Web page discusses how Anglian Water’s Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA) leverages Building Information Modelling (BIM) and geospatial technology to develop a Digital Twin for its water infrastructure.

Anglian Water’s Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA) – the use of BIM (better information management) in developing our Digital Twin

Anglican Water & Digital Twin Hub

UK

This white paper explores how integrating virtual twins and smart management within a digital standard framework can enhance rail operations and maintenance. The paper is a collaborative effort by Dassault Systèmes, DB International Operations, and WSP.

DB International Operations, WSP and Dassault Systemes

Regional

The buildingSMART research paper explores the use of classification systems in rail infrastructure projects across the Nordic regions. The findings aim to support the creation of a ‘Smart Infrastructure’ world, helping to align the rail industry with evolving digital and BIM standards.

buildingSMART International

Regional

A key component in developing an effective Digital Twin (DT) is ensuring the right data reaches the right people at the right time. However, a challenge in the rail industry is that legacy data systems are tailored independently for specific technical requirements, creating disparate systems that do not form a solid foundation for modern digital environments. To tackle this, a detailed study in partnership with Network Rail tested a method for identifying appropriate Asset Information Requirements (AIRs), which inform the data needed throughout a project’s lifecycle—from design to disposal.

https://www.jacobs.com/sites/default/files/2022-03/Informing-the-information-requirements-of-a-digital-twin.pdf

ICE in conjunction with Jacobs

UK

The Stafford Area Improvement Programme, a collaboration between Atkins, Laing O’Rourke, Volker Rail, and Network Rail, aimed to eliminate a bottleneck on the West Coast Main Line, where high-speed trains were delayed by slower local services and goods trains. This major upgrade included the construction of 10 new bridges, designed using Building Information Modelling (BIM) from the outset. Laing O’Rourke also employed off-site construction techniques to improve efficiency.

In partnership with Network Rail, the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) and Laing O’Rourke Centre at Cambridge implemented fibre-optic strain monitoring on two of the newly constructed bridges. The project led to the creation of a real-time digital twin of one of the bridges, offering valuable insights into load-bearing capacity. This digital twin technology is expected to have a significant impact on the costs of running the UK’s rail network safely and efficiently, benefiting Network Rail engineers, passengers, and freight transport alike by improving safety, reducing maintenance costs, and providing real-time monitoring of infrastructure conditions.

Centre for Digital Built Britain, JV between Atkins, Laing O’Rourke, Volker Rail and Network Rail

UK

This document indicates how information management aligned with ISO 19650 will be carried out on the Aeropuerto del Café project. 

Given the importance of having objective data regarding the progress of BIM in public projects, Planbim published in 2022 the first report of the BIM Observatory of public tenders. This study includes 1,990 tenders carried out between 2013 and 2020 by different public institutions, and its results show that 70% of the investment corresponds to projects that required BIM. 

Various examples of BIM uses on projects 

Implementation of BIM has proven to deliver major performance improvements in efficiency, design quality, constructability, waste reduction, environmental performance, and capital & operational cost management of built environment projects. Yet BIM implementation in low BIM maturity markets, such as the UAE, is limited to technology applications which fail to deliver the full potential of BIM benefits to client originations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate BIM implementation from a clientÂ’s perspective and to present a case study that exhibits a level 2 BIM implementation process in a traditional procurement environment. The study has used a case study approach combined with a literature review. A critical appraisal of relevant literature is presented to highlight key issues hindering BIM implementation for client organizations, especially in developing BIM markets, such as the UAE. The research is collected using an action research approach within a case study, including project document audit, participation in project collaboration meetings and extensive communication with the project stakeholders. The case study is presented in a practice-oriented research format describing the project details, procurement approach, BIM development & management process and benefits achieved for the project client. The paper presents a structured approach to strategically introduce BIM within a low BIM maturity market, creating partnering relationships, empower the supply chain partners and achieve significant BIM benefits with minimum disruption to existing work practices. The paper highlights that although BIM requires a step-change in the work practices of the construction industry, yet it is possible to successfully implement BIM with traditional procurement settings, which may be a critical feature in a certain market or a client requirement. The paper concludes that there is a need for case study based, practice-oriented research work within the domain of BIM implementation. Construction clients in low maturity BIM markets are concerned about the perceived benefits of BIM and its practical implementation within existing business practices, which is addressed in this paper. Overall, the findings of this study are useful for construction industry clients and academia in redefining the existing work practices to incorporate BIM-enabled processes and applications. This case study document was written by Muhammad Tariq Shafiq, Assistant Professor at United Arab Emirates University, Department of Architectural Engineering. Muhammad Tariq Shafiq is an Architectural Engineer, and his postgraduate qualifications include an MSc in Project Management in Construction from the University of Salford, UK, a PhD from the School of Built Environment, Northumbria University. He is a member of the Pakistan Engineering Council, a Fellow of Building Research Institute UK, and a certified BIM Manager from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The BIM Acceleration Committee (BAC) is the driving force behind BIMinNZ. They are a nationwide alliance of industry and government, established in Feb 2014 to coordinate efforts to increase the use of BIM in New Zealand. The BAC say that there is no better way to understand the benefits of BIM then to see how it has impacted real projects in the country. This site includes a series of case studies demonstrating the costs, benefits and risk management benefits of using BIM. There are 13 case studies currently outlined on the website covering a wide range of projects, including a wastewater treatment plant, a gym, residential flats, bespoke university buildings, etc.