Building Information Modeling for a Smart and Sustainable Urban Space

8BIM for the Renovation of Urban Spaces

8.1. Introduction

Nowadays, cities are witnessing urban expansion at an unprecedented scale, as well as the scarcity of land resources. In response to such urban pressure, there is a great tendency towards the use of space in three dimensions, both in height (vertical constructions) and in depth (e.g. underground networks). In addition to the construction of buildings, a large number of urban infrastructure projects are multiplying day by day. These infrastructures are often poorly documented and dispersed in different sectors and areas, which confronts managers and decision-makers with problems of efficient management of the city. These problems cannot be solved solely based on two-dimensional plans and data, but require rich 3D urban models for their modeling and management (Xu et al. 2014).

Due to lack of maintenance and/or poor planning, urban spaces deteriorate and lose their attractiveness. They become the subject of urban renewal programs, which must take into consideration all of the components of this space, in order to promote a global and integrated improvement. A successful urban renewal is based on a good knowledge of the site in question, which enables appropriate actions to be taken in order to meet the actual needs of the site and its occupants. It also allows the management and monitoring of this site, to ensure its maintenance after completion of the work. Hence, the importance of the 3D urban digital model as a tool ...