Published in the International Journal on Hydropower and Dams - Volume 32 - Issue 1, 2025.
From design to delivery: How BIM addresses operational changes and challenges
The role of BIM in digital transformation, interoperability, and lifecycle-based project delivery
Authors :J.S. Riley, C. Lawton, D. Viero, C. Ntavela, and M. Leite Ribeiro, Gruner Stucky Ltd, Switzerland
As technology continues to reshape the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has emerged as a pivotal innovation, significantly enhancing project design, construction, and management through the creation and utilization of detailed 3D digital representations enriched with comprehensive data. This paper, grounded in Gruner's extensive BIM project experience over the past years, delves into the multifaceted benefits of BIM in improving collaboration, informed decision-making, and reducing errors in complex projects, with a particular focus on the hydropower sector, where these advantages are crucial.
The paper concentrates specifically on the digital changes and challenges that BIM introduces within the project environment, its impact on management practices, and the overall rollout of projects. It showcases how BIM adoption facilitates substantial efficiencies and promotes sustainability through enhanced collaborative design processes, advanced visualization capabilities, clash detection mechanisms, precise scheduling, and real-time monitoring of project components. However, the paper also underlines that, despite these transformative benefits, the integration of BIM into existing workflows presents several challenges, including high initial implementation costs, interoperability issues among diverse software platforms, and the pressing need for specialized training and new roles to effectively leverage these digital tools and digital project strategies.
A robust and well-defined strategy is essential for successful BIM implementation in any project. In this context, Gruner's approach focuses on defining processes based on specific use cases tailored to the unique demands of hydropower projects. By employing a hierarchical model strategy, we have successfully managed complex projects, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities among various teams, which enhances communication and coordination. This strategy effectively confines errors to specific areas of the project, minimizing disruptions and maximizing efficiency.
Furthermore, the evolving roles of BIM specialists—including the BIM Manager and BIM Coordinator—are critical in shaping project outcomes. These professionals collaborate closely to mitigate risks associated with late-stage changes and ensure effective data governance throughout the project lifecycle. Their involvement from the early tendering phase is crucial to the integration of BIM into the project framework.
The establishment of a Common Data Environment (CDE) plays a significant role in facilitating streamlined information management, thereby enhancing collaboration and coordination among all stakeholders involved in the project. This paper outlines the essential features of Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) that we have effectively utilized in our projects, which optimize project delivery through improved communication, comprehensive data management, and enhanced coordination among team members.
Finally, we discuss how BIM outputs, including Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs), automate traditional tasks such as quantity takeoffs, enabling efficient workflows and reducing reliance on manual data management processes. Additionally, the integration of Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) within BIM frameworks allows for immersive project visualization, offering stakeholders a unique opportunity to interact with designs at a 1:1 scale.
The paper concludes with key insights and project feedback drawn from our experiences, underscoring the transformative impact of BIM on project efficiency. It will also underline some future perspectives for highly connected digital twins. We highlight the necessity of strategic planning, proper training, and effective role management to address operational challenges and maximize the benefits of digital transformation in the AEC industry.
Presented at the Hydropower and Dams conference 2024, Graz, Austria
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