Planning and building are internationally recognised core competences in Germany. Every year, the German planning and construction industry proves that it can build efficiently and with high quality. Despite these competences, a number of major projects experienced delays and cost overruns. For this reason, the former Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development convened the Reform Commission for the Construction of Large-Scale Projects to counteract undesirable developments. In addition to numerous other recommendations, the Reform Commission emphasised in its final report that digital methods such as BIM bring great advantages and should therefore be used more intensively.
This phased plan (Stufenplan Digitales Planen und Bauen), initiated by the reform commission, defines a common understanding of the BIM method and specifies the requirements that the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure will place on digital models and collaborative work with BIM. The plan thus creates clarity for all those involved as to which future requirements they should be prepared for. At the same time, it gives everyone enough time to make the necessary changes by setting out the timeline for the phased adoption of BIM and the next steps that need to be taken to reach a ‘Level 1’ performance.
The primary audience of the phased plan are the public clients of infrastructure construction, who must demand a performance of ‘Level 1’ in their project awards, and the contractors, who are required to acquire the necessary knowledge if this is not already available. However other public and private clients can also benefit from this plan as a basis for the introduction of BIM.
The document is also available in English (Road Map for Digital Design and Construction) from here.
An archive version of this information article has been created if the original is no longer accessible (Archive information from January 2024)
The German construction industry successfully implements many large construction projects worldwide every year. In recent years, however, there have been more and more national public debates about major projects that are not delivered on time or to budget. Therefore, in April 2013, the former Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development launched a reform commission to transform the construction of major projects. The commission presented recommendations for action in 2015, which included cost transparency, cost accuracy, efficiency and adherence to schedules for large projects in the hope that infrastructure construction can be improved. The Federal Government welcomed the fact that everyone involved in major projects was able to support the Reform Commission and was able to agree on further recommendations.
With these recommendations for action, the Reform Commission aims to provide inspiration for BIM adoption that can also be transferred to smaller projects in all federal states.
The Federal Government expects the private partners involved in major projects to fulfil their responsibilities in their area of expertise, in particular through practical partnership-based cooperation in all project phases. This will contribute to the successful implementation of the action plan and will establish a good reputation for the German construction and planning industry across the world.
An archive version of this information article has been created if the original is no longer accessible (Archive information from January 2024)
Digital technologies can make a decisive contribution to cost truth, cost transparency, efficiency and adherence to deadlines. The better availability of data for all parties involved in the construction project ensures transparency and collaboration. Schedules, costs and risks can be determined more easily, earlier and more precisely, and completely controlled. The use of digital methods is therefore also a central demand of the Reform Commission for the Construction of Major Projects.
In order to help BIM achieve a breakthrough in Germany, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure has presented a step-by-step plan for the introduction of BIM. It applies primarily to infrastructure construction and infrastructure-related building construction, but can also be used as a framework for other areas. The step-by-step plan is intended to lay the foundations for the gradual introduction of BIM in Germany.
The Digital Building Transition Plan (Plan Transition Numérique dans le Bâtiment, PTNB) was presented for the first time by Sylvia PINEL at the Council of Ministers on 10 December 2014. It aimed to modernise the construction sector, promote the skills’ development of professionals, improve quality and reduce costs in new builds and renovation.
Its mission was the deployment of digital technology throughout the construction sector and in particular in small structures, around three areas of work:
- Experiment, capitalise, convince all actors.
- Support the skills’ development of professionals and stimulate the creation of tools adapted to small projects.
- Develop a trusted digital ecosystem.
This final PTNB report identifies the following key priorities:
- BIM for all: development of digital office and construction site tools for small- and medium-sized structures;
- the digital notebook for monitoring and maintaining a dwelling;
- standardisation of processes and exchanges;
- the digitisation of existing builds for the renovation and operation of the works.
An archive version of this information article has been created if the original is no longer accessible (Archive information from January 2024)
From new construction to renovation, from digital models to connected objects, the building sector is fully involved in digital transformation. The public authorities support the digital transition of buildings, to improve the comfort of use and the quality of life in housing, schools or offices. This page describes the major public sector activities related to digital transformation from the Digital Transition in Building Plan (Plan Transition Numérique dans le Bâtiment, PTNB) to the BIM 2022 Plan which followed PTNB and commenced in 2019.
This site also references guidance for project owners and voluntary charters to encourage digital transformation and commitment to the objectives of the BIM 2022 Plan.
Austrian Standards is Austria’s organisation for standardisation and innovation . They are an independent and neutral group tasked with supporting standards which are delivered as practicable, sustainable solutions for economic and social challenges. These standards are designed to make life easier, safer and better, whilst strengthening the competitiveness of the Austrian and European economy.
The Austrian Standards organisation works to:
- Promote the dialogue between various stakeholders on a national and international level.
- Act as the gateway to a global standardization network and numerous partner organizations.
- Share the methodical know-how to start and manage cooperative processes.
- Make standards, documents and information accessible with innovative tools.
- Prepare specialist knowledge using multimedia, promote professional development and offer different certification models.
BIM is the new common language of the construction industry in Austria. Through the work of the Austrian Standards organisation the ÖNORMs series A 6241 of standards have been in effect since July 1st, 2015. In these standards, all aspects of BIM technology are taken into account and provided dynamically to the project participants for the software products they use with innovative digital construction components. The Austrian approach is on the one hand a fundamental and on the other hand a more advanced approach, due to a known sets of rules. An essential component is a dynamic, freely expandable database of characteristics based on open standards, international compatibility and multilingualism in terms of user guidance and content. This website contains the background to the Austrian standards as well as document links and details of the ongoing work as well as previous successes.
The Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce (Wirtschaftskammer Österreich, WKO) functions as the federal parent organisation for the nine State Chambers and 110 trade associations for different industries within Austria’s economy. The WKO provides representation of membership interests at all levels of government. By law, governments are obliged to consult with Chambers on legislative projects and important regulation. In many laws a provision is made to involve Chambers in decision-making and administrative procedures.
The WKO’s website provides access to a study conducted by the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology and the Construction Office on the subject of the “Potential of digitization in the building industry”, looking at the benefits that BIM can bring. The website also contains several documents, videos and links to the local buildingSMART chapter, all of which provide additional information about current BIM adoption in Austria.
The Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) is Sweden’s largest developer. Every year it carries out several major construction projects. By introducing BIM, they expect to make large savings and they see it as the future way of working in the entire industry.
As a dominant player in the construction industry, the Transport Administration can also actively contribute to the introduction of BIM in the entire Swedish construction industry. The first step has been to set requirements for BIM in all procurements within new investments as of 2015. The next step is to introduce BIM in planning and management. The goal is to use BIM throughout the infrastructure’s lifecycle from planning to maintenance and management.
This website, hosted by the Swedish Transport Administration, is a placeholder for information related to its push for widespread BIM adoption within the supply chain. It contains current information, news items relevant to the Swedish adoption of BIM and multiple video resources designed to help the supply chain understand this transformation.
Effective information management in design, construction and administration requires order in many details. There are several standards that facilitate the processes and it is important to have consistent concepts and codes for different applications. The work in all parts of the processes, from early planning, through design and construction and to long-term management, is facilitated by consistency and standardisation. For efficient handling at all levels, common requirements and instructions are crucial. National Guidelines (Nationella Riktlinjer) have been developed to provide such common requirements and instructions, which adhere to established standards and accepted practices. These guidelines will be managed and further developed as new standards are established and new experiences are gained.
The purpose of the Guidelines is to simplify, streamline and harmonise the requirements and management of digital information for the built environment. They are created for those who make demands on digital information and for those who are affected by the demands. The guidelines can be applied for project implementation and asset management; they are suitable for buildings and infrastructure projects. They are developed as a basis for setting requirements for digital information deliveries and for meeting such a requirement.
Smart Built Environment is a strategic innovation programme for how the public construction sector can contribute to Sweden’s journey towards becoming a global pioneer country that realises the new opportunities that digitalisation brings. Digitisation is one of the biggest societal changes ever. The Smart Built Environment programme implements a unique and long-term investment to develop more sustainable and integrated ways of building, with a vision of sustainable community building and maximum user benefit through efficient information management and industrial processes with digitalisation as a driving force.
A common information infrastructure is the key to change. An uninterrupted flow of information with business-driven applications in BIM, GIS and industrial processes creates benefits for companies, users and society. The unique thing about this programme is precisely the integration between BIM, GIS and industrial processes, which increases the potential to take advantage of all the possibilities of digitalisation. The efforts in the programme include research, development and innovation. They handle the digital infrastructure, business-driven applications in companies/organisations and integration of the processes. The programme creates new knowledge, skills, services and products, with all current information shared on the website.
