Advancing BIM adoption in infrastructure: Addressing standard development, geographic coordinate systems, and common data environment

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has progressively become a staple in the building industry over the past several decades. Despite its widespread adoption in building projects, the implementation of BIM in infrastructure projects has encountered significant challenges. This paper explores three primary obstacles hindering the broader application of BIM in infrastructure ventures: the absence of a standardized level of development or level of detail for existing conditions and infrastructures; the complexities associated with selecting and managing geographic coordinate systems; and the issues arising from coordinating multiple common data environments. Drawing on ethnographic methods-such as observation and open-ended conversations with BIM managers experienced in global infrastructure projects-this study highlights the critical need to address these challenges at the outset of each project. Failure to do so may result in avoidable cost overruns and delays. By examining the root causes of these difficulties, this research offers insights into enhancing BIM implementation processes, specifically within infrastructure contexts. Uniquely, this study emphasizes the challenges and practical considerations that emerge from the distinctive nature of infrastructure, thereby contributing a practice-informed perspective that complements existing research. By identifying and addressing these challenges, the industry can move toward a more efficient, cost-effective, and timely framework for project execution.