The market for Building Information Management (BIM) services is currently undergoing a noteworthy phase of maturation and consolidation. As the market volume grows, so does the competition, marked by the emergence of new technological trends such as Digital Twins, augmented and virtual reality, WEB 3.0, and the metaverse. Recent developments, driven by the increase in European projects in these areas, provides an excellent opportunity to explore markets that have remained uncharted until now.
In this context, OPENBIM2VERS emerges as a pioneering project, backed by ACCIÓ of the Government of Catalonia, aiming to explore and validate new proposals and business models that boost the evolution of BIM. Although BIM has become more prevalent in the construction sector, its application is still mostly restricted to the design and construction phases. Furthermore, while the digital model serves as a strong foundation for developing a Digital Twin, it necessitates further functionalities for simulation, monitoring, and decision-making support.
Currently, the tools operate separately; for instance, model viewers, building monitoring and control systems (like SCADA, BMS, BAC, BEMS), maintenance tools (CMMS or GMAO), and simulation tools work independently from each other.
The lack of connection between tools offers a key opportunity for companies to integrate these functionalities into a unified Digital Twin. This system can evolve to provide advanced predictions and to connect with other digital models. Linking these tools would allow for the development of new applications, such as a business metaverse based on a common data environment.
This process involves not only moving from BIM to more advanced virtual representations but also requires significant effort to digitize physical assets for efficient information integration into these new platforms. This digital transformation also fosters the creation of new jobs in digitization and in the development of innovative tools that enhance and simplify these processes.
While exploring these new technological borders, a significant level of uncertainty has emerged due to the rapid advancement of various standards and technologies that have yet to be established. This results in considerable risk for any development and innovation process. Furthermore, this issue is intensified by the absence of a central solution that addresses a key need in the digital construction sector: the gap between the long lifespan of building assets and the short lifespan of digital solutions.
Existing solutions are either incomplete or heavily reliant on external suppliers, leading to concerns about their true viability, especially given the long lifespan of construction assets. As a result, there are currently no effective solutions that offer a resilient, robust, and sustainable approach for the entire lifecycle of a building.
In response to this challenge, COLOMA ARMENGOL is developing an open-format and open-code platform for digital twins called OPEN BDT (OPEN BUILDING DIGITAL TWIN). In its simplest form, the platform must operate as a Common Data Environment that employs open formats and code.
This solution will enable the creation of an ecosystem of applications and features designed to meet the specific needs of each stakeholder. It will promote digital democratization and ensure universal access to digital information. Additionally, it will support the effective implementation of BIM and Digital Twins in construction projects and assets. This initiative strives to establish an accessible and scalable environment while prioritizing sustainability and user needs. It lays the groundwork for a future in which digital solutions in architecture and engineering are as durable as the physical assets they model.
We invite you to be part of this exciting journey. Reach out to us to discover how we can collaborate in promoting this process based on digital democratization.
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