A Standards-Based Approach to BIM-GIS Integration: Extending the Multi-Model Container Schema

The integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) remains a significant challenge in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Container-based methods for linked data exchange in the construction domain, such as the Information Container for Linked Document Delivery (ICDD) and the Multi-Model-Container (MMC) standards, might support the BIM and GIS integration process. To address the specific challenges posed by the integration of BIM and GIS, it is necessary to connect geodata in a context-sensitive manner to satisfy distinct requirements. This paper presents four different link types in order to create more meaningful connections between datasets: geospatial, geometrical, topological, and mereological links. It furthermore proposes an extension to the MMC schema, a standard defined by the German standard DIN 18290-1, to improve interoperability between the BIM and GIS domains. The MMC facilitates modular and structured data exchange by linking heterogeneous models while preserving their independence. However, its limitations in semantic linking and BIM-GIS domain relationships require further development. To address these challenges, the proposed schema extension includes methods for defining geometric transformation parameters, geospatial relationships, and part-whole associations. The practicality and applicability of the proposed extensions are illustrated through use cases that involve the integration of diverse datasets such as cadastral, surveying, and environmental noise data with building models.