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Excavators, robots and BIM: turning model data into machine tasks

3D machine control brings digital terrain models into the cab, layout robots transfer plans onto floor slabs, and the first construction machines already perform clearly defined tasks without a driver. BIM and machinery are becoming more closely connected, but the data flow is not yet seamless: a complex building model first has to become a task that a machine can understand and execute unambiguously.

BIM in vacant buildings: is it worth it?

Empty office floors and unused commercial properties often hold a problem for anyone planning a new use: too little reliable information about the building itself. Old drawings are out of date, alterations are only partly documented, and pipes run in unexpected places. Digital building surveys and BIM can reduce that uncertainty. The key is knowing which data the proposed use actually requires.

Assessing heavy rainfall during design: how BIM integrates flood retention checks

A path widens, a swale shrinks and suddenly there is no longer enough space for rainwater. How can designers spot this while there is still time to change the design? Using a real project, Nic Züchner shows how BIM links site areas, heavy rainfall data and flood retention calculations. His model reveals the effects of design changes while also highlighting the limits of today's digital tools. By the B4T editorial team

29.09.2026

"If your data is held hostage by a single vendor, you don’t have collaboration"

How can construction data remain reliably usable across tools, teams, and time? According to Antonio Cianciulli of ACCA Software, the answer lies in openBIM. The future of the industry depends less on which software prevails, and more on who owns the data - and whether we can trust it.

When the digital twin becomes a target

BIM, Common Data Environments, IoT and connected building systems make construction projects more transparent and efficient. Every new connection also expands the digital attack surface. Using BIM and digital twins throughout a building's life cycle therefore means planning their protection from the outset. Cybersecurity is not a feature to add later: it is a prerequisite for reliable digital construction processes.

A digital extended family instead of a digital twin

The digital twin suggests a single, perfect representation of a building. In practice, however, data resides in BIM, CAFM, ERP and many other systems. Lars Oberwinter of Plandata therefore prefers to speak of a 'digital extended family'. Digital Information Management, or DIM, is intended to ensure its members can work together.

BIM navigation: when a mouse and keyboard are no longer enough

As digital building models become more detailed, navigating them becomes more demanding. This is especially true of large infrastructure and building projects. Specialist input devices aim to make working in 3D models more intuitive.

28.09.2026

From scattered data to a carbon assessment: how AI speeds up building analysis

Carbon assessments need reliable building data. For existing properties, that information is often scattered across drawings, area calculations, energy certificates and other documents. Hitzler Ingenieure and elevait tested how far AI could automate the process on a residential project in Munich. The AI result differed from the manual calculation by eleven percent, but took only a fraction of the time. Expert review remained essential.

The smarter the building, the larger the attack surface

CAFM, building management systems, BIM, IoT sensors, digital twins and AI: an increasing number of systems are coming together to form digital ecosystems in facility management. This makes buildings more transparent and processes more efficient, but also opens up new entry points for cyberattacks. At TÜV SÜD, cybersecurity therefore begins well before day-to-day operation. It must be considered when selecting, procuring and connecting systems.

Planning down to the last rivet: how BIM and GIS are bringing the Siemensbahn back on track

No trains have run on Berlin's Siemensbahn since 1980. Now the nearly 100-year-old line is to reopen, complete with listed stations, bridges and an 800-metre elevated viaduct. A digital model of the existing infrastructure, containing more than 300,000 components, provides the foundation. Combined with GIS, it supports planning far beyond the individual structure.

From BIM to building operation: where digital facility management stands today

Cloud platforms, BIM, digital twins and AI are changing facility management, but digital maturity varies widely. Some companies already connect and automate processes across systems, while others still rely on Office files and standalone applications. The gap is particularly clear when a building moves from construction into operation: this is where years of project data must prove their practical value.

Concrete from concrete: making circular construction work

Construction consumes enormous quantities of mineral raw materials. Yet only some recovered materials return to applications of equivalent quality. For Michael Scharpf of Holcim Germany, a genuine circular economy therefore needs more than recycling technology: logistics, standards, data and economic incentives are equally crucial.