Large bridges are the most complex and expensive of any transportation asset. Ultimately, every process—from planning to operation and decommissioning—participates in the creation and use of an information definition of the bridge. Individual bridge practices evolve and even blend as Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM) takes place—providing leeway for sweeping process improvements.
BrIM is a new and innovative approach to bridge engineering and project delivery. It fosters the use of data beyond bridge design and engineering needs to inform downstream processes such as fabrication, construction, operation, maintenance and inspection.
A bridge information model can be an information definition of the bridge asset, co-created by many people using an array of technology to answer broad-ranging needs. BrIM can benefit the entire bridge lifecycle, project selection through rehabilitation, resulting in the development of new best-practices. A 3D model of the bridge can serve as a window into the vast bridge information asset.
The cornerstone of BrIM is data reuse, with an emphasis on purpose-ready information delivery. With more flexible access to information about the bridge, organizations can begin to optimize business processes that cross the bridge lifecycle.
Bridge model data is developed in earnest during planning, design and construction. The close cooperation required of stakeholders during these phases depends not only on data reuse but also smooth interoperability between software/data systems.
The information that is developed during these phases informs downstream processes and is, in fact, essential to bridge lifecycle sustainability.
The bridge information model can be built-to-purpose for a broad set of processes undertaken by the owner, the public, the engineering consultants and contractors, even
financers and operators.
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Collaboration is Key
Collaboration is essential to reaping the benefits of bridge information modeling. This is an area where Bentley provides an edge for engineering organizations.
Bentley ProjectWise is a collaboration system for connecting people and information across distributed enterprises. It works with the bulk of Bentley solutions and those of many of our industry partners.
42 of the top 50 leaders in the ENR500 use ProjectWise to manage, find, and share asset content—engineering and operations data and documentation—to successfully deliver their infrastructure projects.
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Bentley's Commitment to BrIM
Bentley is dedicated to providing tools that accelerate bridge information modeling and enable informed decision-making across the lifecycle. A primary goal is to ensure the interoperability, data access and reuse, and collaboration that are essential to delivery of safe, long-lasting bridges.
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