Gestagua, a frontrunner in integral water cycle management, has taken a significant stride by merging Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology with its Geographic Information System (GIS) platform, developed by Esri Spain. This integration is not just a technological upgrade; it’s a paradigm shift in how water infrastructure is managed and maintained.
The challenge Gestagua faced was a familiar one in the sector: improving the efficiency and safety of water infrastructure maintenance. The need for a new solution arose from the desire to enhance planning, design, and operational decision-making through real-time data access. In practice, newly onboarded staff often struggled with site familiarity, unsure of which specific elements to operate during an intervention or how to distinguish between identical assets, such as pumps, where a scheduled intervention was planned for a particular unit. This is where BIM technology stepped in, significantly reducing these challenges by providing a visual model that makes it much easier to identify and locate the correct elements.
“The integration of BIM and GIS technology significantly improves the maintenance and management of water infrastructure, ensuring a safe and efficient water supply for over 630,000 inhabitants,” said Guillermo Alonso Navajo, Hydraulic Models Technician at Gestagua. This statement underscores the potential of this integration to revolutionize the sector.
To overcome these challenges, Gestagua implemented BIM technology and integrated it with its ArcGIS platform. The pilot project at the Ocaña reservoir in Toledo involved creating a 3D model of the reservoir and its associated pumping system using Autodesk Revit. The installation was scanned using laser technology to generate a 3D point cloud, which was then digitized in Revit. A digital twin of the conduits and hydraulic elements was subsequently created in ArcGIS Utility Network, enabling linkage between the BIM model and the ArcGIS database. The BIM model was then imported into the Gestagua enterprise geodatabase and published to the ArcGIS Enterprise portal. This service is consumed through the GEA platform, Gestagua’s asset management system based on Esri technology, allowing the integration of all GEA functionalities within the BIM model.
The integration provides real-time access to centralized data, combining both the BIM models and the network, and allows switching between 2D and 3D views within the enterprise geodatabase. This approach eliminates information silos by unifying BIM data with the rest of the water asset database.
The results of this integration are promising. Efficiency in maintenance has improved, with the 3D representation of infrastructure elements facilitating the identification of maintenance tasks, reducing incident response times and costs. Planning and safety have also seen enhancements, with improved space planning and safety evaluations, including virtual training for staff. Staff can now review and assess installations directly from the office, reducing the need for on-site visits and minimizing potential risks.
“With BIM integrated into the Esri platform, all relevant data is centralized and easily accessible, breaking down silos and promoting a holistic view of assets,” said Rubén Martín, responsible for GIS at Gestagua. This integration is a testament to the power of digital transformation in the water sector.
This news could shape the development of the sector in several ways. Firstly, it could accelerate the adoption of BIM and GIS integration in other water management companies, leading to improved efficiency and safety across the board. Secondly, it could spur further innovation in the sector, with companies exploring new ways to leverage digital technologies for water infrastructure management. Lastly, it could highlight the importance of real-time data access and centralized information systems in the water sector, paving the way for more data-driven decision-making.
In conclusion, Gestagua’s integration of BIM and GIS technology is a significant development in the water sector. It demonstrates the potential of digital transformation to improve efficiency, safety, and decision-making in water infrastructure management. As such, it is a development that is likely to shape the future of the sector.