IT Environments for BIM in FM

The use of the BIM method as a driver of digitalization for the operation of real estate and facility management (FM) requires, in addition to the introduction of BIM-based processes, the implementation of a suitable IT environment. The chapter deals with the most important aspects required for this. The starting point is the concept of the digital twin (Digital Twin), in which models are used as a virtual counterpart to the built, physical environment. The section focuses on the interaction of technologies and systems in the field of BIM, IoT, SCADA and CAFM. In order to answer the question of which software tools help to implement the BIM method in BIM projects and the subsequent phase of real estate and FM operation, the chapter presents important BIM tools of the phases model creation, model management, quality assurance and model usage with the help of digital tool chains. BIM authoring tools are used for model creation and differ depending on the discipline considered and the specific discipline models they generate. BIM authoring tools for the creation of architectural models, but also tools of the engineering disciplines such as building services engineering or structural engineering are therefore discussed. In order to coordinate these discipline models, BIM tools for coordination and model management such as project rooms, BIM servers and BIM platforms are described, which are supplemented by BIM tools for quality assurance. Further software tools for model usage in the field of project management, simulation, but also in CAFM conclude the presentation of BIM tools. These tools must interact with each other in BIM projects, but also later in the phase of real estate and FM operation, preferably without information loss. The chapter explains common data environments (CDE) required for this. While BIM project rooms and BIM servers determine the implementation of a CDE in practice in the planning and construction phase, during real estate and FM operation the integration of CAFM and ERP systems with BIM is required. For this purpose, three integration scenarios are presented, which lead to an integrated asset information management system as a collaboration platform for operations.