Building Information Modeling in Geotechnical Engineering - Recent developments and experiences

The present paper presents experiences and ideas regarding the implementation of geotechnical engineering within the planning process using building information modeling (BIM). As geotechnics or the description of the soil conditions are a significant basis for the planning process, it is necessary to integrate the 3d soil model(s) into the BIM-coordination model. As the development of BIM up to now mainly focused on structural engineering, this article discusses BIM in context with geotechnical engineering. Different stages of the BIM-soil model during a construction's life cycle from planning to removal and new construction as well as potentials and problems regarding BIM in geotechnical engineering are described. Finally, a short discussion of a practical project with high complexity regarding the soil conditions shows that many different information components could potentially be added in the BIM soil model. Therefore, the present paper's main purpose is to demonstrate that the implementation of the specialist model "soil" into the BIM overall model is necessary and (despite remaining resentments in praxis) possible. The necessity and resulting potentials implementing the 3D soil model into the BIM overall model are clarified for the reader. Furthermore, the aim is to underline peculiarities of 3D soil modelling as the subsoil with its typical uncertainties and variations substantially differs from other technical disciplines with strict definitions of geometry and material. This underlines the special status of the soil model within the overall model.