants of the BIM/GIS integration workshop representing a panel of experts in the domain.

Development of a Conceptual Mapping Standard to Link Building and Geospatial Information

This study introduces the BIM (building information modeling)-GIS (geographic information system) conceptual mapping (B2GM) standard ISO N19166 and proposes a mapping mechanism. In addition, the major issues concerning BIM-GIS integration, and the considerations that it requires, are discussed. The B2GM is currently being standardized by the spatial-information international standardization organization TC211. Previous studies on BIM-GIS integration seem to focus on the integration of different types of model schemas and on the implementation of service interfaces. B2GM concerns the clear definition of the conditions and methods for mapping the object information required from the user’s use-case viewpoint for city-scale mapping. The benefits of the B2GM approach are that the user is able directly control the BIM-GIS linkage and integration process in order to acquire the necessary objection information. This can reveal cases of possibly unclear BIM-GIS integration outside the black box in an explicit and standard way, so that the user can distinctively predict the final output obtainable from the BIM-GIS integration. This study examined B2GM in terms of its development background, components, and several utilization examples, as well as the levels and considerations of the integration of different BIM-GIS models.

TOWARDS AN INTEGRATION OF GIS AND BIM DATA: WHAT ARE THE GEOMETRIC AND TOPOLOGICAL ISSUES?

Abstract. Geographic information and building information modelling both model buildings and infrastructure, but the way in which they are modelled is usually complimentary and BIM-GIS integration is widely considered as a way forward for both domains. For one, more detailed BIM data can feed more general GIS data and GIS data can provide the context that is necessary to BIM data. While previous studies have focused on the theoretical aspects of such an integration at a schema level, in this paper we focus on explaining the geometric and topological issues we have found while trying to develop software to realise such an integration in practice and at a data level. In our preliminary results, which are presented here, we have found that many issues for such an integration remain: handling the geometric and topological problems in BIM models, dealing with bad georeferencing and figuring out the best way to convert data between IFC and CityGML are all open issues.

A framework for a microscale flood damage assessment and visualization for a building using BIM–GIS integration

Flood damage assessment (FDA) is a key component of risk-based method for flood management. In the current FDA approaches, generally the uniqueness of the building is disregarded in the analysis. Therefore, they are unfit for detailed applications in which case-by-case analysis of building damage is an essential requirement. This limitation is compounded by the use of incomplete and often low-quality data inputs about the building and the assumptions and approximations made regarding the geometry and materials of its components. Such shortcomings may result in incomplete and uncertain outcomes. Considering the benefits and increasing use of three-dimensional (3D) urban modeling and Building Information Model in various urban management processes, in this paper, an integrated framework for utilization of detailed 3D building models for the assessment and 3D visualization of flood damage to building according to its distinct behavior against flood is presented. A proof-of-concept demonstration of the framework in a case study underlined the feasibility of implementation of the framework, which can potentially benefit a variety of users and be used as a complementary approach to the current FDA methods for improving the resilience of the community toward floods and their adverse impacts.