BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING | TECHNICAL


BIM IN TUNNELLING - PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE


BIM enables unprecedented collaboration and information sharing in infrastructure development, yet better understanding of what it is, isn’t, and could be is needed, say Kurt Zeidler and Vojtech Ernst Gall, of Gall Zeidler Consultants


While ‘BIM’ has become one of the most used terms in infrastructure development over recent years, it is also often a misunderstood buzzword, including in the underground construction sector. Most likely, this is due to a divergence between the


outward image of BIM and the inner workings of the technologies and systems that are used to create a collaborative BIM environment. While non-experts may be most familiar with the


visible products of a BIM process, such as 3D models, visualisations, or renderings, they may not appreciate where many BIM professionals focus their attention – that is, behind the generated models, where data and information are organised and exchanged through carefully planned workflows. These inter-related hierarchies, i.e., workflows, are the backbone upon which data sharing within a BIM framework is based.


Level 0 Level 1 These information hierarchies are powerful processes,


developed to allow owners, engineers, and contractors to better collaborate and to make the planning and delivery of infrastructure and tunnel projects more efficient. Structured workflows improve the transparency


of project data and information and therefore allow it to be shared quickly and accurately between partners. Yet, while new BIM technologies allow project parties


to come closer together, it is the terminology used – the jargon employed, the acronyms themselves even – that can lead to differences in understanding As a challenge that can exist from the outset it


consequently presents hurdles to overcome on the way to implementing BIM within any given project. A simple question therefore arises: What is BIM?


Level 2 Level 3 Data Maturity


Right:


BIM Maturity Levels as developed by the UK Building Information Modelling (BIM) Working Party Strategy Paper


Processes


Drawings, line arcs text etc


Models, Objects, Collaboration


Integrated - Interoperable data


Tools


Library Paper collaboration File based


collaboration & library


management File based


Integrated web services BIM hub


June 2023 | 15


management


Lifecycle


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