BIM-GIS Laboratory

The BIM-GIS Laboratory at Bremen University of Applied Sciences offers students the opportunity to gain practical experience working with digital methods of planning, construction and operation. The focus is on combining Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to comprehensively record and analyse buildings and their surroundings.

BIM

In the bachelor's programme, the laboratory is currently used, among other things, to calculate GEG (Building Energy Act) compliance. Students create digital building data models that are used to calculate energy requirements. In addition, use cases such as building inventory recording are implemented. Students use modern laser scanners to record real buildings and transfer the measurement data to the models. The data is then used for energy assessment, collision testing and the coordination of various specialist planning tasks.

Another focus is the use of a BIM platform (Common Data Environment, CDE), on which all project participants can jointly manage and exchange their models and information. This gives students practical experience of how digital collaboration works in real construction projects.

GIS

With the help of the spatial reference, approaches and perspectives from different disciplines can be brought together and the complexity of systems can be represented and analysed. Geographical information systems (GIS) thus make it possible to develop spatial

spatial data as well as interdisciplinary work. The GIS laboratory sees itself as a "service centre for spatial issues". In this way, environmental and energy technology systems can be placed in relation to environmental data, urban planning framework conditions, sociological data, etc., in order to enable comprehensive and sustainable planning. Another aspect is the communication of planning processes and the support of participation.

In addition, the technical and content-related interfaces to Building Information Modelling and 3D building models are being investigated.

The GIS laboratory is currently under construction.

Teaching integration

• GIS introductory courses and projects in the degree programmes Internationaler Studiengang Umwelttechnik B. Sc.,  Zukunftsfähige Energie- und Umweltsysteme M. Eng. and Interdisciplinary Sustainability Management M.Sc.
• Interdisciplinary teaching and learning space for student projects

Research

• Verbundvorhaben Wärmewende Nordwest: Digitalisierung zur Umsetzung von Wärmewende- und Mehrwertanwendungen für Gebäude, Campus, Quartiere und Kommunen im Nordwesten  Teilprojekte: Potentiale für eine stadtweite und quartiersbezogene Transformation sowie Bildungsformate für nachhaltige Entwicklung 
• Verbundvorhaben hyBit: Hydrogen for Bremen’s industrial Transformation - Ein Initialimpuls für die Entwicklung einer norddeutschen Wasserstoff-Ökonomie Teilvorhaben: Städtebauliche und planerische Instrumente zur Förderung einer nachhaltigen Abwärmenutzung​​​​​​​

Equipment

• ESRI university licence 
• Geodata platform for interdisciplinary teaching and learning 

Funding by the Detlef Hegemann Foundation

Back in 2021, the Detlef Hegemann Foundation gave the green light for the ongoing expansion of digitalisation with a grant of €240,000. In the Building Information Modelling (BIM) and GIS (Geographic Information System) laboratory that was subsequently established, students and teachers have access to 25 high-quality workstations in work islands. More information on the support provided by the Detlef Hegemann Foundation