PROJECTS | DIGITAL, DATA & BIM
BIM WORKS
More information is being shared on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and AI in tunneling industry forums, such as WTC and in a recent report from Norwegian tunnelers
Discussions on the why and how of using Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support the development and management of underground infrastructure are featuring in more conferences and reports. Last year, in the World Tunnel Congress (WTC 2024),
in Shenzhen, China, saw two entire - and extensive - sections of the global event’s proceedings given over to BIM (under ‘Digital & IT’ theme) and AI (under ‘Machine Learning’ (ML) theme). They sat, noticeably and holding their own, among traditional and long-established themes, such as: Mechanized Tunneling; Conventional Tunneling; Support and Lining; Ground Stability and Consolidation; and, many more. The dedicated Digital & IT section had almost
Below:
NFF’s report on small hydropower development includes a section on BIM (see box) SOURCE: NFF
170-pages to accommodate 23 papers, about a quarter of which (six) directly focused on the theme of BIM. That, however, does not including brief references to BIM in many other papers, throughout the entire proceedings. The dedicated ML section had 19 papers specifically
on the theme over about 150-pages. Together, the pagination for dedicated Digital & IT and
ML took almost a 10% share of the entire proceedings. As such, the forum of WTC and the opportunity given over to them marked a watershed in major tunneling events, for information-sharing. Of course, now, the themes
of BIM (and digital and data) and ML (and AI, more widely) are covered more and in various ways, albeit often less noticeably. But persistence has been established, and there is more to say and cover on each. Even if BIM may not seem
new it can still feel so to many as the body of knowledge grows to share more case studies, showing tools and techniques in action. Well beyond the scale of WTC 2024, a recent report from the Norwegian Tunnelling Society (Norsk forening for fjellsprengningsteknikk - NFF), ensured BIM was covered by recalling its use on a small hydropower project (see box).
22 | Summer 2025 For ML it still seems early days in terms of witnessing
broad understanding, discussion and engagement, and consequent information sharing. That so much information on ML was available at WTC 2024 - and in its own thematic section - makes that event all the more notable as, perhaps, and at least, a catalyst to great awareness for the industry.
BIM PAPERS AT WTC 2024 Six papers*
heavily focused on BIM were contributed to
the WTC 2024 proceedings. They ranged in scope from addressing the very question of why to use BIM in tunnel projects, and instances of project applications - for new build as well as refurbishment of existing tunnels, and on Drill & Blast excavations and also using TBMs, and then to research on data management and analysis. Why is it worth using BIM on tunnel projects? As Robert & Dias say in their paper, “Digital
transformation is having an impact on our businesses and the way we work, starting with the use of BIM.” That doesn’t equate to easy fundamentals, simple
and instantly comprehensible. Instead, it calls for highly effective understanding of such basics, for so much is to be built upon the information framework - technical design, construction endeavors, contractual binds, and data-fed measurements for quality and payment. They add: “A BIM approach cannot be improvized,
and must be understood and prepared for by all those involved in underground construction, starting with the owner.” From the owner comes the rationale and vision
for use of BIM, they say. It is more of a whole of life approach, going far beyond the relatively short-term timeline of the design and construction phases. Much needs decided and spelled out on use of BIM, explaining the reasoning and strategy, providing specifications, determining leadership needs and where authority rests at different levels, and what makes smart and effective detail and quantity of data, and its timeliness. “It is also important not to underestimate the
resistance to change that this entails within the structures of various players, as well as the investment required,” they add. To perform it all, and at all, needs support and
leadership at the highest levels, in and among all project parties. This can be said of all types of building and construction. What, then, of tunnels? Perhaps the importance is greater as the challenge of successfully going underground is far more, for the short- and long- term outcomes.
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