An OpenBIM Framework for Information Management and Interoperability in Infrastructure Projects : master thesis

Ribeiro Levi, Paula Maria (author), Cerovšek, Tomo (mentor), Drumond de Abreu Negrão, Raísa (comentor)

The increasing digitalization of the AECO industry has reinforced the adoption of BIM as a key approach for improving collaboration and information management across the project lifecycle. However, in practice, infrastructure projects still rely on fragmented workflows and poorly structured information environments. These challenges are reflected in the lack of clearly defined BIM governance processes, inconsistent IFC interoperability, absence of automated model validation, disconnection between BIM models and external material databases, limited integration of sustainability indicators, and insufficient structuring of security-related information. This research analyses current BIM workflows and information management practices within an infrastructure project developed by a real-world organization, focusing on the architectural team and its coordination with internal and external disciplines. Through a case study–based approach, the research examines how information is structured, exchanged, and validated, identifying key limitations in governance, interoperability, data consistency, and model usability. Based on these findings, the research develops and validates an OpenBIM-based information management framework that integrates structured data, standardized IFC mapping, automated model validation, and external material and sustainability data, while incorporating data protection. Aligned with ISO 19650, it is applied to a case study project to assess its impact on governance, interoperability, data consistency, and coordination. The results show improved model quality, collaboration, and decision-making, offering a practical and transferable approach for infrastructure projects.

• Language: English
• Keywords: master thesis, civil engineering, BIM governance, data integration, model validation, sustainability, infrastructure BIM
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: [P. M. Ribeiro Levi ]
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 1 spletni vir (1 datoteka PDF (X, 92 str., [36] str. pril.))
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-188718
• UDC: 004.42:69(043.2)
• COBISS.SI-ID: 292956675
• Publication date in RUL: 26.09.2026

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: OpenBIM okvir za upravljanje informacij in interoperabilnost pri infrastrukturnih projektih

Abstract

Naraščajoča digitalizacija panoge AECO je okrepila uporabo BIM kot ključnega pristopa za izboljšanje sodelovanja in upravljanja informacij skozi celoten življenjski cikel projekta. Vendar infrastrukturni projekti v praksi še vedno temeljijo na razdrobljenih delovnih procesih in slabo strukturiranih informacijskih okoljih. Ti izzivi se kažejo v pomanjkanju jasno opredeljenih procesov upravljanja BIM, nedosledni interoperabilnosti IFC, odsotnosti avtomatizirane validacije modelov, nepovezanosti med modeli BIM in zunanjimi podatkovnimi zbirkami materialov, omejenem vključevanju kazalnikov trajnostnosti ter nezadostnem strukturiranju informacij, povezanih z informacijsko varnostjo. Raziskava analizira obstoječe delovne procese BIM in prakse upravljanja informacij v okviru infrastrukturnega projekta, ki ga izvaja organizacija iz prakse, s poudarkom na arhitekturni skupini in njenem usklajevanju z notranjimi in zunanjimi strokovnimi področji. Z uporabo pristopa študije primera raziskava proučuje, kako so informacije strukturirane, izmenjevane in validirane, ter opredeljuje ključne omejitve na področjih upravljanja, interoperabilnosti, konsistentnosti podatkov in uporabnosti modelov. Na podlagi ugotovitev raziskava razvije in validira okvir za upravljanje informacij, temelječ na OpenBIM, ki povezuje strukturirane podatke, standardizirano preslikavo IFC, avtomatizirano validacijo modelov ter zunanje podatke o materialih in trajnostnosti, pri čemer vključuje tudi varstvo podatkov. Okvir je usklajen s standardom ISO 19650 in uporabljen na projektu študije primera za oceno njegovega vpliva na upravljanje, interoperabilnost, konsistentnost podatkov in koordinacijo. Rezultati kažejo izboljšano kakovost modelov, sodelovanje in odločanje ter ponujajo praktičen in prenosljiv pristop za infrastrukturne projekte.

• Keywords: magistrska dela, gradbeništvo, OpenBIM, ISO 19650, upravljanje BIM, integracija podatkov, IFC, validacija modelov, trajnostnost, BIM za infrastrukturo