BIM and GIS in Government Procurement Leveraging Technology for Greater Efficiency

Environmental, social and economic impact assessments; optimisation of the work progress process; management and maintenance of the works. Here’s how to do it thanks to BIM and GIS integration in public procurement

The use of digital technologies, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS), is becoming increasingly common in public procurement. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at how these technologies can be used to improve the efficiency of public procurement processes, what are the benefits and why it is convenient to have a GIS Digital Twin of the project.

What is BIM?

BIM is an information management process that allows you to create a 3D digital model of a building or infrastructure that contains detailed information about everything from its structure to electrical and hydraulic installations.

How BIM can be used in public procurement

BIM can be used in all public procurement processes, from design to construction and building management, offering numerous advantages:

Improve design quality: BIM allows designers to view the entire building in detail, allowing them to identify any problems or errors already in the design phase. This saves time and money during construction.
Optimize construction planning: BIM allows designers to plan the construction of the building more efficiently, identifying any problems in logistics or planning. This reduces construction time and improves safety in the workplace.
Improve collaboration between the professionals involved: BIM allows the various professionals involved in the project to work on a shared platform, allowing greater collaboration and coordination, reducing the risks of errors and improving the quality of the project.
Optimize building management: BIM enables more efficient management of the building, allowing owners to monitor the status of construction and manage maintenance more efficiently.

What is GIS?

The Geographic Information System (GIS) allows you to analyze, manage and display data related to specific geographical locations, using maps and databases.

How GIS can be used in public procurement

GIS allows you to visualize and analyze geographic data more effectively. This is particularly important in public procurement, where many infrastructures extend over very large geographical areas. GIS can be used in public procurement for:

Territory analysis: GIS allows you to analyze territorial and geographical data in which the building will be built. This allows designers to understand the characteristics of the territory and to identify problems or risks associated with the construction in a much better and informed workflow.
Identification of construction sites: GIS allows you to identify the most suitable construction sites based on the characteristics of the territory and the needs of the project. This reduces design and construction time.
Environmental risk management: GIS allows you to monitor the environmental impact of the building and manage the environmental risks associated with the construction. This allows to minimize negative impacts on the environment and ensure the sustainability of the building.

Advantages of using BIM and GIS in public procurement

The use of BIM and GIS in public procurement offers numerous advantages, including:

Cost reduction

BIM and GIS enable more efficient project management, reducing the costs associated with designing, building and managing the building.

Improvement of the project quality

BIM and GIS, allowing greater collaboration and coordination between the professionals involved in the project, improve the quality of the project and contribute to reducing the risk of errors.

Construction phasing and timing

The 2 technologies (BIM and GIS) allow more efficient planning and management of construction, reducing construction times and improving safety in the workplace.

Greater sustainability

BIM and GIS make it possible to reduce the environmental impact of the building and guarantee the sustainability of the project.

What are the challenges in implementing BIM and GIS in public procurement?

Implementing BIM and GIS in public procurement can be a challenge due to the amount and complexity of data involved and the need to collaborate with many stakeholders. In addition, it can be expensive and require specific training for users.

A challenge that can be easily overcome thanks to applications, collaborative platforms and training courses that are easy to learn and to use:

specific applications that by means of an intelligent integration of BIM and GIS allow the digitization and geospatial management of buildings and infrastructures without limits on the complexity, number and continuous updating of the data;
BIM common data environment fully compliant with UNI EN ISO 19650 and IFC certificates from buildingSMART international;
dedicated online BIM courses and certifications.

How can BIM and GIS be used in public procurement?

BIM and GIS can be used in various ways in public procurement, including:

Planning: BIM and GIS can be used for spatial planning and spatial analysis, for example to identify the most suitable sites for infrastructure construction.
Design: BIM can be used for building design, allowing architects and engineers to create three-dimensional virtual models and analyze them to identify problems and find solutions before the physical construction of the building.
Construction: BIM can be used to coordinate construction activities and monitor the progress of work.

Conclusions

In summary, the use of BIM and GIS in public procurement makes it possible to improve the efficiency of public procurement processes, reducing costs, improving the quality of the project, reducing construction times and guaranteeing the sustainability of the building.

The adoption of these technologies, which allows the GIS Digital Twin of projects integrating GIS data with openBIM IFC models, represents an opportunity for public administrations to improve the quality of services offered to citizens and to promote the sustainable development of the territory.