Building Information Modeling for Whole-Life-Cycle Bridge Management

Abstract

As bridge construction expands and existing bridges age, fragmented information across design, construction, and operation has become a major obstacle to refined bridge management. BIM provides a shared digital model  for organizing geometry, materials, construction records, inspection information, and maintenance data within one framework. Based on recent research and engineering case studies, this paper reviews the application of BIM in the main stages of bridge projects. In the design stage, BIM is mainly used for parametric modeling, three-dimensional coordination, and conflict checking. In the construction stage, it supports 4D scheduling, visualized technical handover, site coordination, and safety-risk identification. In the operation and maintenance stage, BIM helps connect inspection records, monitoring data, defect descriptions, and maintenance decisions at the component level. The paper also summarizes the practical benefits of BIM in improving information continuity, management efficiency, and decision support. Meanwhile, several challenges remain, including incomplete standards, limited interoperability, model updating, and organizational implementation. Future bridge management is expected to further integrate BIM with digital twins, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence.