Digitalization and BIM in Geotechnics—Opportunities and Challenges

The topic of BIM is also gaining enormous importance due to public requirements for current and future tenders for infrastructure projects. So far, the specifications and software programs are mainly based on the subject of structural engineering/infrastructure. But also in the field of geotechnics, it is necessary to keep up with the progress and to transfer the ground structure from 2-D sections into a 3-D ground model. For this purpose, the borehole profiles have to be implemented, and the subsoil layers have to be connected to form a spatial 3-D layer model. A multitude of attributes can be assigned to these solids (geotechnical parameters, etc.). In the article, several software programs available on the market were tested, and the advantages and disadvantages of each were compiled. Finally, the 3-D ground model can be integrated into the overall BIM model via the open data exchange format IFC. The opportunities and challenges of BIM in geotechnics are explained and discussed using project examples from practice.