A BIM-based Ground Information Management (GIM) Framework to Manage Ground Risk for Construction Projects

Infrastructure design and construction in Hong Kong typically adopt a project-based process that is highly siloed and labour intensive. However, the successful delivery of construction projects in the digital age demands effective communication of the geological and geotechnical conditions through seamless ground information management and transfer. The requirements for Level 2 Building Information Modelling (BIM) approaches on engineering projects have driven a large-scale digitalization of the construction industry in recent years. However, geotechnical aspects have often remained neglected. To address this, mechanisms are proposed to incorporate ground information in BIM and ensure better ground risk management throughout the project life cycle. This paper reviews the current geotechnical context in terms of existing BIM standards and introduces a BIM-based ground information management (GIM) framework through Common Data Environments (CDE).