BrIM: Digitalizing Asset through BRIM

Many bridges in the United States still managed through the conventional method. However, Interest in digitalizing asset management is growing as technology advances. Bridge information modeling provides a digital model of a physical structure that can be used as a foundation for digital management. It becomes the centerpiece to integrate maintenance, analysis, and health monitoring throughout the projects' lifecycle. More project owners prefer to create digital twins for a new or existing structure. Then, what are the advantages of managing structure using BrIM?

First, the Digital model enables the geospatial tag of related documents or information to bridge structure components. As you can see from the above image, relevant information such as inspection photos and documents can be linked to each element and position. It provides better visualization when collaborating with others on the topic. Also, digitally stored information give the history of the component. The modification made to the structure can be sorted out in a date to track the history.

Second, how people work will be transformed used digital asset management. It is a tool to break the physical barrier. For instance, the Inspector can immediately access the required information from the field. If one needs drawing of a damaged bridge component, one can cut out the section from the digital model in the field.

Third, Digitally transformed data can cumulate and utilized for the prediction of the required service. Digitalization means the behavior of the structure can be continuously simulated. It enables a more accurate estimation of the maintenance required. It will change the paradigm from reaction-based maintenance to prediction based maintenance. It will reduce the risk of the structure failure.