# BIM and GIS Applications in Bridge Projects: A Critical Review
## 4 Discussion and Future Work
### Construction  
The application of BIM/GIS technology in the bridge construction process in various countries is increasing. This can promote effective and efficient management of the construction processes and contribute to further development of BIM/GIS technology for the AEC industry and particularly, the bridge sub-industry. However, there are several technical and practical problems that need to be resolved to enhance the application process of these technologies. About 70% of the negative cost impact of some bridge construction projects may be related to the first implementation of BIM/GIS technology during construction [7]. Some bridge construction projects use BIM technology to evaluate cost inaccuracies [28; 29; 30], such as estimates limited to direct costs only [29]. Moreover, due to the lack of BIM/GIS knowledge of bridge project participants [1], the efficiency and effectiveness of BIM/GIS \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Application** & **Contents** & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Challenge**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Potential Solution**} \\
**Aspects** & & & & & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{**Planning and design**} & **Planning**: Plan roads (bridges), find bridge site. **Design**: Establish bridge 3D information design model. & \(\bullet\) & Technical competency. & \(\bullet\) & Converting research findings into practice oriented information. \\  & & & & Technology standardization. & \(\bullet\) & Regularly train and assess practitioners in the application of BIM/GIS technology. \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{**Construction**} & \multirow{2}{*}{Cost, schedule.} & \(\bullet\) & Cost evaluation model. & \(\bullet\) & Reasonable methods for cost estimation could be continuously explored. \\  & & & & & Try to use BIM technology to optimize new construction processes and improve the construction schedule. \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{**Operation and maintenance**} & Bridge traffic network, bridge management system, bridge inspection, bridge evaluation, bridge maintenance decision. & \(\bullet\) & Multi-factor bridge traffic network model. & \(\bullet\) & Introduce an uncertain or dynamic traffic flow and other factors to improve the bridge transportation network model based on GIS. \\  & & bridge inspection, bridge evaluation, bridge maintenance decision. & \(\bullet\) & BIM/GIS model compatibility. & \(\bullet\) & BIM/GIS software should be further developed, such as API. \\  & & & & & \\  & & & & & \\  & & & & & \\  & & & & & \\  & & & & & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{**Information exchange**} & Expand standard, data integration, interoperability. & \(\bullet\) & Bridge BIM standard. & \(\bullet\) & Develop/expand bridge BIM standards to meet the needs of existing stakeholders. \\  & & & & and GIS data. & \(\bullet\) & Study the integration content of BIM standards (such as IFC) and GIS standards (such as CityGML). \\ \cline{1-1}  & & & & & \\ \cline{1-1}  & & & & & \\ \cline{1-1}  & & & & & \\ \cline{1-1}  & & & & & \\ \cline{1-1}  & & & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 7: Challenges corresponding to the four aspects of analysis and potential solutions. technology implementation may be negatively affected [3; 7]. It is gratifying that the visualization of BIM/GIS technology can enhance project cognition and communication among participants in the process of bridge construction [9]; however, only a limited number of bridge projects have implemented BIM/GIS technology [9; 21; 28; 30; 69]. It is difficult to completely isolate the impact of BIM/GIS implementation, because no two construction projects are identical [7]. However, in the future, when BIM/GIS technology is used at the construction stage of bridge projects, appropriate BIM/GIS training could be conducted for participants to enhance implementation [1]. Methods of cost estimation can be continuously explored to enhance cost efficiency [28; 29; 30] by covering most indirect costs [29] so as to reduce the negative cost impact of BIM/GIS technology implementation.