"Data is a strategic resource, not a byproduct of the construction phase"

B4T: BIM is often still strongly associated with buildings. What fundamentally distinguishes the use of BIM in roads, railways, bridges, or utility networks from classical building construction?

Peter Rummel: Infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, bridges, or networks often extend over hundreds of kilometers and operate in highly complex, variable environments. In projects of this magnitude, construction ground risks are the primary cause of delays and cost overruns. Therefore, subsurface data, i.e., data about the geographic context and ground conditions, must necessarily be integrated into infrastructure projects. Comprehensive data hygiene is crucial to the project's success. Additionally, roads, railways, and utility networks must be viewed as interconnected systems. It’s not only about individual structures but also about modeling dynamic interactions, operational capacities, and long-term resilience against extreme weather events over decades.

„Only by continuously feeding back context data in real time does the model become a living control instrument.“

B4T: That sounds complex. What additional data and processes are necessary for a model to continuously reflect the real condition and all interactions of infrastructure, thus becoming a digital twin?

Peter Rummel: A static 3D BIM model is initially just a geometric snapshot from the construction phase. It becomes a true digital twin when it is continuously linked to physical reality and dynamically adapts to it. This requires a continuous data environment that integrates real-time operational data from IoT sensors, drone scans, geotechnical ground analysis, and environmental measurements. The 4D component also adds a temporal dimension to the model. Only through this continuous feedback of context data does the model become a living control instrument. Operators can thus develop predictive maintenance strategies, identify weaknesses before failure, and perform reliable simulations for ongoing operations.

B4T: However, decades often lie between planning, construction, and operation. How can it be ensured that digital information remains current and usable over this long period?

Peter Rummel: Securing data over decades requires a consistent move away from proprietary file formats and isolated data silos. We therefore rely on a data-centered cloud architecture and open standards that guarantee platform-independent readability. Key is seamless data governance and digital traceability – the so-called "Golden Thread." This ensures that every decision, change, and ground investigation can be audited from the initial design phase. When construction drawings and historical system data are managed in the cloud, valuable knowledge is not lost in the transition from construction to operation. Thus, information remains usable for maintenance, modifications, and AI-based analysis without signal loss, even after decades.

B4T: In infrastructure projects, data comes from many sources: How can BIM models, GIS data, survey data, point clouds, sensor data, and existing documentation be combined into a common view of a project?

Peter Rummel: The integration of heterogeneous data sources is achieved through open platforms such as the Bentley Infrastructure Cloud and our iTwin technology, which can act as universal translators. Instead of laboriously pressing data into a single format, we bring together model, ground, GIS, and IoT data in a common spatial and temporal framework. By integrating AI-supported schema mappings and geospatial engines like Cesium, a central, highly accurate data source emerges as a "Single Source of Truth." All project participants, from geologists to structural engineers to asset managers, access the same model. This reduces information loss, prevents duplicate data collection, and creates the necessary transparency for reliable decisions throughout the entire lifecycle.

„Openness is not just a software feature, but a fundamental prerequisite for investment security, data protection, and the long-term sovereignty of facility operators.“

B4T: How open must and can such a platform actually be to ensure that operators retain control over their data in the long term and are not dependent on individual software providers?

Peter Rummel: A digital infrastructure ecosystem must be as open as possible because data in the public sector and critical infrastructures should never be trapped in proprietary systems. The data sovereignty always lies solely with the owner of the asset data. Those who operate an infrastructure in the long term require open interfaces (APIs) and vendor-independent standards to flexibly combine software solutions from different providers. Closed ecosystems create dangerous dependencies and hinder innovation. Only when data flows freely and is transparently auditable can companies seamlessly integrate legacy data with new technologies like Agentic AI. Openness is therefore not just a software feature, but a fundamental prerequisite for investment security, data protection, and the long-term sovereignty of facility operators.

B4T: Many companies digitalize individual projects successfully but still do not create a continuous data strategy for their entire infrastructure. How can it be ensured that project data is retained?

Peter Rummel: A fundamental strategic shift is required: companies must move away from isolated project silos to an enterprise-wide, data-centered logic across the entire lifecycle. Data should no longer be viewed as a byproduct of the construction phase, but as a strategic resource. Operators must establish standardized data processes and clear governance rules that start already in the planning stage. Intelligent asset management is successful when project and existing data are continuously linked with traffic, ground, and operational data. By using asset analytics solutions, condition forecasts can be automated, investments can be strategically managed, and the value and reliability of the entire infrastructure portfolio can be proactively optimized.

B4T: When you look five years into the future: How will the way we plan, build, monitor, and operate infrastructure change? What role will BIM, digital twins, and AI play in this?

Peter Rummel: In five years, the way engineers work will have fundamentally changed: They will act as orchestrators of specialized AI agents that automate routine design and inspection tasks. BIM provides the solid, rule-based foundation, while digital twins serve as dynamic control systems for entire cities and networks. AI will evolve from a mere tool to a strategic accelerator that simulates complex design variants, construction risks, and environmental impacts in real time. Infrastructure will not only be planned and built faster, but will also continuously learn during operation. This technological leap is the only way to address the glaring skills shortage and to design our built environment sustainably and climate-resiliently.