The BIMBreitband innovation project aims to significantly accelerate broadband expansion in Germany through the use of digital models and to improve the supply of high-speed internet. Concepts are being developed for the digital support of approval procedures as well as upstream and downstream approval and coordination processes in the context of broadband expansion using Building Information Modeling (BIM). A particular focus is on the involvement of all stakeholders and the integration of digital three-dimensional as-built and planning models to enable transparent communication and decision-making.

The project focuses on the following expected project results:

• Acceleration and quality improvement of the planning process: end-to-end and innovative digitalization can increase the quality of the planning and coordination processes and speed them up considerably.
• Integration of the BIM method into the approval and authorization processes: The implementation of BIM based on XBroadband is being researched to improve communication and coordination between stakeholders. The integration of open BIM and GIS standards enables efficient collaboration and communication.
• Semi-automated review of documents: Concepts for a semi-automated review of submitted documents are being developed to further increase the efficiency of procedures. This enables documents to be reviewed more quickly and can be used for preliminary checks of completeness and correctness.
• Validation of the overall process: The concepts developed are to be validated through the prototypical implementation of a platform. Real examples of approval requests and coordination of construction measures will be tested and published.
• Provision of information and geometries of train paths via a standardized interface: An interface (API) is being developed to provide information and geometries of approved train paths to the infrastructure atlas operated by the Federal Network Agency. This enables the manufacturer-independent transfer of data and a standardized interface for users.

"The digitalization of coordination and approval procedures for broadband expansion offers great potential for optimization and acceleration, as a large part of the processes are still analogue. As a result, the processes are generally lengthy and error-prone. By using the BIM method (Building Information Modeling), information can be described in a structured manner in digital models and can be used, for example, for automated checking in specialist procedures. We want to identify this potential in the project, describe it conceptually, implement it prototypically and validate it with data from real broadband expansion projects," explains Michael Theiler, project manager in the BIMBreitband innovation project.

The BIMBreitband project is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) with a total of around EUR 2.1 million as part of the mFUND innovation initiative. The project will run for a total of three years.

The BIM broadband project uses the synergies between the project partners planen-bauen 4.0 GmbH, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, XLeitstelle im Landesbetrieb Geoinformation und Vermessung, STRABAG AG Deutschland and vsk Software GmbH to advance the broadband infrastructure in Germany.

About mFUND

As part of the mFUND innovation initiative, the BMDV has been funding data-based research and development projects for the digital and networked mobility of the future since 2016. The project funding is supplemented by active professional networking between stakeholders from politics, business, administration and research and by the provision of open data on the Mobilithek. Further information can be found at www.mFUND.de