5
The digital as-built starts with a central BIM model. As
changes are made during the course of construction,
they're captured in this model, effectively creating a
living record of the work performed. The digital as-built
can also be made more valuable by incorporating 4D
(scheduling) data, 5D (cost) data, and even 6D granular
project data to make management and maintenance of
the asset easier and more efficient, as well as to inform
future project additions and improvements.
By providing a single source of truth that connects to
design, construction, and operations and maintenance
you create a more automated, integrated living asset
model. Owners can then use the digital as-built to
streamline the process of contextualizing the vast amount
of data available to them. As the efficiencies realized
through incorporating digital as-builts into civil BIM
methodologies continue to be shared, you can expect
project owners to increasingly expect or require their use.
Private infrastructure investment is
raising the bar higher
New entrants to the infrastructure game are also
raising the bar on expectations. From 2014 to 2019,
private equity raised more than $388 billion to fund
infrastructure projects, including $100 billion in 2019
alone, a 24% increase from 2018. These private-sector
investors have a bias toward efficiency and productivity
and expect the use of digital technologies and data to
streamline operational processes.
Even traditional infrastructure project owners
can't dispute that these improvements are sorely
needed. The perception of inefficiency, insufficient
collaboration, and poor cost control casts a shadow
over their ability to secure project funding. The sharp
increase in construction costs further highlights the
urgency. When adjusted for inflation, highway spending
increased from $8 million per mile in the 1960s to $30
million per mile in the 1990s. Furthermore, a lack of
collaboration is a primary driver of cost overruns. In
a 2020 survey of more than 540 contractors, seven
in 10 said poor jobsite coordination is to blame when
projects ran late and over budget.
