Project data is fragmented
CriticalDesigners, contractors, supervisors and clients work in different environments.
- Consequences
- Solutions and versions are difficult to trace.
Business area digitalisation analysis
Digitalisation of civil engineering and infrastructure projects
How to connect BIM, GIS, project controls, construction as-built and long-term infrastructure asset management
- Digital maturity
- average
- Digitalisation potential
- 80/100
- Biggest challenge
- Project data is fragmented
- Biggest opportunity
- Seamless infrastructure data chain
In this business area, the greatest value will be created by a seamless infrastructure data chain. It is recommended to start with a clearly bounded first process and expand the solution in phases.
Operating model for civil engineering and infrastructure projects
Infrastructure projects manage linear and point assets, coordinates, design models, actual measurements, quantities and future asset attributes. Data value depends on whether the same object remains recognisable as the stage and organisation change.
Long lifecycle
Data must remain useful from feasibility study through decades of operation.
Geographical distribution
Design solutions, existing networks, plots and actual construction geometry must be visible in a common spatial context.
Many institutions and contractors
Information passes through different contracts, responsibilities and technological environments.
High handover value
An unstructured project archive is insufficient if the operator requires asset hierarchy, attributes and maintenance data.
Market and technology context
Infrastructure digitalisation is expanding from design models to a whole-lifecycle data chain. The link between BIM, GIS, surveying, progress and asset register is becoming important both for investment control and for reliable asset handover to the operator.
- Importance of lifecycle costsInvestment decisions are increasingly assessed not only by construction cost, but also by future asset maintenance and resilience.
- Spatial data integrationBIM models must be linked to territory, plots, networks and actual geometry.
- Remote progress measurementDrones, point clouds and surveying data enable more frequent assessment of actual quantities and deviations.
- Structured asset handoverAsset managers expect not an archive of documents, but a reliable asset register and attributes suitable for operations.
Typical value chain
01
Investment planning and site analysis
Need, alternatives, sites, existing networks, permits and funding constraints are assessed.
02
Design and BIM-GIS coordination
Technical models are created, geometry, environmental constraints and utility networks are coordinated.
03
Procurement and construction preparation
Work packages, information requirements, schedule and contractor responsibilities are established.
04
Construction progress and actual geometry
Quantities, work locations, geodetic measurements, changes and quality evidence are recorded.
05
Acceptance and reporting
The contractual outcome, funding conditions, documents and actual asset condition are verified.
06
Asset handover and operation
Design and actual data are converted into a useful asset register, GIS layers and maintenance information.
Digital maturity model for the business area
0
Project and spatial data uncontrolled
Drawings, maps, measurements, quantities and asset information are stored separately, so relationships for the same infrastructure asset are reconstructed manually.
1
Process based on documents and separate maps
Designs, drawings, GIS layers and reports are stored in separate environments, and relationships are reconstructed manually.
2
BIM and GIS used separately
Design and territorial data are digital, but object identity and changes between systems are not linked.
3
Coordinated project data environment Typical current situation
Models, documents, spatial data and approvals are managed according to common statuses and information requirements.
4
Lifecycle data chain Target
Project object linked to actual geometry, quantity, asset attributes and handover status.
5
Forecast infrastructure portfolio
Portfolio history, condition and spatial data are used to forecast investment, risk and maintenance scenarios.
Key finding
The greatest risk arises when the design object, geographical location, geodetic as-built and asset register do not share a common identifier. A single-asset design-to-as-built scenario allows this chain to be validated in practice before the entire project is completed.
First priority is the chain connecting the design model, GIS location, as-built geometry, quantities and handover attributes for a single infrastructure asset.