Building Information Modelling (BIM) to create map of Germany’s roads
Hochtief subsidiary ViCon and its partners have won a German Government contract to create a 3D digital map of the country’s road network using building information modelling (BIM).
Digital construction specialist ViCon will provide consultancy services to the Federal Ministry of Transport & Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) until the end of 2018.
The target is to introduce the BIM road map in three consecutive steps. A preparatory phase will take place this year, followed by a pilot phase lasting until 2020. The use of BIM is then expected to be mandatory for all new projects under the responsibility of the ministry.
The aim is to make planning and construction processes – especially of large infrastructure projects – more efficient, transparent and controllable.
ViCon will provide consultancy service to the pilot projects. In addition, its specialists will analyse the extent to which BIM is already being used in Germany and determine a realistic performance level to be expected when BIM is introduced in 2020 for the public infrastructure sector.
The consortium will define the steps required for nationwide BIM implementation and analyse matters relating to the legal and contractual situation. It will also work out recommended actions and provide market participants with guidelines, samples, and handouts. An integral part of the consultancy services consists of systematic training of employees and decision-makers for traffic infrastructure projects in the respective federal states.
For many years, ViCon has been promoting the nationwide introduction of BIM in the construction industry via national and international research projects (such as Inpro or Insiter), committee work in national and international bodies, training (BIM certification), and its own BIM-related events. The company has accompanied more than 450 BIM projects across the world in the planning and execution phases.
Among the major ViCon projects that have used digital computer models are the recently opened Elbe Philharmonic Hall in Hamburg, and the Sydney metro currently Australia’s largest infrastructure project.