Why GeoBIM Matters for Our Island’s Growing Infrastructure Sector

The infrastructure industry on the island of Ireland is evolving at an exciting and rapid pace. The population continues to grow, so new telecommunications networks need to be installed; transport links need to be upgraded and expanded; utilities require greater resilience; housing developments are being delivered; and public facilities such as schools and hospitals are being redeveloped to meet future demand. But in the context of all this investment in new and improved infrastructure, how can organisations work together more effectively to deliver high-quality projects, on time and on budget?

Projects undoubtedly need better quality data to support closer collaboration and improved decision making. And that is why GeoBIM matters. Defined most simply as the convergence of geographic information and building information modelling (BIM) data, GeoBIM has the potential to transform the delivery of all kinds of infrastructure projects from roads and utilities to sports stadiums. 

BIM provides a standardised approach to managing and modelling information about new infrastructure projects in 3D, including their sizes, materials, systems and components. Almost all large construction projects today use BIM systems to improve data sharing, collaboration, productivity and decision-making. Indeed, the Irish government has now mandated the use of BIM for all public sector infrastructure projects with a value over €10 million. The Irish BIM mandate may sound daunting, but it presents a positive opportunity to improve the quality, productivity and sustainability of large infrastructure projects, as well as mitigate project risks.

BIM alone, though, does not provide project teams with all the information they need to design and deliver high-quality, efficient projects.  This is because BIM does not show the geographical location of projects – where buildings sit in relation to the natural environment, nearby transport and utility networks and other structures. To gain broader context, organisations need a geographic information system (GIS) solution, and many infrastructure providers use Esri’s ArcGIS technology. GIS tells you where a project sits in its geography, the surrounding environment and the network of other built structures it connects to. 

GIS and BIM together give infrastructure owners a complete picture, from individual asset detail right up to network-wide spatial analysis. As the BIM mandate drives digital adoption across Irish infrastructure projects, the demand for integrating BIM with GIS platforms is growing significantly and has led to the emergence of GeoBIM.

ArcGIS GeoBIM extends the principles of BIM by connecting engineering models and project documentation with real-world geographic data. It was developed through a partnership between Esri and Autodesk, a leading provider of 3D design and engineering software. The integration of Esri’s ArcGIS and Autodesk Forma enables teams to visualise designs in their true location, understand site constraints, track project issues and improve collaboration across disciplines.

By bringing GIS and BIM together in a single environment, organisations can reduce data silos, improve communication and support better decision-making throughout a project's lifecycle. The solution brings a revolutionary change to projects that have one foot in mapping solutions and one foot in CAD drawings.

Some of the key benefits of ArcGIS GeoBIM include:

• Bringing GIS and BIM information together in a single environment
• Providing a single source of truth for project information
• Reducing duplication of data and manual file transfers
• Improving collaboration between GIS, design and construction teams
• Providing real-world context for project decisions
• Supporting better-informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

ArcGIS GeoBIM works by bridging the gap between GIS and BIM and making it possible to view both design models and geospatial information at the same time, on the same screen. In one single window of the ArcGIS GeoBIM solution, users can see their designs within its surrounding geospatial context and layer further information on top to understand more. 

A key feature of the solution is cloud-to-cloud integration. Within ArcGIS GeoBIM, users can access the same documents, drawings, Revit models and IFC files that live in Autodesk. The connection between ArcGIS and Forma allows for the integration of data across the two platforms. In ArcGIS Pro, a cloud-to-cloud connection can be set up so models and drawings can be brought in from Forma. Data does not need to be downloaded from Forma to your device and then uploaded into ArcGIS Pro. Many of us have experienced files becoming duplicated, corrupted or outdated as they are transferred between different systems and project teams.

By integrating ArcGIS and Forma through a cloud-to-cloud workflow, data quality is established upfront and integration costs can be significantly reduced. ArcGIS GeoBIM streamlines access to project information by reducing reliance on file conversions and ensuring teams work from accurate, up-to-date data. Through secure integration of BIM models, reality capture, documentation and issue-tracking systems, ArcGIS GeoBIM provides a unified view of project activities, improving coordination, collaboration and decision-making across teams.

One of the most exciting examples of GeoBIM in action can be seen at Wrexham AFC's Racecourse Ground stadium in Wales. We have seen the club's remarkable rise under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, with growing crowds creating a need to expand one of football's most historic stadiums.

However, this project involved much more than simply adding seats. The project team needed to understand how the new development would interact with surrounding roads, rail links and the local community while respecting the history and character of the area. 

By using ArcGIS GeoBIM, the site’s BIM models and project information from Autodesk could be viewed alongside geographic data, giving designers, engineers and environmental teams a shared view of the project. This improved communication helped identify potential issues at an early stage and ensured decisions were made with real-world context in mind. The redevelopment demonstrates how GIS and BIM can work together to support modern infrastructure projects while preserving the heritage that makes them unique.

Read the full story: Welsh Football Club’s New Stadium Invited GIS and BIM to Play

We are entering an exciting period of infrastructure development. From new transport links and utilities to housing developments and community facilities, projects are becoming larger, more complex and more connected than ever before. ArcGIS GeoBIM provides an opportunity to take full advantage of the information being created across these projects. By bringing together the power of GIS and BIM, organisations can break down silos, improve collaboration and make decisions with real-world context at the forefront.

The redevelopment of Wrexham AFC's Racecourse Ground shows what is possible when these technologies come together. As more organisations begin their GeoBIM journey, we can expect to see smarter projects, better communication and infrastructure that is fit for the future.