Importance of BIM in Underground Construction

A BIM for underground applications that includes details on both above and below-ground facilities would aid in better preparation and risk analysis.

FREMONT, CA: There is a scarcity of data and knowledge on subsurface conditions, such as current buried structures, such as pipes, groundwater, and geology. This lack of knowledge may have a significant effect on potential urban underground space planning and development activities to preserve, restore, update, and add new buried infrastructure. Furthermore, the subsurface ecosystem is typically unstable, and submerged infrastructure routes and conditions are typically not apparent. These facts can be due to a lack of subsurface space preparation and control—a valuable tool for demonstrating information on buried infrastructure and ground conditions in conjunction with above-ground information. A Building Information Model (BIM) for underground applications has been suggested to achieve these goals.

Many new buildings come with an as-built model that includes structural and design details. Most BIMs, on the other hand, lack knowledge on the subsurface ground conditions or buried infrastructure in the building's vicinity. As a result, a BIM for underground applications that includes details on both above and below-ground facilities would aid in better preparation and risk analysis.