Smart Infrastructure: Transforming development with Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Smart infrastructure and liveable urban ecosystems are increasingly powered by Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems, reshaping how cities are planned, constructed, and managed. Globally, BIM has proven transformative in landmark projects. The Shanghai Tower leveraged BIM to coordinate 30+ consultant teams across its 632-meter structure, achieving both engineering marvel and sustainability. Similarly, Norway’s Randselva Bridge, constructed using only BIM, showcases how digital collaboration can streamline complex builds. 

BIM’s role extends to being a cornerstone of smart city governance. The technology’s capacity to reduce construction waste by 20–30% and accelerate timelines by 25–50% positions it as a catalyst for delivering high-impact projects that resonate with ESG-focused investors. By integrating IoT sensors and AI-driven analytics, BIM models evolve to monitor infrastructure performance in real time, providing data-driven insights that enhance operational efficiency. However, large scale adoption challenges persist, particularly around high implementation costs, harmonising of global standards with local regulatory frameworks, gaps in technical readiness and workforce up-skilling, and data management and interoperability.