Building information modeling (BIM) is a digital-first method of integrating a construction project's end-to-end design process. From the planning stages of a project until its completion, it produces and maintains information on a developed asset and even helps with operations and maintenance.

Using tools and technology makes it possible for the information to flow to all of the project team's important stakeholders.

BIM is being implemented across several AEC sector verticals due to its advantages, and its adoption is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, which will increase the need and demand for competent BIM workers. Urban Planning is one industry that has benefited greatly from BIM modeling techniques.

Urban Planning

The design and administration of the social, economic, and physical development of urban areas is the focus of the interdisciplinary discipline of urban planning.

It entails examining how cities and towns are planned, constructed, and run, as well as how these actions impact the residents and workers that call them home.

Creating sustainable and livable communities, fostering economic growth and social fairness, enhancing transportation and mobility, preserving cultural heritage, and safeguarding the environment are some of the objectives of urban planning.

It is the responsibility of urban planners to develop plans and policies that accomplish these objectives and guide the development of urban regions in collaboration with architects, and citizens.

BIM in urban planning: scope and application

We cannot ignore the reality that there will be a high need for housing at some point in the future because of how quickly the world's urban population is growing and how hardly resources are being used to support it.

Cities alone are responsible for more than 70% of global emissions, and the building and construction sector is responsible for 40% of the carbon footprints on the planet.

The natural resources of cities are under tremendous strain as a result of rapid urbanization to keep up with the rising demand for housing, infrastructure, water, electricity, education, and other necessities.

The main problem for urban planners is how to create master plans that meet the demands of the community while also guaranteeing that they contribute to the near-term achievement of the zero-carbon commitment.

The benefits of implementing BIM

BIM workflows have many benefits for urban planners as well, and those gaps can only be filled by adopting BIM workflows. Let's review a few key benefits BIM workflows offer urban planners:-

Better flow of information

A primary function of BIM is to facilitate information gathering and sharing throughout the construction process. In addition to smart cities, metros, and other urban development initiatives, there are often several design teams and agencies involved.

BIM closes the communication gap that hinders effective team and agency cooperation and promotes a culture of data-driven decision-making.

Flawless actions

Data is the foundation of every BIM project, and safely delivering the data is what the BIM curriculum is responsible for. Using site analysis and data visualization in urban planning, coupled with seamless data sharing, is a powerful method for detecting errors in a plan at an early stage.

This allows for proactive decision-making to ensure all stakeholders are aware of potential risks and rewards. In the end, this saves time, money, and resources, while providing better quality and accuracy.

Accuracy in detecting errors

Early mistake identification entails making plan corrections before beginning the construction process itself. By significantly reducing the margin of error and resource loss, urban planners can improve the accuracy of the design process.

This means urban projects can be completed faster and more cost-effectively. Moreover, it can lead to more effective and sustainable urban planning initiatives.

Better collaboration

Early issue discovery, improved accuracy, accelerated project delivery, and less public annoyance are all benefits of improved teamwork.

These are the advantages of adopting BIM in urban planning operationally. Urban planners and the community at large may profit from a sustainable, energy-efficient built environment, which is a bigger, more important advantage.

Through BIM's inherent transparency, data collection and dissemination, and the ability to use advanced analytics to predict a building's operational performance before it is even built, architects and urban designers can incorporate energy efficiency features into the built structure from the very beginning of the project.

In what way BIM could contribute to the Urban Planning project?

Here are some of the BIM-integrated methods that could be used in Urban planning:-

BIM-based site analysis

Planning begins with a site study, known as the pre-design phase, which entails studying the site's physical, legal, demographic, historical, and infrastructure aspects.

Planning professionals may more easily work with all stakeholders and see the entire site thanks to the collection of all these data points in the BIM 3-D model, which enables early mistake identification and plan optimization.

However, owing to the fast-changing climate and its ensuing consequences on our planet, we are at a pivotal point in human history where the very survival of our species is in jeopardy. Today's construction supplies, infrastructure, utilities, etc., could be obsolete in a few years.

Planning professionals must thus integrate site analysis with climate change scenarios, which can only be done by utilizing tools like BIM and geographic information systems.

Integrating GIS

A computer system called a Geographical Information System (GIS) produces, saves, analyzes, and maps geographic data. For the finest visual mapping of any area of the planet, it collects spatial and attribute data and blends the two.

AEC experts have pushed for the use of BIM in construction more and more in recent years, from the design stage through construction and maintenance.

Also, the objective of establishing net neutrality gives it more momentum. Consequently, the use of BIM in urban design and planning has been increasing momentum.

Wrapping it up

Urban planning has used BIM more and more in recent years, and this trend is only anticipated to continue.

BIM adoption leaders like the US and UK have made significant efforts to speed up the process by mandating the use of BIM for all significant building and renovation projects, developing BIM standards and guidelines, and creating task teams to ensure successful BIM implementation.