Skip to main content

Germany to trial BIM approach in infrastructure

Germany’s Transport Ministry is to test Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems in two key infrastructure projects. The two pilot projects will be for the road and rail sectors. The technology provides a digital 3D model of the construction project which will allow for the planning, construction and usage of the project to be presented. The BIM system also incorporates deadline and cost planning aspects of construction projects. The German Transport Ministry aims to use the technology to uncover any co
October 22, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Germany’s Transport Ministry is to test Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems in two key infrastructure projects. The two pilot projects will be for the road and rail sectors. The technology provides a digital 3D model of the construction project which will allow for the planning, construction and usage of the project to be presented. The BIM system also incorporates deadline and cost planning aspects of construction projects. The German Transport Ministry aims to use the technology to uncover any conflicts in the planning and construction of large projects, synchronise the time plans of various partner firms and improve control over project costs. This new trial is moving forward in a bid to regain ground in managing large infrastructure projects in Germany. The country has in the past been regarded as highly efficient when managing its infrastructure programme. However in recent times key German infrastructure projects such as the construction of the new Berlin airport terminal and the Stuttgart railway station have slowed to a crawl, with costs spiralling far beyond original expectations. Both projects are now far behind schedule and have proved highly embarrassing politically. Using BIM technology the Transport Ministry hopes to learn from expertise gained particularly in the UK with regard to managing complex infrastructure projects on time and within budget.

Related Content

  • Nepal plans road infrastructure expansion
    March 12, 2014
    Major road expansion is planned for Nepal, but will face huge challenges due to the country’s geography - Mike Woof reports, with local information from World Highways' Nepal correspondent, Ram Krishna Wagle The tiny, landlocked nation of Nepal lies sandwiched between two of the world’s largest countries, China and India and maintains good relations with both. Politically Nepal has strong links with China, while culturally its ties are close with India and these relationships work both ways. Despite bein
  • Roads a priority in Oman’s $14.8bn infrastructure spend
    May 29, 2013
    An upcoming summit will look at opportunities offered by Oman’s infrastructure plans. Oman is planning to spend some US$14.8 billion on infrastructure in the coming years. The figure, almost half of the country’s 8th Five-Year Development Plan for 2011-2015, has been earmarked for overhauling roads, ports and airports with the objective to link the three modes of transport to improve interconnectivity. Oman’s huge infrastructure will include numerous road projects, bridge structures, tunnel constructions an
  • Europe’s COVID escape route
    April 2, 2021
    The European Union’s COVID recovery budget and its NextGenerationEU programme are major opportunities for national, regional and local road authorities, says Jose Diez*.
  • Data collection key to software developments
    February 13, 2012
    The collection and handling of data are key technology drivers in the software sector. New methods of data collection and manipulation are driving significant developments in software at present. The latest technology allows designers and engineers to collect, store and manipulate ever larger amounts of data. Growing use of mobile field equipment for both data collection and field management is driving interactive systems. And in an interview this month Autodesk senior vice-president for the construction an