BrIM: Why Bridge Information Modeling?

    Why do people talk about Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM)? We are in an era of constant changes and innovations. Nevertheless, the workflow and project contract model in the bridge industry have not changed a lot. While engineers and researcher are presenting innovative answers to challenging design issues, the issues from miscommunications among disciplines and cost estimation for the project continue to arise. This made hard to create synergy among discipline involved in the same project. The industry needs a change in the overall system to resolve this continuing issue.

Paper → 2D CAD → 3D BrIM

   As the industry moved on from paper based drafting to 2D digital CAD drafting, New concept might seem distant, but the change will be inevitable. We can learn from the vertical structure industry, which went through similar challenges. The building industry saw a solution to this problem in BIM (Building Information Modeling) and started to adopt the concept from early 2000. The investment has paid out as studies have shown increased in quality and completion time by eliminating the miscommunication and avoiding inefficient workflow. Furthermore, the ROI is increasing as the market matures and BIM process settled into the industry.

What are the benefits of BrIM?

There are three main benefits that 3D BrIM can provide to industry.

1. History

    3D BrIM model can contain the time aspect of the project. Whether you are project manager or structural engineer. You can view the progress of the construction stage simply by selecting the stage of the history. This is huge benefit not only visualizing the project, but also managing the project's construction and financial side. For Post-Construction, Operations can effectively manage the project by gathering data and archiving it to understand the history of the structure.

2. Collaboration

   Currently, Different disciplines use different tools to fulfill their needs and communicate by producing 2D CAD deliverable repetitively. However, 3D BrIM model will unite this differences into one model, which will make the collaboration more effective and simultaneous. This will reduce time and error in communication, which is crucial to success.

3. Expand

   It is undeniable that we are in era of dynamic changes through new technologies and innovation. Bridge industry is no exception and will start to benefit from Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, 5G Wireless, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality. However, there is no platform to enable this technology into bridge industry. The BrIM model will set up the base platform so that industry can expand and encompass

What are the challenges?

   Although the new concept is exciting, There is a long way ahead of us. Bridge industry does not fully understand the benefit of the BrIM yet and slow to change. The professionals involved in bridge projects have been demanding improvement in the current system. However, the tendency to maintain the status quo in the project delivery and limitation on the tools have hindered the industry from moving forward. Recently, the trend is changing rapidly. There is dramatic growth in interest and adoption of a new process.

    Our mission is to educate and enlighten people who wants to learn and adopt the BrIM process with an objective view, and transparent fact. Through this website, you will benefit from learning the purpose, strength, and weakness of the BrIM process at this moment. It will help you establish a clear goal for yourself and take action accordingly. BrIM process encompasses all disciplines involved in the bridge project through a single 3D Information Model. It is equivalent to the change we experienced from paper-based drafting to a 2D digital CAD system. Although there are a lot of obstacles ahead, the direction the future is heading is very clear, and we should prepare for it..