What are BIM/CIM? A Thorough Guide from Basics to Use Cases [An Intro to DX with LRTK]

Definition and Origins of BIM/CIM (MLIT Initiatives and the Context of DX)

BIM/CIM refers to the practice and concept of combining three-dimensional digital models of buildings and civil structures with associated attribute information—such as component names, shapes, dimensions, strength, and quantities—and utilizing them across the entire construction process from planning and design through construction and maintenance. Put simply, it’s not merely about converting drawings into 3D; it’s a way of thinking that includes centralized management and practical use of 3D data.

BIM stands for “Building Information Modeling” and is mainly used in the architectural field, while CIM stands for “Construction Information Modeling/Management” and was proposed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) as a concept for applying BIM to civil infrastructure. It refers to efforts to visualize and streamline design, construction, and maintenance processes for civil structures such as bridges, roads, and dams using 3D models, and also makes use of techniques like 3D terrain scanning and point-cloud measurement for earthwork volume calculations. Internationally, BIM is commonly used to refer to both building and civil fields, but in Japan the terms were unified in 2018 under the collective name “BIM/CIM.”

The emergence and promotion of BIM/CIM stem from the need to improve productivity in the construction industry and the broader trend of DX (digital transformation). Since around 2016, MLIT has promoted a productivity revolution on construction sites through ICT under the initiative called i-Construction, with one of its main pillars being the full-scale introduction of three-dimensional models. Traditionally, the civil sector has pursued efficiency improvements for both clients and contractors through CIM trials, but in light of recent international BIM trends and infrastructure development for the Society 5.0 era, industry, government, and academia have accelerated efforts to reconstruct the construction production system and promote BIM/CIM. In 2020, the government set a target of “applying BIM/CIM as a principle to all public works except small-scale projects by 2023,” and in fact from fiscal 2023 MLIT has begun principle-based application of BIM/CIM in projects and works directly supervised by MLIT (effectively making it mandatory). As a policy driving DX in the construction industry, BIM/CIM has become an indispensable keyword.

Benefits of Adopting BIM/CIM in the Civil and Construction Industries (3D Design, Schedule Management, Labor Savings)

BIM and CIM are not merely design support tools but digital technologies that achieve efficiency and sophistication across entire construction projects. The benefits of adoption are diverse and include many advantages that are intuitive even to beginners. The main benefits are summarized below.

• Productivity Improvement through Visualization: Unlike flat 2D drawings, 3D models allow even inexperienced personnel to more easily imagine the finished form, facilitating shared understanding between designers and constructors. Detailed structure and clash points can be examined from the design stage, reducing rework from design changes and drawing revisions. When multiple subcontractors and trades are involved, meetings can be held on a common model, smoothing communication and speeding up overall project work.

• Cost Reduction: Conducting detailed simulations and clash checks on a 3D model before construction reduces material waste and rework due to construction errors, thereby cutting unnecessary costs. For example, discovering equipment clashes in advance can prevent additional work, and in civil CIM verifying the fit between terrain and structures can suppress extra expenses from construction troubles.

• Smoother Information Sharing: In BIM/CIM, participants across design, construction, and maintenance stages can share data via a common 3D model. Since the model can be linked with all kinds of information—materials, dimensions, costs, schedules, etc.—searching and transmitting information is much easier compared to paper drawings or scattered files. This reduces the number of meetings and reports while increasing project-wide transparency.

• Significant Reduction in Errors and Rework: On sites with complex structures and multiple trades, construction errors caused by misinterpretation of drawings were common. With BIM/CIM, clash checks and schedule simulations on 3D models before construction help prevent inconsistencies and human errors. As a result, rework and schedule delays on-site are minimized, contributing to improved quality and safety.

In this way, leveraging BIM/CIM brings benefits such as improved design accuracy, construction efficiency, cost reduction, and quality assurance. For practitioners, it strengthens project competitiveness, and for beginners it serves as a useful learning tool because it helps them intuitively understand workflow. These advantages have driven adoption not only among major general contractors but increasingly among small and medium-sized firms as well.

BIM/CIM Adoption Case Studies (MLIT Projects, Local Governments, General Contractors)

Below are several real-world examples where BIM/CIM has been introduced and delivered results. Cases cover MLIT public works, local governments, and private companies (general contractors).

• MLIT Directly Supervised Projects: Since fiscal 2014, MLIT has trialed CIM in various directly supervised works such as bridge construction and road improvement, accumulating productivity improvement achievements. For example, in a particular road improvement project, a temporary road’s 3D model was quickly created and used for construction planning, which reduced rework during construction and helped shorten the schedule. In another case, the 3D design data were imported into ICT construction machinery and used for automated machine work and as-built control. As a result, the traditionally necessary staking work on-site became unnecessary, greatly reducing manpower and time and achieving zero rework compared to conventional methods. Many such trial project use cases and results are featured in the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management’s “BIM/CIM Casebook.”

• Local Government Examples: Following national policy, local governments have started adopting BIM/CIM for public works. For instance, some prefectures and municipalities—including Hokkaido and Tokyo—have applied BIM/CIM to bridge repair design and water/sewer works, using 3D models for local briefings and consensus-building. In one municipality’s river project, a CIM model was used to pre-plan the arrangement of construction yards and temporary trestles, successfully enhancing safety measures and reducing costs. Using 3D models for site briefings has also deepened resident understanding, demonstrating how BIM/CIM aids communication between administration and local communities. With national support and guideline development, examples of BIM/CIM use at the municipal level are expected to grow.

• General Contractors and Private Companies: Large construction firms and consultancies are actively adopting BIM/CIM. For example, companies like Shimizu Corporation and Kajima Corporation have applied BIM/CIM to super-tall buildings and tunnel projects to optimize construction planning and enhance quality control. The Japan Federation of Construction Contractors (JFCC) collects and publishes case studies of member firms’ application of construction CIM, reporting numerous improvements in construction management through the use of 3D models. Specific examples include a tunnel project where a CIM model recreated surrounding geology and interfaces with other works to inform safety measures, and a plant construction project where a BIM model eliminated piping clashes. Mid-sized and small construction firms are also beginning to use BIM/CIM to demonstrate competitiveness in bids and to train young engineers.

As these examples show, BIM/CIM is spreading across government, municipalities, and the private sector, offering benefits to both clients and contractors. It is being used not only in large projects but increasingly in smaller works as well, and is expected to become embedded in the standard business processes of the construction industry.

Challenges in BIM/CIM Adoption and How to Overcome Them (Initial Cost, Training, Operational Difficulty)

While BIM/CIM is extremely useful, several challenges must be overcome when introducing it to the field. Below we explain representative issues and their solutions.

• Initial implementation cost is high Setting up a BIM/CIM environment often requires high-performance PCs, specialized 3D software, and sometimes 3D scanners, making initial investment substantial. For small and medium-sized companies, expenditures on the order of several million yen can be a barrier. Overcoming it: Government and municipalities offer subsidy programs to support DX in construction (e.g., “Construction Industry DX Promotion Subsidy”), which can be used to cover part of the costs. Also, instead of digitizing all operations at once, it is effective to introduce BIM/CIM gradually by starting with a subset of projects or specific processes to spread out costs. Accumulating small-scale successes and demonstrating return on investment while scaling up is advisable.

• Lack of skilled personnel There are still relatively few engineers who can operate and utilize BIM/CIM software, and veteran staff in particular may be less comfortable with IT operations. Without in-house know-how, there is concern that adoption could become ineffective. Overcoming it: Investing in human resources and training is key. Establish in-house BIM/CIM training programs and send staff to seminars or online courses organized by national or industry organizations to cultivate in-house BIM/CIM leaders. For young engineers, this is a good opportunity to acquire digital skills, so planned OJT and support for certification can broaden the base. When necessary, seek assistance from external BIM coordinators and allow company engineers to learn through projects.

• Data interoperability between software and operational difficulties A wide variety of software is used for BIM/CIM, and differing data formats among vendors make information sharing with others difficult. Operational challenges also include handling large 3D model data on internal networks and establishing version control and update workflows for models. Overcoming it: Industry-wide development of open data standards is progressing. For example, IFC is being established as a standard format in architecture, and LandXML or the Japanese variant J-LandXML is being standardized in civil engineering, facilitating data linkage across different software. Clients are also moving to standardize delivery data formats, and an environment that allows smooth collaboration regardless of software differences is expected in the future. Internally, create BIM/CIM operational guidelines to clarify model access permissions, update procedures, backup policies, and so on to prevent troubles arising from person-dependent practices or lack of rules. Even with initial trial and error, gradually refine operations by running a PDCA cycle per project to establish the best practices for your organization.

As described above, cost, personnel, and operational challenges exist, but they can be addressed step by step by leveraging government support and industry standardization. In practice, many companies have achieved company-wide rollout by building on small successes. Through efforts to overcome these challenges, Japan’s construction sites will increasingly move toward a safer and more efficient future.

Relevance to LRTK: Compatibility with Field Surveying and Data Utilization

To maximize the benefits of BIM/CIM, it is essential to accurately digitize site conditions. Even when using 3D models, the source data are survey and measurement data obtained on-site. Critical here is the linkage with three-dimensional surveying technologies such as drone aerial photography, terrestrial laser scanners, and RTK-GNSS positioning. BIM/CIM is not a standalone solution; it presumes data integration with point clouds acquired by UAVs (drones) or laser scanning, and with ICT construction machinery (machine guidance/control), making it an effort to optimize the entire site.

In this context, a solution provided by Plexia Inc.—called “LRTK”—is introduced. LRTK is a system consisting of a small, high-precision GNSS receiver that attaches to a smartphone or tablet and a dedicated app, enabling easy high-precision surveying and measurement on-site. Tasks that traditionally required two people can be completed by one person using LRTK, saving labor and speeding operations. Because it leverages existing smartphones, it is also cost-effective. Site coordinates and point-cloud data acquired with LRTK can be shared instantly on the cloud and easily combined with BIM/CIM 3D models.

Notably, LRTK strongly supports site visualization by integrating with smartphone cameras and LiDAR sensors. For example, taking a photo with a smartphone can automatically record the coordinates of objects shown in the photo with cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy). Scanning with a smartphone’s built-in LiDAR can also capture surrounding point-cloud data. With these capabilities, as-built data collected in the field can be checked against design models on the spot to detect deviations. Using AR (augmented reality) display functions, 3D design models can be overlaid on live camera views: for example, projecting the planned structure on-site for staking or comparing constructed components with the design model to verify construction accuracy. Discrepancies between drawings and field conditions that are hard to grasp on paper become intuitive with AR, offering powerful support for inspection and error prevention.

Thus, LRTK is highly compatible with BIM/CIM as a tool that smooths the data loop between the field and models. By enabling smooth import of high-precision field measurement data into BIM/CIM models, or by visualizing BIM/CIM models on-site to obtain feedback, LRTK bridges the physical and digital worlds and accelerates “field DX.” This aligns with MLIT’s BIM/CIM promotion; for example, i-Construction 2.0 advocates “consistent use of 3D data across all processes,” and field-measurement solutions like LRTK form an important foundation for that goal.

LRTK’s Advantages Compared with Other Products (Accuracy, Price, Usability)

Figure: LRTK Phone device – By simply attaching it to a smartphone, LRTK enables centimeter-level positioning. Its ability to let a single user intuitively perform site surveying is a major feature.

Below we summarize LRTK’s features compared to conventional surveying instruments and other positioning products. The keywords are “high accuracy,” “low cost,” and “simplicity.”

• Centimeter-level positioning accuracy: LRTK uses RTK (Real Time Kinematic) GNSS positioning and can determine positions with an accuracy on the order of 8 mm (0.31 in) even on a smartphone. Conventional smartphone GPS had errors ranging from several meters (several ft) to several tens of centimeters (several tens of in), but attaching LRTK allows smartphone-based positioning comparable to dedicated high-precision GNSS equipment. This level is sufficient even for sites requiring millimeter-level precision control. LRTK also supports the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System’s centimeter-level augmentation service (CLAS), enabling stable high-precision positioning even in mountainous areas where base station signals may not reach. By uncompromisingly addressing accuracy, LRTK greatly expands “what can be measured with a smartphone” into the realm of infrastructure surveying.

• Low-cost, minimal equipment required: Achieving centimeter-level positioning traditionally required RTK-GNSS receivers and total stations costing several million yen. In contrast, LRTK starts by attaching a small receiver to an existing smartphone, dramatically reducing initial costs. The official site states that it costs “a fraction of traditional surveying equipment,” making it affordable for small and medium enterprises and individual site units. The device is pocket-sized and lightweight with an internal battery, eliminating the burden of carrying heavy equipment or the need for multiple people to set it up. Maintenance is limited to app updates and occasional calibrations, reducing life-cycle costs by avoiding expensive equipment that is at risk of theft.

• Excellent usability and labor-saving effects: LRTK’s dedicated app emphasizes simple operation so that staff without specialized surveying training can operate it intuitively. Positioning starts with a single button, and measured point coordinates are displayed on the smartphone screen and saved to the cloud instantly, enabling on-the-spot additional measurements and data checks. This real-time capability shortens the traditional “measure on site, take data back, and check with drawings” workflow and allows tasks to be completed at the site. Because one person can perform surveying, work time in hazardous locations—such as beside railway tracks with passing trains—is reduced, improving safety. On sites that adopted network RTK, users reported reduced workload in extreme heat. Data can be shared with the office via the cloud immediately, and photos are automatically tagged with positioning coordinates and orientation to prevent recording errors. Overall, LRTK provides an environment where “anyone, anywhere, immediately” can perform surveying, transforming on-site work practices.

From these features, LRTK stands apart from traditional surveying instruments and expensive 3D scanners by achieving a balance of convenience and practical accuracy. Its strong balance of accuracy, cost, and usability lowers the barrier to on-site adoption, making it an ideal DX promotion tool within organizations.

Future Trends for BIM/CIM (Regulations, Public Procurement Requirements, etc.)

Finally, we look at future industry trends surrounding BIM/CIM. On the regulatory and public procurement front, as mentioned earlier MLIT began principle-based application of BIM/CIM to MLIT-supervised projects from fiscal 2023, effectively making it mandatory. This is a starting point, not a finish line: in coming years the scope will be phased out to local government projects and private works, with the final goal of using BIM/CIM for all public works. Expect more municipalities to require BIM/CIM track records as conditions for participating in public work tenders, and BIM/CIM use may be scored positively in construction performance evaluations, becoming an established practical rule. MLIT continues to update the “BIM/CIM Utilization Guidelines” and other documents, and standard forms of tender documents are shifting toward a 3D-first premise. For example, required deliverable data formats are being recommended or mandated to use international standard formats such as LandXML and IFC so that data can be used consistently from surveying through design, construction, inspection, and maintenance. Such common infrastructure will make seamless information linkage across different companies and software possible.

Technologically, the fusion of BIM/CIM with other advanced technologies will accelerate. Examples include AI-driven automated design and advanced checking, linkage with real-time construction data from IoT sensors, and post-completion digital twins for optimized maintenance—realizing data-driven construction management centered on BIM/CIM. MLIT’s i-Construction 2.0 envisions a next-generation construction production system that “manages and automates the entire flow from surveying to design, construction, inspection, and maintenance using digital data.” In this vision, BIM/CIM is positioned as the core of data linkage across all processes, and strong promotion will continue from both regulatory and technical perspectives. Public procurement may codify BIM/CIM usage into contract requirements, and as-built management guidelines are expected to be revised on a 3D-first basis, updating industry standards.

On the human resources side, MLIT, universities, and technical colleges will expand BIM/CIM education programs, making the skills needed for future professionals routine. Some civil engineering universities have already begun incorporating BIM/CIM exercises into curricula. For young engineers, BIM/CIM will become an essential digital literacy, and there may come a time when careers are limited for those who cannot handle BIM/CIM. Accordingly, companies should accumulate know-how early and focus on talent acquisition and training.

Overall, the outlook for BIM/CIM is very bright. With national backing, institutional and technical foundations are solidifying and DX across the industry will accelerate. As an innovative technology to achieve efficiency, sophistication, and labor reduction in construction projects, BIM/CIM is becoming essential infrastructure rather than an option. Companies and engineers should keep pace with the latest trends and update their BIM/CIM utilization strategies.

Conclusion: Experience Field DX with LRTK

This article explained the basics of BIM/CIM, use cases, challenges, and future prospects. Finally, for those who want to experience field DX in the BIM/CIM era, here is an easy first step: smart surveying with LRTK, as mentioned throughout this article.

LRTK is a high-precision surveying tool you can use with just a smartphone, allowing you to start 3D data measurement on-site without advanced knowledge. For example, simply replacing field surveying that relied on craftsmen’s intuition and experience with LRTK can let you experience the benefits of digitization. Measured data are saved to the cloud in real time and reflected immediately on office drawings—once you experience this, you may not want to return to analogue methods.

LRTK’s AR features let you overlay design models onto real scenes. You can view a planned building model on-site or use your camera to check discrepancies between constructed structures and design drawings—an experience like seeing the construction site of the future. Seeing is believing, so pick up a smartphone on-site and feel the power of this visualization.

The DX benefits of BIM/CIM are not limited to a few advanced companies. Tools like LRTK enable small and medium enterprises and individual field technicians to take an easy first step into digitization. Adopting the entirety of BIM/CIM at once is a large undertaking, but starting DX with field surveying is a practical first move. Importing the resulting data into a BIM/CIM model will dramatically change how you view and manage projects.

The construction industry is undergoing major transformation. Take this opportunity to deepen your understanding of digital technologies, experience field DX, and engage with future standards. LRTK is an ideal entry point. Try it on-site to experience its convenience and potential. As an introduction to construction DX, start by seeing how LRTK changes your fieldwork, and then take gradual steps toward fully leveraging BIM/CIM for smart manufacturing. The result will reveal more efficient and attractive construction sites than ever before.