The Importance of International Standards in civil Engineering

Civil engineering is a crucial field that plays a vital role in shaping the infrastructure and development of communities around the world. The construction of buildings, roads, bridges, and other structures is a complex process that requires adherence to high standards of safety, reliability, and efficiency. International standards in civil engineering ensure that these structures are designed and constructed to the same level of quality across different countries, improving safety, reducing costs, and promoting sustainability.

One of the primary benefits of international standards in civil engineering is the assurance of safety. These standards establish guidelines for the design, construction, and maintenance of structures to ensure that they are structurally sound and safe for public use. This includes requirements for materials, strength, stability, and durability, as well as guidelines for the testing and inspection of structures to ensure that they meet these requirements. By adhering to these standards, engineers can be confident that the structures they design and build are safe and reliable, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. Today we will get you acquainted with the latest standards on the market for today:

Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM) - Information management using building information modelling - Part 4: Information exchange (ISO 19650-4:2022)

SIST EN ISO 19650-4:2023

ISO 19650 part 4 provides detailed process and criteria for the decision points in the process of executing an information exchange within information management as defined by ISO 19650. It promotes a sustainable approach to information exchange where the immediate delivery of information does not preclude its future use.    

It is applicable to any information exchange within project stages (ISO 19650 part 2) and within in-use events (ISO 19650 part 3).  All development and information exchanges should be executed under the appropriate security controls (ISO 19650 part 5).

Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM) - Information management using building information modelling - Part 4: Information exchange (ISO 19650-4:2022)

EN ISO 19650-4:2022

This document specifies the detailed process and criteria for decision makings when executing an information exchange as specified by the ISO 19650 series to ensure the quality of the resulting project information model or asset information model. It details the implementation of the concepts in ISO 19650-1 and is applicable to any information exchange within the delivery stages covered by ISO 19650-2 and operational trigger events covered by ISO 19650-3.

This document is applicable to assets of all sizes and all levels of complexity. This includes portfolios of buildings, campuses, infrastructure networks, individual buildings and pieces of infrastructure. The requirements in this document should be applied in a way that is appropriate to the scale and complexity of the asset. This document makes use of the phrase “shall consider”. This phrase is used to introduce a list of items that the person in question is required to think about carefully in connection with the primary requirement described in the subclause. The amount of thought involved, the time taken to complete it, and the need for supporting evidence depend on the complexity of the asset, the experience of the person(s) involved, and the requirements of any national policy on introducing building information modelling. On a relatively small or straightforward asset, it can be possible to complete, or dismiss as not relevant, some of these “shall consider” items very quickly. One way to help identify which of the “shall consider” statements are relevant can be to review each statement and create templates for assets of different sizes and complexity.

It supports the satisfaction of a specific EIR/AIR related to an individual information exchange of any type of information by enumerating criteria relating to completeness, compliance to formal exchange schemas, the continuity of concepts between exchanges and the elimination of spatial and specification conflicts

Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM) — Information management using building information modelling — Part 4: Information exchange

ISO 19650-4:2022

This document specifies the detailed process and criteria for decision makings when executing an information exchange as specified by the ISO 19650 series to ensure the quality of the resulting project information model or asset information model. It details the implementation of the concepts in ISO 19650-1 and is applicable to any information exchange within the delivery stages covered by ISO 19650-2 and operational trigger events covered by ISO 19650-3. This document is applicable to assets of all sizes and all levels of complexity. This includes portfolios of buildings, campuses, infrastructure networks, individual buildings and pieces of infrastructure.

The requirements in this document should be applied in a way that is appropriate to the scale and complexity of the asset. This document makes use of the phrase “shall consider”. This phrase is used to introduce a list of items that the person in question is required to think about carefully in connection with the primary requirement described in the subclause. The amount of thought involved, the time taken to complete it, and the need for supporting evidence depend on the complexity of the asset, the experience of the person(s) involved, and the requirements of any national policy on introducing building information modelling.

On a relatively small or straightforward asset, it can be possible to complete, or dismiss as not relevant, some of these “shall consider” items very quickly. One way to help identify which of the “shall consider” statements are relevant can be to review each statement and create templates for assets of different sizes and complexity.

International standards also promote cost efficiency in civil engineering by establishing a common set of guidelines for the design and construction of structures. These standards provide a framework for engineers to design structures that are efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable. By using standardized designs and materials, engineers can reduce construction costs while still maintaining the required level of safety and reliability. Furthermore, adherence to international standards can lead to economies of scale, as manufacturers can produce components in larger quantities, reducing the cost per unit.

Sustainability is also an essential factor in civil engineering, and international standards play a significant role in promoting environmentally conscious practices. These standards provide guidelines for the use of sustainable materials, such as recycled or renewable materials, and promote the use of energy-efficient designs and technologies. Additionally, these standards establish guidelines for the reduction of waste and the responsible management of construction materials, reducing the impact of civil engineering projects on the environment.

In addition, adherence to international standards in civil engineering facilitates communication and collaboration between engineers and researchers from different countries. These collaborations can lead to the sharing of best practices and the development of new technologies and methods, ultimately improving the efficiency and effectiveness of civil engineering projects.

International standards also play a critical role in promoting the interoperability of civil engineering projects across different countries. By establishing a common set of guidelines and standards, engineers can ensure that structures and infrastructure are compatible and interoperable across different regions and countries. This is particularly important in the context of large-scale infrastructure projects, such as transportation networks or water management systems, which often cross national borders. In conclusion, international standards are essential to the success of civil engineering projects around the world. The assurance of safety, cost efficiency, sustainability, communication, collaboration, and interoperability are all critical factors in the design, construction, and maintenance of structures and infrastructure. By adhering to these standards, civil engineers can ensure that their work supports the development and growth of communities, promotes sustainability, and ultimately contributes to a better world.

References:

https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/032e5d12-1a9b-4793-b5bd-3e347e30a5b7/sist-en-iso-19650-4-2023

https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/iso/14925c6c-ce76-405f-8540-21fb405f6a55/iso-19650-4-2022

https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/cen/0f5ddb30-8e44-4cfd-a535-54691714e549/en-iso-19650-4-2022