What Kind of Projects are Suitable for BIM Implementation?

From high-rise developments to large-scale industrial projects, BIM delivers unmatched precision, streamlined workflows, and data-driven decision-making. But where does it deliver the biggest impact? And how can your business leverage BIM for superior results?

In this expert guide, we break down the top industries and project types where BIM implementation drives the highest ROI-backed by real-world insights and proven strategies.

Discover how BIM can transform your next project!

BIM is widely used during the design phase, where architects, engineers, and designers create digital models of buildings, infrastructure or industrial facilities. This allows for working with 3D models and integrating various systems, such as process, utility, electrical, instrument, plumbing and HVAC systems.

During the construction phase, BIM helps control processes, manage resources, schedules, and visualize and model construction processes. This allows for more accurate timing and cost estimates, as well as early detection of problems before they occur on site.

After construction, BIM is used to support the life cycle of a building/facility, including maintenance, upgrades, and repairs. Models store information about all components of the building/facility, allowing for faster identification and resolution of problems, as well as planning for necessary repairs.

Implementing BIM in renovation and modernization projects allows for better planning of changes, analysing existing conditions, and proposing the most effective options for improving the buildings, infrastructure or industrial facilities.

BIM is also used for planning and designing large infrastructure projects such as bridges, tunnels, roads, airports, etc., where accuracy, coordination between different systems, and effective project management are crucial.

For managing construction projects, companies can use BIM to monitor work progress, plan material delivery, and optimize costs.

BIM is used throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects – from conceptual design to operation and maintenance – significantly improving efficiency and accuracy at each stage.

Let’s now consider BIM applications in specific examples.

Let’s take, for example, the design of a new business centre or residential complex. Using BIM, architects create 3D models of buildings, including all engineering systems (electrical, water supply, ventilation, etc.). This allows for detailed calculations of the structure, detecting potential clashes during the design phase (e.g., incompatibility of pipes with ventilation ducts), and ensuring accurate planning of resources and costs.

In other side, consider the design of a new industrial facility as alone small or gigantic skid, offshore oil/gas rigs, oil or LNG terminal, harbour, refinery or etc. Similarly, a designer creates equipment with piping, supports, structures, foundations, module space frame, pipe ways, electrical and instrument cable ways, common steel or concrete racks. It should be noted that this design should be based on international or local (if needed) industry standards and norms in accordance with project requests. It is also important to us that BIM allows you to use one database for all sections of the project at the same time, leaving no room for errors.

Consider the construction of a bridge or tunnel. Engineers use BIM to model the structure of the bridge or tunnel. The models include all technical specifications, enabling precise predictions of material and structural behaviour and ensuring safety during construction.

Furthermore, BIM helps reduce errors and shorten construction time due to better planning and coordination between teams. An undeniable advantage is that all data is stored in a single repository, and all project participants have real-time access to current information.

Let’s take the same business centre but consider its operation and maintenance. This example shows that even after construction is completed, the BIM model allows for managing the building's entire operation process. Since all data regarding materials, technical equipment, HVAC systems are stored in the database, if a problem occurs (e.g., a pipe or electrical wiring malfunction), maintenance managers can quickly locate the exact problem and know how to fix it using detailed information from the model.

We have a similar situation with the management of any industrial facility. BIM technology helps mitigate the risk of accidents by correlating real data with existing pre-modeled processes and critical situations.

If we take the example of modernizing an old factory or a historical building, laser scanning can be used to create 3D models of the existing state for buildings with no exact blueprints.

This helps assess the condition of structures accurately and carry out the renovation without errors. BIM models allow for planning the reconstruction so that it meets modern standards without compromising the historical value of the object.

Construction of an office building or other plant or facility using the latest energy-efficient technologies using BIM will allow energy efficiency calculations to be made at the design stage, determining the optimal steel structures, frames and foundations, insulation, HVAC systems, cable ducts and plumbing systems or all process and utilities lines with appropriate equipment, respectively.

BIM models can automatically generate energy consumption reports and help optimize electricity costs throughout the life cycle of the building/industrial facility.