Consortium including TU Munich wins funding for national BIM Center of Excellence

Plan virtually, build better

"Digital methods in construction can drastically reduce the amount of time and money consumed by construction projects," says Prof. André Borrmann of the Chair of Computational Modeling and Simulation. "In recent years we've been able to resolve a lot of open issues on the technical side," he says, adding that the greatest challenge is now organizational implementation in the highly fragmented construction industry. Any given construction project usually involves a large number of various different companies. At the same time, he points out, many legal regulations have to be followed as well. "There is a great need for standards here," Borrmann explains. "This means the federal government, as the most important construction principal in the construction sector, has to set the tone."

In order to promote digitalization in the construction sector, the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure and the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community have launched a national BIM Center of Excellence. In doing so the German federal government is investing a total of 10 million euros in the digitalization of the construction industry. The Center of Excellence is to function as a central contact point, coordinating and driving the necessary development activities.

The TUM Chair of Computational Modeling and Simulation is part of a consortium of 19 partners that has been awarded funding for the planning and operation of the Center of Excellence. Says Borrmann: "Over the last few years we have gained comprehensive expertise in model-supported planning and execution of construction projects as well as in the development of standards for data exchange. We are pleased to now be able to implement this expertise in the Center of Excellence."