{"id":590924,"date":"2026-11-13T21:40:18","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T21:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/industries\/blog\/?post_type=blog&p=590924"},"modified":"2026-11-13T21:40:19","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T21:40:19","slug":"building-momentum-for-gis-openbim-what-we-heard-at-the-buildingsmart-us-roads-and-bridges-event","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/industries\/blog\/articles\/building-momentum-for-gis-openbim-what-we-heard-at-the-buildingsmart-us-roads-and-bridges-event","title":{"rendered":"Building Momentum for GIS + openBIM: What We Heard at the buildingSMART US Roads and Bridges Event"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week I attended the buildingSMART US Roads and Bridges<\/em> event in Pittsburgh with my colleague David Alvarez, Sr. Software Engineering. Esri is a member of buildingSMART US and we joined nearly 200 in-person attendees and dozens more online for discussions focused on the future of designing, constructing, digital delivery and asset management of transportation infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n

What stood out most was the growing momentum around openBIM. Attendance significantly exceeded expectations, and conversations throughout the day pointed to an industry that is increasingly focused on open standards, interoperability, and better information management across the entire lifecycle. The energy in the room suggested that engineering firms, contractors, transportation agencies, and owner\/operators are moving beyond simply adopting BIM and are now asking a more important question: how do we connect BIM with the broader systems used to plan, deliver, operate, and maintain infrastructure?<\/p>\n\n

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Attendees gathered to discuss openBIM, interoperability, and digital delivery for transportation infrastructure<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n

For Esri, this conversation is particularly exciting because GIS plays a critical role in providing the geographic context that allows information to move across organizations, disciplines, and project phases. While BIM enables detailed engineering and construction workflows, GIS helps connect projects to the broader environment, surrounding assets, operational systems, and decision-making processes. Together, GIS and openBIM create a foundation for more connected digital delivery and more effective infrastructure lifecycle management.<\/p>\n\n

Throughout the event, I had conversations with leaders from HDR, HNTB, Kimley-Horn, Granite Construction, Kiewit, Michael Baker International, Autodesk, FHWA, AASHTO, PennDOT, Iowa DOT, Montana DOT, buildingSMART International, buildingSMART US, NIBS, and many others. Across these organizations, a common theme emerged: the industry recognizes the value of BIM and GIS independently, and increasingly sees the need for open standards and interoperable workflows that connect them.<\/p>\n\n

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Aidan Mercer welcoming attendees<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n

This growing interest aligns closely with Esri’s ongoing involvement with buildingSMART International and buildingSMART communities around the world. For several years, Esri has actively participated in buildingSMART Domains, Working Groups, committees and International Summits.  Through these activities we\u2019re collaborating with industry leaders, software providers, owner\/operators, and AEC firms to advance the integration of GIS and openBIM workflows. These engagements have created opportunities to share ideas, develop best practices, and help shape the standards that will guide the future of infrastructure delivery and management.<\/p>\n\n

A particularly important area of collaboration has been Esri’s work supporting the geolocation and validation of openBIM content. One of the long-standing challenges with BIM information is ensuring that digital representations of infrastructure can be accurately located and aligned within their real-world geographic context. Through collaboration with buildingSMART and industry partners, Esri has been helping advance approaches that improve how BIM information can be validated, georeferenced, and connected to GIS systems. These efforts help create a stronger foundation for digital twins, asset management, project handover, and operational workflows.<\/p>\n\n

Beyond standards development, Esri has also been working closely with the buildingSMART community to advance practical GIS + openBIM workflows. The goal is not simply data exchange between systems, but rather enabling agencies, owner\/operators, and AEC firms to leverage information throughout the entire asset lifecycle. Whether supporting planning, design, construction, operations, maintenance, or capital improvement programs, GIS and openBIM together can help organizations make more informed decisions and improve collaboration across traditionally disconnected workflows.<\/p>\n\n

One of the most encouraging takeaways from the event was the level of interest in continuing these discussions with Esri and the broader GIS community. Many attendees expressed enthusiasm about learning more about how GIS and openBIM can work together and connecting with others who are addressing similar challenges.<\/p>\n\n

This growing interest is creating new opportunities for collaboration at future Esri events, including the Esri User Conference. Organizations involved in buildingSMART initiatives, BIM programs, digital twins, and infrastructure modernization are increasingly looking for forums where they can exchange ideas, learn from peers, and explore emerging best practices for integrating GIS and openBIM.<\/p>\n\n

As Esri continues its involvement with buildingSMART International and buildingSMART chapters around the world, we remain committed to helping advance open standards, interoperability, and collaborative workflows that benefit the entire infrastructure industry. The momentum around openBIM is accelerating, particularly within transportation, and the opportunity to connect BIM and GIS has never been greater.<\/p>\n\n

If your organization is exploring digital delivery, BIM, infrastructure digital twins, asset lifecycle management, or open standards, now is an excellent time to become involved. Participate in buildingSMART activities, engage with the growing GIS + openBIM community, and consider joining the conversation at the Esri User Conference.<\/p>\n\n

The transportation industry is approaching an important inflection point. Together, through open standards, GIS, and BIM, we have an opportunity to create a more connected and interoperable future for infrastructure.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":171,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3772],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-590924","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-architecture-engineering-and-construction"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBuilding Momentum for GIS + OpenBIM: What We Heard at the BuildingSMART US Roads and Bridges Event<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/industries\/blog\/articles\/building-momentum-for-gis-openbim-what-we-heard-at-the-buildingsmart-us-roads-and-bridges-event\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Building Momentum for GIS + openBIM: What We Heard at the buildingSMART US Roads and Bridges Event\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Last week I attended the buildingSMART US Roads and Bridges event in Pittsburgh with my colleague David Alvarez, Sr. Software Engineering. 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