BIM-enabled strategies for dams and hydroelectric structures: a comprehensive analysis of applications from design to operation

The engineering involved in the construction and management of hydroelectric power plants and dams is both challenging and interdisciplinary. These structures encounter complexities such as large dimensions, a variety of construction systems, and the need for rigorous safety control. Accidents in these structures can be caused by design, construction, operation, and maintenance, requiring new techniques to increase their safety. This article presents a systematic literature review of how BIM is used in hydroelectric power plants and dam structures, outlining significant trends and challenges in this field. To accomplish this goal, a bibliometric analysis, a quality assessment, and a literature review of papers were conducted. The study selected 29 relevant publications from the period between 2017 and 2023 to identify how and where BIM has been used, the main software tools, limitations and lessons learned and how BIM can support safety issues in these structures. The results showed that BIM was used in new projects during design and construction, as well as for existing structures during operation and maintenance. Its use allowed for the integration of technologies like UAS and Digital Twins, making data acquisition and structure management easier.