Brief
Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) have different focuses and interpret 3D models differently. BIM manages detailed building components, project information, cost, and schedule from an architectural and construction point of view, while GIS manages the geographical information of buildings and their components from geographical viewpoints, which helps to manage the operation and maintenance of assets in the built environment. However, the integration between the two systems has limitations. BIM does not collect real-time data of assets in an existing environment, and the manual updating of BIM/CAD data by a GIS specialist into a GIS database can increase the likelihood of inaccuracies and loss of essential information.
Thesis Statement
The integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) in urban planning and Placemaking has the potential to overcome the limitations of BIM in spatial planning and information which is necessary by the BIM system for safety analysis and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to enhance the decision-making process. By leveraging the capabilities of both systems and integrating them with other technologies such as cloud computing, 3D visualization software, mobile applications, collaboration platforms, and analytics and big data tools, urban planners and other stakeholders can create a more comprehensive and data-driven approach to urban planning and Placemaking, leading to more sustainable and livable communities.
Guests
Guest 01 – Thomas Krijnen
Thomas Krijnen is currently an open source consultant for the built environment and he is also the founder of AECgeeks, a Software development and consultancy company for the AEC industry. In addition to his work with AECgeeks, Thomas Krijnen is also involved in various industry organizations and initiatives, such as buildingSMART International, where he contributes to the development of BIM standards and best practices. His research includes a wide range of topics from Behavioral simulation to BIM for robotic manufacturing, from IFC & point cloud to assessing BIM models with machine learning. And Through AECgeeks, he shares his knowledge and insights on the latest trends and developments in the field of BIM.
Guest 02 – Shinji Yamamura
Shinji Yamamura is the executive officer at the Nikken Sekkei Research Institute in Tokyo. He is a Doctor of Engineering. He specializes in environmentally friendly architecture, outdoor environmental planning and evaluation, low-carbon cities and smart city related policy planning. He is a Professional Engineer, building mechanical and electrical engineer, and small and medium enterprise management consultant.
Questions
- How did your interest in information modeling at an urban scale develop? What made you move away from the conventional AEC workflows?
- In your opinion, what are the benefits of BIM and GIS integration?
- What are the different levels of integration at various stages of design and construction?
- What are the key considerations and challenges in integrating BIM and GIS for effective urban planning and placemaking?
- How does GIS compliment BIM in urban planning and placemaking?
- What is your opinion on the unidirectional and bidirectional approach of BIM-GIS integration?
- Could you mention any examples where this integration was beneficial and also an example where BIM and GIS were poorly integrate and proved to it problematic
- In conclusion, what is your final thought on the potential of BIM and GIS integration in shaping the future of urban planning and placemaking?
Findings
Information Sustainability
GIS has established standardized ways of modeling geospatial data that are widely used and have proven to be sustainable over time. On the other hand, BIM models often use custom and highly detailed representations which can not be stored for long which eventually leads to a loss of valuable information and then BIM models cannot be accessed within a few years.
Mutual Query Language
An integrated model with half the data from GIS and another half from BIM will respond to a query differently on CityGML and Semantic web. Thomas mentioned about his vision of generic and mutual query language that can be used in a hybrid model.
Workflow
Both BIM and GIS should remain independent libraries with their own unique data structures, formats, and software tools for managing and analyzing data. Attempting to convert all thing BIM or GIS is going to cause more problems like data leakages and inaccuracies. Therefore a bidirectional data transfer approach between BIM and GIS is crucial only for the necessary and selected data through the use of standardized data formats such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) for BIM data and Geographic Markup Language (GML) for GIS data.
Privacy
BIM and GIS data often contain sensitive information about buildings, infrastructure, and land use. This information could be misused if it falls into the wrong hands. Therefore, it’s essential to protect this data by implementing robust data privacy policies, including access controls, encryption, and anonymization techniques.
Public Policy
BIM and GIS data can be used to inform public policy decisions, such as urban planning, infrastructure development, and disaster management. However, there are ethical and legal considerations to take into account, such as data ownership, access, and use rights. Governments and policymakers must establish clear guidelines and regulations to ensure the responsible use of BIM and GIS data for public policy purposes.
Conclusion
Our aim was to interview an urban planner, urban designer or a specialist on the city scale with an experience in handling projects with BIM and GIS.
Instead we got the chance to interview a software expert with an experience in managing data through open source for multiple companies, municipalities and contributes in developing BIM standards and best practices. Also, another expert who uses BIM and GIS integration for reduced energy use and sustainability of cities.
