This document discusses bridging the gap between geographic information systems (GIS) and building information modeling (BIM) to build a sustainable railway network using consistent digital information. It proposes collecting data once at the source and sharing it throughout the asset lifecycle. Current GIS and BIM standards like InfraGML, IFC, and LandXML are examined for integrating railway design data with 3D reality models from lidar scans. The document demonstrates a proof of concept for extracting rail information from point clouds, reading 3D LandXML designs, and comparing plans to reality. It concludes that BIM-GIS integration is relevant for infrastructure and that software like FME can help fill interoperability gaps.

1. Bridging the gap: GIS and BIM
Robby Cattoor, Infrabel
Joost Neujens, GIM

3. Build a sustainable, safe and
reliable railway network based
on the same digital
information.

5. BUILDING INFORMATION MODEL
Existing Conditions Data
Engineering Data
As Built Data
Maintenance Data
…
…
Monitoring Data
PIM(CAPEX)AIM(OPEX)
Information
Graphical
Non-
Graphical
Documents

6. Collect
Generate
Analyse
Communicate
Produce
BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING

7. BIM for
Infrastructure
Complete
Up-to-
date
LinkedOpen
Accurate
Collect data only once at the source,
multiple use throughout the lifecycle
BUILDING INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

8. Management
&
Organisation
Processes
Information
Technology
People &
Culture
BIM
Adoption

9. FLUENT
● To anyone who needs it
● Desired structure/format
● Flexible
WE WANT OUR DATA
INTEGRATED
● Linked across disciplines
● Troughout entire lifecycle
● Less duplicates/loss

10. GIS
• Small scale
• Geospatial CRS
• Surfacic (2D)
• Topological network
• Surveying as source
• Standards: GML (OGC)
BIM
• High schale
• Engineering CRS
• Volumetric (3D)
• Element composition
• Standards: RailML,
IFC, LandXML
(BuildingSMART)

11. FROM GIS TO BIMODEL

12. GIS
$$$
EAM

13. InfraGML
IFC
DATA
STANDARDS

14. IFC
● BuildingSMART
● Support for vertical infrastructure
● Latest: IFC4 + 2 extensions
● STEP or xml format
● Use with FME already well
established and documented
● No alignments

15. IFC Alignment
● Terrain features
● Train, road, bridge, etc.
● IFC Alignment standard published
2015
● IFC5 supported in future versions
of FME?

16. ENRICH LandXML WITH GIS

17. LiDAR
Constant
monitoring of
railway network.
LandXML
Design data of new
rail infrastructure.
Compare
Analyze 3D data
Map & Notify
Provide asset
management with
relevant information
BIM & GIS INTEGRATION
A realistic proof of concept

18. Extract Rail Information From LiDAR
PointCloudFilter
PointCloudExpressionEvaluator
PointCloudSimplifier
PointCouldCoercer

19. READ 3D LandXML
2D
FME
3D
FME
• Read 2D PVI points
• ArcPropertySetter for arcs
• Create profile curve
• Combine profile and plan to create
3D line

20. Compare Plan - Reality
LiDAR
LandXML

21. Compare Plan - Reality
LiDAR
LandXML

22. BIM-GIS integration proves relevant
for infrastructure
Seize opportunities with current data
and standards
Vital role for FME to fill the
‘interoperability gaps’
TO CONCLUDE

23. THANK YOU!
Robby Cattoor
Robby.cattoor@infrabel.be
Joost Neujens
Joost.neujens@gim.be