IEDE joins H2020 Marie-Curie European Training Network on Cloud-based Building Information Modelling

Over the course of the next four years this network will recruit and train 14 Early Stage Researchers in the development of a set of novel and disruptive BIM technologies that will automate the generation and enrichment of digital twins, improve the management, security and resilience of BIM-enabled processes, and boost the industrial uptake of BIM across sectors and disciplines. It aspires to do so through implementation of an ambitious research-based training programme. 

Building Information Modelling (BIM) as a product and process enables stakeholders across the built environment sector to create digital versions of real world assets (such as buildings, bridges and tunnels). The digital versions are commonly called 'digital twins'. When placed on the cloud, the digital twins can serve as a resilient and integrated repository of all asset data throughout their life-cycle. Such a repository is a key enabler in this sector of all upcoming IT waves, such as cloud computing, data analytics, participatory sensing, and smart infrastructure. The potential benefits have attracted interest from a wide array of end-users whose interests span from early design phases to operation and asset management, and from roads and bridges to industrial off-shore facilities. This has led to aggressive market penetration in the last decade. However, the full potential of BIM is currently exploited only in a fairly narrow range of applications. This is mainly due to the lack of trained scientific personnel capable of understanding the value of BIM and creating the link between digital twins and possible applications.

The ambition of CBIM is therefore to educate researchers in the development of a set of novel and disruptive BIM technologies that will automate the generation and enrichment of digital twins, improve the management, security and resilience of BIM-enabled processes, and boost the industrial uptake of BIM across sectors and disciplines by training these researchers to valorise and exploit their work. This new generation of researchers can play a key role in the widespread implementation of BIM products and processes dedicated to digitising our built infrastructure and managing our assets better to yield massive gains in sustainability, productivity and safety.

IEDE Associate Professor Dimitrios Rovas said:

“The topic of digital twins of built environment assets is becoming increasingly important. This project will develop a training and research programme in this new field and establishes a best-with-best collaboration between industry and academia. The project outcomes will strengthen Digital Engineering education at UCL programmes.  The topic of digital twins of built environment assets is becoming increasingly important. This project will develop a training and research programme in this new field and establishes a best-with-best collaboration between industry and academia. The project outcomes will strengthen Digital Engineering education at UCL programmes."  

The project will create an international network of excellence working together on addressing challenges related to development and exploitation of ‘Digital Building Twins’. Partners include: Technion, Cambridge, TU Berlin, University College Dublin, CARTIF, Trimble, Loclab, Deutsche Bahn, Stanford, DLR, BAM, Bentley, Arcadis, Laing O’Rourke. UCL will recruit and host two Early Stage Researchers working on the linkage between BIM and Energy Modelling, and the use of Blockchain technologies; supervisors will be from the Institute of Environmental Design and Engineering and the School of Construction and Project Management. UCL is also leading the design of the training programme. The project has a total cost of 3.8M€ of which 606k€ are for UCL. 

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