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Applied Sciences
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Building Information Modelling: From Theories to Practices
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Building Information Modelling: From Theories to Practices

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2026) | Viewed by 6184

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alcinia Zita Sampaio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Higher Technical Institute, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: BIM; CAD; construction; structures; education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Augusto Martins Gomes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Higher Technical Institute, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: BIM; materials; construction; structures; education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current digital transformation, required in the construction industry, has been driving greater recognition of the benefits of BIM methodology implementation in the sector. Recent research points to the identification of organizational theoretical concepts (new ifc objects or classification systems) or to BIM programming in the development of specific scripts and extensions with the ability to act over the BIM model that is generated for each building project. The range of practical applicability of BIM has covered a growing range of sectors, stages or tasks (design, cost estimation, construction planning or risk safety), incrementing the adoption of BIM in all construction-related activities. Contributions to this Special Issue should present innovative applications in building or infrastructure cases and in strategic classifications or practical guides.

Dr. Alcinia Zita Sampaio
Dr. Augusto Martins Gomes
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • design
  • planning
  • risks
  • ifc objects
  • organization
  • classification
  • new applications

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

32 pages, 8759 KB  
Article
An Open Standard Methodology for BIM-CMMS Integration: Enhancing Facility Operations Through IFC-Based Data Enrichment
by Giuseppe Piras, Francesco Livio Rossini, Francesco Muzi and Martinfelix Sagayaraj
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(10), 4642; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104642 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 254
Abstract
Despite the operational phase being the most cost-intensive in a building’s lifecycle, Facility Management (FM) resource optimization continues to face challenges due to fragmented and low-structured data. Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers a centralized data environment, but interoperability gaps persist between design-oriented BIM [...] Read more.
Despite the operational phase being the most cost-intensive in a building’s lifecycle, Facility Management (FM) resource optimization continues to face challenges due to fragmented and low-structured data. Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers a centralized data environment, but interoperability gaps persist between design-oriented BIM models and operational Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMSs). This paper presents a scalable, standards-based methodology for BIM-CMMS integration based on the extension of Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs) and the enrichment of FM data. The proposed Python-based application leverages the open-source IfcOpenShell library to inject custom, FM-specific Property Sets (Psets), including asset condition, criticality, and maintenance schedules, directly into IFC entities. The approach transforms standard IFC files into data-rich Asset Information Models (AIMs) without relying on proprietary middleware. The methodology was validated through two residential building case studies. IFC models were successfully checked through the buildingSMART validation service, providing full interoperability across multiple IFC-compatible platforms. Integration with OpenMAINT automatically generates a complete asset database, minimizing manual data entry and reducing inconsistencies. The results confirm the feasibility of a repeatable open-standard workflow. The future development is the definition of a functional/cognitive DT, with the scope of improving the lifecycle BIM model quality and enhancing the efficiency of facility operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Information Modelling: From Theories to Practices)
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17 pages, 3681 KB  
Article
Developing a BIM–GIS-Based Digital Twin for the Operation and Maintenance of an Urban Ring Road: The M-30 Case Study
by Jorge Jerez Cepa and Marcos García Alberti
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 2673; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16062673 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1726
Abstract
The implementation of digital twin (DTw) in infrastructure management is becoming increasingly important. Although digitalization in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) sector is progressing slowly, enabling technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Internet of Things (IoT) [...] Read more.
The implementation of digital twin (DTw) in infrastructure management is becoming increasingly important. Although digitalization in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) sector is progressing slowly, enabling technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Internet of Things (IoT) and data management allow for more informed and efficient management of ageing and highly complex assets. With the aim of improving the operation and maintenance (O&M) of transport infrastructure, the use of an integrated BIM–GIS model is proposed as the basis for a future DTw for an existing highway, the M-30 urban ring road in Madrid. This study develops an as-built digital model based on real GIS data, point clouds and BIM (LOD 300), adapting it to existing management systems using a relational database with unique identifiers. The infrastructure is modelled in a segmented and georeferenced manner, incorporating roads, tunnels, bridges and equipment as independent entities. Access to the model is guaranteed through 3D GIS scenes, interactive panels and BIM viewers geared towards management. In addition, a cost–benefit analysis is carried out using a Return On Investment (ROI) that evaluates the implementation of BIM in the management of this infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Information Modelling: From Theories to Practices)
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17 pages, 5194 KB  
Article
The Development of a BIM-Based Digital Twin Prototype of a Bridge
by Vincenzo Barrile, Emanuela Genovese, Sonia Calluso and Clemente Maesano
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 1353; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031353 - 29 Jan 2026
Viewed by 872
Abstract
In the proper management of construction, the use of BIM software allows for tracking of the entire lifecycle of buildings, enabling informed design and better management of the product lifecycle, easier collaboration among professionals, and a more efficient system. The combination of BIM [...] Read more.
In the proper management of construction, the use of BIM software allows for tracking of the entire lifecycle of buildings, enabling informed design and better management of the product lifecycle, easier collaboration among professionals, and a more efficient system. The combination of BIM tools and today’s information technologies allows the advantages of the BIM methodology to be amplified and expanded. In particular, creating a 3D model with BIM software and linking it to a data stream from sensors allows us to obtain a key component for a Digital Twin of a construction. By integrating BIM methodologies and Digital Twins, this manuscript describes the development of a Digital Twin prototype of a highway bridge, with a 3D model of the structure reproduced using BIM software serving as the core of the Digital Twin. To complete the Digital Twin architecture, an ADXL345 accelerometer sensor, a DTH22 humidity and temperature sensor, an ESP32 microcontroller, the Postgres database, Python (for communication between the backend and the frontend), and the JavaScript library CesiumJS were employed. This methodology produced a Digital Twin prototype capable of collecting vibration and temperature data from the previously mentioned sensors and displaying values through a graphical interface. It can be observed how this technology represents an expansion of the capabilities of BIM software, also highlighting the maintenance potential throughout the product lifecycle. Moreover, the technologies used make the methodology scalable, allowing additional BIMs to be added or the methodology to be applied in different contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Information Modelling: From Theories to Practices)
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36 pages, 6410 KB  
Article
Intelligent Fleet Monitoring System for Productivity Management of Earthwork Equipment
by Soomin Lee, Abubakar Sharafat, Sung-Hoon Yoo and Jongwon Seo
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 1115; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16021115 - 21 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 938
Abstract
Earthwork operations constitute a substantial share of infrastructure project costs and are critical to overall project efficiency. However, the construction industry still relies on conventional approaches and there is a lack of integrated fleet management systems for collaboratively working equipment. While telematics is [...] Read more.
Earthwork operations constitute a substantial share of infrastructure project costs and are critical to overall project efficiency. However, the construction industry still relies on conventional approaches and there is a lack of integrated fleet management systems for collaboratively working equipment. While telematics is widely used in other industries, its applications to monitor the complex interactions between excavators, dump trucks, and dozers in real time remain limited. This study proposes an intelligent fleet monitoring system that utilizes only satellite navigation data (GNSS) to analyze the real-time productivity of multiple earthwork machines without relying on additional sensors, such as IMU or accelerometers, thereby eliminating the need for separate measurement procedures. A lightweight site configuration step is required to define the work area/loading/dumping geofences on an existing site map. This research provides novel developed algorithms that facilitate a real-time productivity assessment for several earthwork equipment and provide planning-level recommendations for equipment deployment combinations. Dedicated motion classification algorithms were developed for excavators, dump trucks, and dozers to distinguish activity states, to compute working and idle times, and to quantify operational efficiency. The system integrates a web-based e-Fleet Management platform and a mobile e-Map application for visualization and equipment optimization. Field validation was conducted on two active earthwork projects to evaluate accuracy and feasibility. The results demonstrate that the developed algorithms achieved classification and productivity estimation errors within 2.5%, while enabling optimized equipment combinations and improved cycle time efficiency. The proposed system offers a practical, sensor-independent approach for enhancing productivity monitoring, real-time decision-making, and cost efficiency in large-scale earthwork operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Information Modelling: From Theories to Practices)
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21 pages, 2768 KB  
Article
I-BIM Applied in Railway Geometric Inspection Activity: Diagnostic and Alert
by Zita Sampaio, Nuno Moreira and José Neves
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5733; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105733 - 20 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1689
Abstract
The Building Information Modeling (BIM) concept has been recently implemented in railway infrastructure, assisting mainly in the project elaboration, and further, the facility management aspect. The present study addresses the inspection activity of the railway geometry, in a BIM context, using a rigorous [...] Read more.
The Building Information Modeling (BIM) concept has been recently implemented in railway infrastructure, assisting mainly in the project elaboration, and further, the facility management aspect. The present study addresses the inspection activity of the railway geometry, in a BIM context, using a rigorous modeling process of the railway track components, and the development of a Dynamo script for the evaluation of the degree of geometric irregularity detected during inspection works. The monitoring phase of the rail tracks involves a planned railway inspection schedule, normally supported by human analyses of data collected in a railway geometric inspection. The created script allows for evaluating the inspection data and categorizes the data by alert levels that are associated with a color code, visualized over the railway components of the BIM model. The Dynamo script uses new BIM parameters considering the maintenance activity, allowing for analyzing inspection data and visualizing the colored alerts. This capacity alerts the maintenance engineer about the urgency of planning a retrofitting action, according to the severity level of the detected geometric anomaly. An illustrative real railway track segment is considered supporting the modeling process, the inspection data collection and the efficiency analyses of the script application. This research intends to contribute to increment knowledge of BIM adoption in railway infrastructures, emphasizing the potential of using Dynamo programming on BIM model database management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Information Modelling: From Theories to Practices)
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