Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Germany

2 Minutes Read

December 11, 2023

Following the introduction of the Federal Government's phased plan for digital planning and construction (BIM phased plan) in 2018 and the establishment of the Federal Centre for the Digitalization of Construction (BIM Germany) in 2020, the first phase ended on 31 August 2023, marking the start of the second phase of BIM Germany. How far has BIM actually progressed into the everyday lives of German companies and authorities and what are the challenges for the coming years?

The BIM step-by-step plan for Germany was published by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) in 2016. It describes the gradual introduction of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) method in Germany. The aim of the BIM step-by-step plan is to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the construction industry. BIM offers the possibility of digitally modeling and managing all phases of the construction process.

2. Phase of BIM Germany

With the statement by Federal Digital Minister Dr. Volker Wissing "Germany goes digital", he described and heralded the start of the second phase of BIM Germany as an important milestone in supporting and promoting the digitalization of the construction industry.

As part of the second phase, the BIM portal is to be further expanded and improved. The range of information on the methodology and practical applications of BIM is to be revised and the content better tailored to the respective target groups such as engineers, architects, project planners and administrations. The portal will serve as a central point of contact for information and offers relating to BIM.

The use of digital twins for buildings and infrastructure is also being promoted. Digital twins are virtual models of real objects that can be used for the planning, construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure. Special information services for federal states and local authorities, a targeted approach on LinkedIn and specialist and dialog events are also being planned.

Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz is convinced: "Digital networking brings us advantages over the entire life cycle of buildings. Thanks to digital building plans, important information is not lost and is also available at a later date. BIM supports the planning, construction and subsequent operation or possible conversion of buildings, errors and delays can be avoided, costs reduced and the quality of the buildings improved."

Progress of BIM implementation and challenges

BIM implementation in Germany has made significant progress in recent years. The number of BIM projects in Germany is steadily increasing. The quality of BIM models and processes has also improved.

Since January 1, 2021, the use of BIM has been mandatory when awarding public contracts for infrastructure construction. This applies to all construction projects with a construction volume of 25 million euros or more. Since January 2023, BIM has also been a mandatory requirement for the award of public contracts by the federal government for building construction. This applies to construction projects with a volume of more than 10 million euros.

Despite the progress made, there are still some challenges to BIM implementation in Germany. These include, among others:

The lack of [interoperability](http://Open BIM: Open data exchange for optimal collaboration) between different BIM software solutions
The need for qualified BIM specialists
The construction industry's willingness to change

The introduction of BIM in Germany is an important step towards the digitalization of the construction industry. It is a complex process that requires time and resources.