Episode Content

Moving Beyond Design & Construction

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has transformed the way we design and construct buildings and infrastructure, but its potential goes far beyond that. In the latest episode of the Digital Construction Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Bryan Tay , a principal digital engineer at Arcadis , about how BIM can be leveraged for asset management and long-term maintenance.


BIM is often associated with design coordination and clash detection, but asset owners and facility managers are now realizing its huge potential in maintaining assets more efficiently. The challenge? Many organizations struggle with integrating BIM into their asset management workflows, and that's exactly what we tackled in this episode.


Key Insights from the Episode

1. Why Asset Managers Need BIM

Bryan explains that BIM is more than just a 3D model—it’s a rich data source that can help asset owners track and maintain their infrastructure. By integrating BIM data into asset management systems, organizations can:

  • Improve data standardization for better asset tracking
  • Enhance the handover process from construction to operations
  • Use structured data to forecast maintenance costs and lifecycle planning
  • Leverage geospatial data to optimize maintenance scheduling

However, BIM adoption in asset management isn’t without its challenges.


2. The Biggest Hurdles to BIM Adoption

One of the biggest challenges is early engagement. Asset managers are often not involved early enough in the project lifecycle, leading to a misalignment between BIM data and what is actually useful for maintenance. Another major issue is defining the minimum maintainable asset—should a streetlight be classified as a single asset, or should its components (pole, foundation, light fixture) be tracked separately? These details matter when integrating BIM with asset management systems.


Bryan also highlights how different classification systems and data structures between BIM and asset databases make seamless integration difficult. Without clear business rules and standardized asset IDs, valuable information can be lost during the transition from construction to operations.


3. BIM and Digital Twins

A hot topic in the industry is the role of digital twins in asset management. Bryan breaks down the difference:

  • BIM provides a static model with rich data for design and construction.
  • A digital twin is a real-time, continuously updated virtual replica of a physical asset, integrating live data from IoT sensors.

While digital twins have exciting potential, maintaining them can be costly and complex. Bryan emphasizes that not every asset owner needs a digital twin, and the feasibility of implementation depends on the use case. For some organizations, a well-structured BIM model with connected asset data may be more practical and cost-effective.


4. The Future of BIM in Asset Management

Looking ahead, Bryan predicts that BIM will become more scalable and adaptable over the next 5-10 years. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, companies will start tailoring BIM workflows based on specific asset management needs. AI-powered predictive maintenance could play a bigger role, but data validation and human oversight will remain critical to ensure accuracy and reliability.


For BIM teams, this means learning how to structure models in ways that asset managers can actually use. And for asset owners, it’s about understanding BIM’s potential and being actively involved in shaping data requirements from the start.


Listen to the Full Episode

BIM is changing the game for asset management, but there’s still a long way to go in terms of implementation, standardization, and industry adoption. If you’re working in BIM, construction, or asset management, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you navigate these challenges and opportunities.