1.1. Motivation
BIM means various things depending on the context, such as ‘Building Information Modeling’, ‘Building Information Model’, ‘Building Information Management’ or ‘Better Information Management’. BIM has the ability to transform current Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC) industry and its practices into the different process of collaboration and a new working approach. The BIM domain focuses on information about the design and construction of building sites, and thus has very detailed and semantically rich information about all the physical elements that comprise an individual building as it is designed or built (TUDelft, n.d.). On the other hand, Geospatial Information System (GIS) models reality spatially to solve complex problems around the world by performing spatial analyses. To achieve that, a spatial model is generated within GIS environment that includes geographic layers (such as topography, land cover, geology, soil), built layers (such as land use, buildings, infrastructures, rail tracks), social layers (such as people on the street, railway transport).
In terms of rail projects, GIS can be used to describe existing facilities within the railway infrastructure and its surrounding environment in a larger geographic context whereas BIM can be used to store, manage, and manipulate rail project information. BIM project should not be planned and designed in isolation but should always be considered in the context of its surroundings, including the natural terrain, existing facilities, socio-economic factors, land use, and the utilities (both above and below the ground). These factors can also influence construction and operation activities. (Zhao et al., 2019)
Consequently, the worlds of BIM and GIS are moving towards each other to provide heterogeneous solutions for the plan, design, construction, engineering, operation and maintenance of an infrastructure project.