Application of BIM framework on rural infrastructure

Abstract

Rural infrastructure (RI) projects face multiple obstacles, such as unavailability of materials and machinery, poor estimation, failure in documentation, cost overrun during their operations. The current study identifies a method to surpass the encountered challenges. Building information modelling (BIM), a construction management process, has been adopted in various fields for acquiring efficient construction deliverables in a project lifecycle. Previous researchers have focused on enhancing and applying the BIM framework for infrastructure projects in urban areas such as airports, bridges, highways, and tunnels. However, the application of BIM in a rural scenario is minimal, and its execution for overcoming the hurdles faced in RI projects remains a gap. The current research work modifies BIM in a rural viewpoint, as rural BIM (R-BIM) framework, by incorporating essential attributes based on previously performed rural studies to get over the uncertainties. The R-BIM framework explores various dimensions emphasising a rural water management (RWM) project and highlights the operation of the BIM cloud with the engagement of concerned stakeholders.