SDG Goal #11: Can BIM Help Build Sustainable Cities and Environments?

Welcome to the eleventh part of the series “BIM for Sustainability”, where we look at how BIM methodology can effectively support ESG and SDG goals (#UN17). In this post, we will focus on SDG goal no. 11 and the question whether and how BIM can build sustainable cities and environments? Explore how BIM can help achieve SDG 11 by building sustainable, resilient cities and enhancing urban infrastructure.

Click below to check out other posts:

• SDGs vs ESG and How BIM Can Help Achieve Sustainable Goals
• SDG Goal #3: How Does BIM Support Good Health and Quality of Life?
• SDG Goal #7: Can BIM Help Ensure Sustainable Energy?
• Goal #8 SDG: Can BIM Drive Sustainable Economic Growth?
• Goal #9 SDG: Can BIM Support Innovation and Infrastructure Development?
• SDG Goal #11: Can BIM Help Build Sustainable Cities and Environments?
• SDG Goal 12: How BIM Can Contribute to Sustainable Consumption and Production
• Goal #13: Does BIM Combat Climate Change and Its Impacts? – Series Summary

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Build safe, resilient and sustainable cities and settlements

SDG 11 is aimed at addressing challenges such as sustainable urban development, lack of affordable housing, or rapid urbanization (and e.g. safe disposal and management of waste in cities). According to SDG 11, cities should develop in such a way as to ensure sustainable transport systems and access to green areas. In the case of this SDG goal, the BIM methodology can be used for almost each of the sub-items: 11.1-3, 11.6-7, 11.A and B.

The United Nations  predicts that by 2030, 60% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Cities are the main centers of economic development and generate about 70% of carbon dioxide emissions. Congested urban areas pose huge challenges for infrastructure, transport and services. However, BIM can indirectly contribute to solving these problems.

Smart City and BIM

Combining the Smart City idea with the Digital Twin (where BIM models are the input for the Digital Twin) seems to be a key solution on the way to achieving SDG 11.

Smart City uses information and communication technologies to increase the interactivity and efficiency of urban infrastructure. It also uses solutions that improve communication between residents and authorities to better engage local communities in decision-making processes and advanced monitoring systems. All this to increase the quality and safety of life for residents and manage resources more effectively.

How do BIM and other technologies support Smart Cities?

The BIM methodology allows for data management throughout the entire life cycle of a facility, from concept to demolition, which is extremely important in the context of sustainable urban development.

Source: presentation “Data infrastructure to create the future we want. How can we be better ancestors?” – Center for Digital Built Britain

Integrating BIM with a Geographic Information System (GIS) in the context of a Smart City enables the creation of coherent, dynamic urban models. They combine precise information about buildings (BIM) with a broad geospatial context (GIS). This combination allows for comprehensive spatial analysis, infrastructure planning, natural resource management and optimization of urban processes. In a way that has been difficult to achieve so far. Using BIM in the context of a Smart City allows for the integration of building data with other city systems. Thanks to formats such as IFC and CityGML. Thanks to the ETL (Extract-Transform-Load) method, it is possible to transform and transfer data between platforms, which allows for comprehensive city management at many levels – from spatial planning, through infrastructure management, to environmental monitoring and crisis management.

Source: the Climate Resilience Demonstrator (CReDo) – a digital twin for climate change adaptation

An example of a pilot digital twin for a city combining BIM and GIS technologies to increase resilience to climate change is CReDo – The Climate Resilience Demonstrator.

The main goal of CReDo is to demonstrate the capabilities of digital twins to improve the resilience of critical urban infrastructure to extreme weather events. Such as floods, heatwaves, or storms, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. The CReDo project is so complex and interesting that we promise to devote a separate article to it.

Infrastructure optimization

Thanks to BIM, it is possible to plan the expansion of urban infrastructure more effectively. Analyses conducted on the basis of BIM data also enable the management of water resources and planning investments in a sustainable manner.

Smart Cities in Poland and the role of BIM

In Poland, the Smart City concept is gaining popularity. This can be seen in the example of larger cities investing in new technologies. Including BIM and GIS to create smarter, more sustainable urban environments.

• Poznań is involved in Smart City initiatives, using advanced traffic management and city monitoring systems.
• Gdańsk implements projects that use GIS technology for water resources management and spatial planning.
• Wrocław focuses on the integration of spatial data and BIM models in the processes of urban revitalization.
• Kraków uses digital technologies, including BIM, to design sustainable buildings and infrastructure.

In summary, combining the potential of Smart City with the possibilities offered by BIM opens up new perspectives for sustainable development of cities. The challenge remains the integration and coordination of activities at various levels. And the use of available technologies to maximize their potential in creating sustainable development of cities.

https://www.un.org.pl/cel11