GIM and BIM

Abstract

Geospatial information modelling (GIM) is used for decades to document phenomena of the real world. Visualizing and analysing GIM data are usually accomplished by geographic information system tools. The construction industry, on the other hand, uses usually computer-aided design (CAD) tools to plan buildings. With the introduction of building information modelling (BIM), modelling in CAD was enhanced to the entire life cycle of constructions. BIM and GIM are not independent of each other, e.g. BIM uses geospatial data for planning purposes. However, integrating both is challenging since the modelling methods differ. The paper describes approaches to establish interoperability between models of both domains. A literature review reveals the problems and challenges different researchers tackled to achieve interoperability.

The Need for a Differentiation Between Heterogeneous Information Integration Approaches in the Field of “Bim-Gis Integration”: A Literature Review

“…Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and CityGML on data level would be rather convenient (Hijazi and Donaubauer 2017). Similarly, Herle et al (2020) compare BIM and Geospatial Information Modelling (GIM) and Amirebrahimi et al (2015) distinguish between integration efforts at data-, process-, and application level. Thus, the vagueness regarding the comparison "BIM-GIS" leave scope for interpretation, e.g.…”

“…Four different categorization subjects were identified in the literature concerning "BIM-GIS Integration" at data level. The first categorization subject is related to the heterogeneity of information models and can be further subdivided into two different categorization approaches: First, the accumulation of information model differences (Brüggemann and von Both 2015;Kolbe and Plümer 2004;Liu et al 2017;Herle et al 2020). Here, differences of information models are listed without following a specific approach, e.g.…”

“…different reference systems, geometric representations, granularity. The second categorization approach is based on rather general approaches following related research subjects like ontology integration (Brodeur 2012) or interoperability models (Herle et al 2020). For example, the distinction between syntactic, structural and semantic heterogeneities.…”

“…Furthermore, Hijazi and Donaubauer (2017, p. 44) distinguish between the integration methods conversion of IFC to CityGML, conversion of GIS/CityGML to IFC, Unified Modeling and Linking BIM and UIM. This categorization approach is picked up by Herle et al (2020). The categorization approaches from Amirebrahimi et al (2015) and Hijazi and Donaubauer (2017) served as orientation for the developed categories of integration approaches in this paper.…”

Analyzing Contextual Linking of Heterogeneous Information Models from the Domains BIM and UIM

“…Integrating information models from the domains Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Urban Information Modeling (UIM) aims to bridge information silos caused by the heterogeneous character of these information models [1][2][3][4][5][6]. A significant reason for the heterogeneous character of information models from the domains BIM and UIM is the diversity of their underlying perspectives and purposes [3][4][5]7,8]. While the domain BIM primarily describes real-world objects such as buildings from prescriptive view for design and maintenance purposes, the domain UIM describes real-world objects such as cities from descriptive view for spatial analysis [3][4][5]7,8].…”