Architectural Engineering and Design Management

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BIM-enabled strategies for dams and hydroelectric

structures: a comprehensive analysis of applications from
design to operation

Rafael Chehab Canto Pereira, Pedro Nogueira de Resende, João Rodolfo

Côrtes Pires & Ana Regina Mizrahy Cuperschmid

To cite this article: Rafael Chehab Canto Pereira, Pedro Nogueira de Resende, João
Rodolfo Côrtes Pires & Ana Regina Mizrahy Cuperschmid (06 Aug 2024): BIM-enabled
strategies for dams and hydroelectric structures: a comprehensive analysis of applications
from design to operation, Architectural Engineering and Design Management, DOI:
10.1080/17452007.2024.2386128

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ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT
https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2024.2386128

REVIEW ARTICLE

BIM-enabled strategies for dams and hydroelectric structures: a

comprehensive analysis of applications from design to operation
Rafael Chehab Canto Pereiraa, Pedro Nogueira de Resendea, João Rodolfo Côrtes Piresb
and Ana Regina Mizrahy Cuperschmida
a
Department of Architecture and Construction, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil;
b
Côrtes Consultoria e Assessoria, Côrtes Consultoria, Campinas, Brazil

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

The engineering involved in the construction and management of Received 15 November 2023
hydroelectric power plants and dams is both challenging and Accepted 24 July 2024
interdisciplinary. These structures encounter complexities such as large
KEYWORDS
dimensions, a variety of construction systems, and the need for rigorous Building information
safety control. Accidents in these structures can be caused by design, modeling; infrastructure;
construction, operation, and maintenance, requiring new techniques to hydropower; monitoring;
increase their safety. This article presents a systematic literature review maintenance
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.

Introduction
The design, construction, management, and maintenance of hydroelectric power plants and dam
structures represent a complex and multidisciplinary task involving numerous challenges. These infra­
structures are characterized by their extensive dimensions, the presence of multiple systems, and the
need for continuous monitoring and control of safety parameters. Intelligent organization and coordi­
nation of data play a pivotal role in ensuring agility and reliability for these structures. In this context,
the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology holds promise across all stages of
their lifecycle, providing a range of resources to support these processes. Furthermore, BIM was recog­
nized as a central source of data generation and a tool for managing risks, offering the potential for
improved accuracy in assessing design feasibility (Raouf & Al-Ghamdi, 2019).
Through BIM, it is possible to integrate diverse information and link it to models, enabling the
coordination of disciplines and ensuring the continuous flow of information (Sacks, Eastman, Lee, &

CONTACT Ana Regina Mizrahy Cuperschmid [email protected] Rua Saturnino de Brito, 224, Cidade Universitária
Zeferino Vaz, Campinas, São Paulo, CEP 13083-889
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published
allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
2 R. CHEHAB CANTO PEREIRA ET AL.

Teicholz, 2018). Integrating BIM provides numerous substantial and quantifiable advantages for both
clients and contractors. It assists in achieving accurate and ideal design assessments, ensuring a seam­
less construction process free from conflicts, and streamlining construction expenses for optimization
(Jasiński, 2021). The use of this methodology is becoming increasingly common and has demonstrated
its versatility, finding applications in airport projects (Koseoglu, Keskin, & Ozorhon, 2019), heritage
preservation (Silva, Cuperschmid, Cerávolo, & Fabricio, 2022), urban design (Wei, Bonenberg, Zhou,
& Wang, 2021), agriculture (Khan, Aziz, & Ahmed, 2018), marine environments (Buonomano, Del
Papa, Francesco Giuzio, Maka, & Palombo, 2023), and energy performance assessments (Gao, Koch,
& Wu, 2019). However, when the application of BIM extends beyond the boundaries of building pro­
jects and advances into infrastructure works, such as hydroelectric and dam structures (HDS), there are
still gaps to be filled due to the complex nature of these projects.
This article provides a comprehensive Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and a discussion on how
BIM has been utilized in HDS, outlining significant trends in this field. It is understood that studies
conducted on dams used for energy generation and other purposes complement each other. There­
fore, the decision was made to encompass all uses, as various practices and techniques developed
for one niche can be applied in another. Thus, this study seeks to investigate how BIM aids in project
development, construction processes, asset management, and monitoring of these constructions.
For this purpose, the key questions that motivated this research were: (i) How has BIM been
used? (ii) Where has this application been most prominent? (iii) What were the most widely used soft­
ware applications according to their research applications? (iv) What technologies support this
process? (v) What are the limitations and lessons learned from its usage? (vi) How can BIM
support safety issues in HDS?
This paper addresses recurrent problems posed by these constructions, presents recent trends
and advancements in the field, and provides a comprehensive overview of contributions already
made by the academic community. Further exploration into this subject can benefit HDS projects
aiming to adopt the BIM methodology, ensuring that they become more secure.

Motivation: safety in hydroelectric and dam structures

Although rare, the possibility of catastrophic accidents in dams due to various factors underscores
the importance of analyzing the causes and patterns of accidents with these structures (Kalinina,
Spada, Burgherr, Marelli, & Sudret, 2017). There are accidents that occur due to underestimated
risks, such as earthquakes, terrorism, and sabotage, which are also factors that require attention
in managing these structures (Wieland, 2023), but this article will focus on failures that occur
during expected processes in a lifecycle of these structures. These processes deal with negligence
during the design, construction, operation, and maintenance stages of the elements of this (Kale,
Aşikoğlu, & Baradan, 2022).
The International Commission On Large Dams (ICOLD), an international reference entity in dam
engineering, published the ICOLD Bulletin ‘No. 99 Dam Failures – Statistical Analysis’ (International
Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), 2019). The main objective of the study is to map accidents in
dams based on their characteristics such as type, location, and construction period. In the document,
35,230 dams and 311 accidents were recorded until 2018, resulting in an average accident rate of
0.88%. ICOLD characterizes an accident as an uncontrolled release of impounded water and/or
the total loss of integrity of the dam structure, its foundation, or buttresses. To understand the
global dam scenario, these data were separated by continent (Table 1).
Asia and North America stand out for having the highest numbers of dams; however, the percen­
tage of accidents in Asia is less than half of the percentage of accidents in North America. Addition­
ally, South America, Oceania, and North America have accident rates higher than the average, with
Oceania being the continent with the highest percentage of accidents. It is worth noting that despite
the relatively low accident rates, when accidents occur, they have a high destructive capacity in their
surroundings, leading to significant human losses and environmental damage.
 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT 3

Table 1. Number of dams, accidents, and ratio by continent.

Continent Existing dams Failed dams Ratio
Asia 11335 56 0.49%
North America 11118 130 1.17%
Europe 7713 61 0.79%
Africa 2330 30 1.29%
South America 1887 22 1.17%
Austral-Asia 824 12 1.46%
Central America 23 0 0%
Total 35230 311 0.88%
Source: Based on International Commission on Large Dams, ICOLD, (2019).

There are various types of dams such as arch, buttress, multiple arch, gravity, rockfill, and earth
dams (Asthana & Khare, 2022), which are chosen based on several factors. Among these factors
are the Inflow Design Flood (Singh & Jain, 2024), construction methods, size of the project, physical
characteristics of the terrain, and financial limitations (Darwish et al., 2015). Therefore, each type has
its own peculiarities and presents a different accident rate (Table 2).
The proportion of accidents among dam types is quite similar (failure rate between 0.8% and
1.4%), except for buttress and multiple arch dams, which are much higher (2.35% and 3.81%).
However, it is important to understand what caused the accidents in each type of dam, whether
they occurred due to design errors or due to construction, operation, and maintenance of the
dam (Figure 1).
It is evident that the most recurrent error for all types of dams occurs during the design stage.
However, it should be noted that the design methods used at the time of construction may be out­
dated compared to current standards adopted for design (International Commission on Large Dams
(ICOLD), 2019). Therefore, it is necessary to apply techniques to investigate and monitor whether
these older dams require any reinforcement or stricter control.
The second most recurrent error occurs during the construction stage of dams, due to the high
complexity of the structure, which includes elements of large dimensions and various design disci­
plines. These must be coordinated with each other to ensure their proper functioning (Toprak &
Demirkesen, 2023).
For rockfill, gravity, and earth dams, accidents caused by the operation and maintenance of the
dam are observed. These tasks require a significant mobilization of the team for handling electrome­
chanical equipment and managing sensor data. Thus, it is evident that there is a possibility to
develop new practices that have the potential to minimize accidents in the stages of design, con­
struction, operation, and maintenance of dams.

Methodology
The search strategy adopted in this study involved accessing the ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of
Science databases. Within each database, the search was conducted using conference papers and

Table 2. Number of dams, accidents, and ratio by dam type.

Dam type Existing dams Failed dams Ratio
VA – Arch 890 6 0.67%
CB – Butress 340 8 2.35%
MV – Multi Arch 105 4 3.81%
PG – Gravity 5571 46 0.83%
ER – Rockfill 2378 33 1.39%
TE – Earthfill 21977 209 0.95%
BM – Barrage 224 0 0%
Unknown 715 5 0.7%
Source: Based on International Commission on Large Dams, ICOLD (2019).
4 R. CHEHAB CANTO PEREIRA ET AL.

Figure 1. Organizational causes of accidents and types of dams. Source: Based on International Commission on Large Dams,
ICOLD (2019).

journal articles published in English from 2017 to September 2023. Additionally, to enhance the
accuracy of the retrieved articles, Boolean operators were employed for the terms (‘Building Infor­
mation Modeling’ OR ‘BIM’) AND (‘Dam’ OR ‘Hydroelectric’) (Figure 2).

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

In relation to the research, the following exclusion criteria were defined to obtain bibliometric data
and subsequent analysis of the study: (1) duplicate articles; (2) unavailable articles; (3) articles not
relevant to the topic. The articles were categorized based on the year of publication, publication
source, and BIM applications.
These articles were categorized based on their purpose, modeling and/or operational software,
whether they utilized the IFC schema, and the challenges encountered. Additionally, for each BIM
application, specific questions were addressed, which will be described in the respective section
for each application.
After searching the databases, a total of 59 articles were found, comprising 3 from Science Direct,
17 from Web of Science, and 39 from Scopus (Figure 3).

Figure 2. Search strategy.

 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT 5

Figure 3. Articles by databases.

Following the application of the duplicate exclusion criterion, 45 articles remained. The criterion
for unavailable articles led to the exclusion of 4 articles. Lastly, 12 articles were deemed unrelated to
the subject, as they did not address BIM for dams or hydroelectric power plants. Therefore, 29 articles
were selected for the study, representing 49.15% of the initially found articles (Figure 4).

Bibliometric analysis
The conception and development of BIM models for dams and hydroelectric power plants prove to be
a multifaceted tool with the potential for diverse utilization of tools and methods. The co-occurrence

Figure 4. PRISMA flowchart of studies included in this systematic review.

6 R. CHEHAB CANTO PEREIRA ET AL.

analysis of keywords in the investigated publications demonstrates the wide variety of approaches
present in the topic, as evidenced by the sparse and loosely connected clusters, visualized through
a word cloud (Figure 5). It is important to note that the keywords ‘BIM,’ ‘Building Information Modeling,’
and ‘Building Information Modelling’ were considered synonymous, ensuring a consistent analysis.
The generated word cloud is significant for initial analysis as it identifies trends and related concepts.
It highlights that topics such as photogrammetry, UAV, and WebGIS are more extensively explored
within this central subject. Additionally, it presents complementary subjects, addressed specifically
in the articles, such as Internet of Things (IoT), Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), and Virtual Reality
interactive systems.
This section aims to analyze the bibliometric data related to the 29 resulting articles (Table 3).
The selected articles were published between 2017 and September 2023, with a noticeable
increase in publications from 2019 onwards (Figure 6). This indicates a growing academic interest
in the subject, although the number of studies is still limited, implying the potential for further
expansion in research on this topic.
It was possible to analyze the publication venues of the articles, categorizing them into confer­
ence proceedings and journals, and verifying if any of these venues were recurrent. Among the
29 articles, 14 were published as conference proceedings, and 15 as journal papers (Figure 7). In
both conference proceedings and journals, a diverse range of publication sources was observed.
The proceedings that published the most articles in the field were from the IOP Conference
Series: Earth and Environmental Science, with 4 publications (Hong, 2020; Ji & Hu, 2019; Nugraha,
Hermawan, & Monica, 2021; Sentosa et al., 2023), and the International Archives of the Photogram­
metry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences – ISPRS Archives with 2 publications (Arbad,
Arifin, Martina, Nindya, & Nurfa, 2023; Rakhymberdina, Assylkhanova, & Toguzova, 2022) while, the
journals Structure and Infrastructure Engineering (Atef & Bristow, 2019; Atef & Bristow, 2022), Auto­
mation in Construction (Zhang, Hou, Wang, Pan, & Yan, 2020; Zhou, Bao, Shu, Li, & Li, 2023), and

Figure 5. Keyword cloud.

 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT 7

Table 3. Studies on BIM implementation in HDS.

Case
Research Year Type Journal/conference Nationalitya study Locationb
(Guévremont & 2019 Conference CEUR Workshop Proceedings Canada ✓ Canada
Hammad, 2019) Paper
(Liu, 2022a) 2022 Conference Conf. on Power, Electronics and China ✓ China
Paper Computer Applications (ICPECA)
(Shishehgarkhaneh 2022 Journal Smart Cities Iran ✓ Iran
et al., 2022) Article
(Zhou et al., 2023) 2023 Journal Automation in Construction China ✓ China
Article
(Zhang et al., 2017) 2017 Journal Construction Engineering and China ✓ China
Article Management
(Atef & Bristow, 2019) 2019 Journal Structure and Infrastructure Canada ✓ Canada
Article Engineering
(Arbad et al., 2020) 2020 Conference Asian Conf. on Remote Sensing (ACRS) Indonesia ✓ Indonesia
Paper
(Ji & Hu, 2019) 2019 Journal IOP Conf. Series: Earth and China ✓ China
Article Environmental Science
(Liu et al., 2019) 2019 Journal Computers in Industry China ✓ China
Article
(Nugraha et al., 2021) 2021 Journal IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Indonesia ✓ Indonesia
Article Environmental Science
(Hendriatiningsih 2021 Journal Journal Kejuruteraan Indonesia ✓ Indonesia
et al., 2021) Article
(Zhang & Jiang, 2021) 2021 Journal KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering China ✓ China
Article
(Zhang et al., 2020) 2020 Journal Automation in Construction China ✓ China
Article
(Tanoli et al., 2017) 2017 Conference International Symposium on South ✓ South
Paper Automation and Robotics in Korea Korea
Construction (ISARC)
(Ye et al., 2021) 2021 Conference International Academic Exchange Conf. China X –
Paper on Science and Technology
Innovation (IAECST)
(Liu, 2022b) 2022 Conference International Conf. on Intelligent China X –
Paper Computing and Control Systems
(ICICCS)
(Hong, 2020) 2020 Journal IOP Conf. Series: Earth and China X –
Article Environmental Science
(Atef & Bristow, 2022) 2022 Journal Structure and Infrastructure Canada ✓ Canada
Article Engineering
(Rong et al., 2019) 2019 Journal Water (Switzerland) China ✓ China
Article
(Buffi et al., 2018) 2018 Journal IN_BO Italia ✓ Italia
Article
(Hi and Gu, 2020) 2020 Conference Data Processing Techniques and China ✓ China
Paper Applications for Cyber-Physical
Systems (DPTA)
(Rakhymberdina et al., 2022 Conference The International Archives of the Kazakhstan ✓ Kazakhstan
2022) Paper Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing
and Spatial Information Sciences
(Zhang et al., 2021) 2021 Journal Construction Engineering and China ✓ China
Article Management
(Hasan et al., 2023) 2023 Journal Mathematical Modelling of Engineering Iraq ✓ Turkey
Article Problems
(Sentosa et al., 2023) 2023 Conference IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Indonesia ✓ Indonesia
Paper Environmental Science
(Arbad et al., 2023) 2023 Conference International Archives of the Indonesia ✓ Indonesia
Paper Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing
and Spatial Information Sciences -
ISPRS Archives
(Zhang et al., 2018) 2018 Journal Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure China ✓ China
Article Engineering

(Continued )
8 R. CHEHAB CANTO PEREIRA ET AL.

Table 3. Continued.
Case
Research Year Type Journal/conference Nationalitya study Locationb
(Khassaf, 2021) 2021 Journal International Journal of GEOMATE Iraq X -
Article
(Lao & Qin, 2022) 2023 Conference International Conf. on Big Data Thailand ✓ -
Paper Analytics for Cyber-Physical System in
Smart City
a
Nationality of the First Author’s Educational Institution.
b
HDS location.

Figure 6. Publications per year.

Figure 7. Publications per journal/conference.

Construction Engineering and Management (Zhang, Jiang, Zhang, & Wang, 2021; Zhang, Pan, Wang,
Sun, & Wang, 2017) had two publications each. The remaining articles were published in different
venues.
A nationality segmentation of the publications in question was also performed (Figure 8). In this
analysis, the research institution of the first author of each article was considered. It is evident that
 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT 9

Figure 8. Publications per country.

China accounts for almost half of the selected content for this study, with 14 out of 29 articles (Table
3). Moreover, Canada and Indonesia stand out with two publications each.
Among the 29 publications analyzed, 25 presented a case study involving BIM for HDS, while four
did not provide a detailed description of a specific study object (Hong, 2020; Khassaf, 2021; Liu,
2022a; Ye et al., 2021). From this, another analysis was conducted in search of the identification of
the countries where the 25 case studies were located (Figure 9), reinforcing the connection
between the research institution and the case study. Mapping the quantity of publications per

Figure 9. Locations of the case studies.

10 R. CHEHAB CANTO PEREIRA ET AL.

country indicates where this has been more academically explored. This can be advantageous for
those interested in developing projects in the field. It is worth mentioning that not all countries
have access to the same technologies. This implies that observing case studies by country can
benefit those seeking references for initiating projects of this nature.
Within the scope of case studies, China also stands out as the country with the most studies invol­
ving power plants or dams within its territory, totaling 11 constructions (Ji & Hu, 2019; Liu, 2022a; Liu,
Chen, Hu, & Zhang, 2019; Rong, Zhang, Peng, & Feng, 2019; Zhang et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2020;
Zhang & Jiang, 2021; Zhou et al., 2023; SHi & Gu, 2020; Zhang et al., 2018; Zhang et al., 2021). Indo­
nesia (Arbad et al., 2020; Arbad et al., 2023; Hendriatiningsih et al., 2021; Nugraha et al., 2021) and
Canada (Atef & Bristow, 2019; Atef & Bristow, 2022; Guévremont & Hammad, 2019) are also note­
worthy, with 4 and 3 constructions respectively within their territories.
The HDS in the case studies served various functions, including electricity generation (Atef &
Bristow, 2019; Atef & Bristow, 2022; Guévremont & Hammad, 2019; Liu, 2022a; Liu, 2022a; Liu
et al., 2019; Ye et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2017; Zhang & Jiang, 2021; Hi & Gu, 2020; Zhang et al.,
2018; Zhang et al., 2021), irrigation (Arbad et al., 2020; Arbad et al., 2023; Hendriatiningsih et al.,
2021; Liu et al., 2019; Nugraha et al., 2021; Rong et al., 2019; Sentosa et al., 2023), mining (Rakhym­
berdina et al., 2022), and water resource management (Arbad et al., 2020; Arbad et al., 2023; Buffi,
Manciola, Gambi, & Montanari, 2018; Ji & Hu, 2019; Liu et al., 2019; Nugraha et al., 2021; Shishehgar­
khaneh, Moradinia, Keivani, & Azizi, 2022). It is important to note that a single construction could
have been planned for multiple uses.

Data classification and analysis

Software and interoperability
The research studies employed various software applications for BIM implementation in Hydroelec­
tric or Dam projects. These software tools were categorized based on their applications in the
research: Modeling, Workflow, Point Cloud, Data Management, Performance Simulation, Construc­
tion Simulation, and Web Platform (Figure 10). Certain software tools were utilized in multiple
articles; hence, their usage was counted more than once, totaling 61 software mentions across
the studies. In total, 31 different software applications were used (Table 4).
In each category, specific software applications were utilized (Figure 11). Under the modeling cat­
egory, all software tools used for modeling or assisting in the modeling process were listed, with
Revit being mentioned in 18 publications, making it the most widely used software (Atef &
Bristow, 2019; Atef & Bristow, 2022; Buffi et al., 2018; Hendriatiningsih et al., 2021; Hong, 2020; Ji
& Hu, 2019; Liu, 2022a; Shishehgarkhaneh et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2020;

Figure 10. Software categories.

Table 4. Software categories and IFC.
Research Modeling Workflow Point cloud Data management Performance simulation Construction simulations Web platform IFCa
(Guévremont & Hammad, 2019) Revit – – – – Navisworks – –
(Liu, 2022a) – – – – – Synchro – –
(Shishehgarkhaneh et al., 2022) – – – – – – – –
(Zhou et al., 2023) Revit – – – – Fuzor – –
Navisworks
(Zhang et al., 2017) Revit – – Matlab – MS Project – –
Navisworks
(Atef & Bristow, 2019) Revit – – MySQL, Protege – – – ✓
(Arbad et al., 2020) Revit BIM 360 – – – Navisworks – ✓
Infraworks BIM server
Inventor Project Wise
Civil 3D
(Ji & Hu, 2019) Revit – – – RiskOutlook – – –
(Liu et al., 2019) Revit – – Visual Studio – – – –
(Nugraha et al., 2021) – – Metashape – – – – –
(Hendriatiningsih et al., 2021) Revit – – – Abaqus – – ✓
(Zhang & Jiang, 2021) Revit – – – – Navisworks – –
(Zhang et al., 2020) Revit Autoesk Forge – – – – WebGL –
Power Civil
(Tanoli et al., 2017) – – Metashape – – – – –
(Ye et al., 2021) – – – – HEC-RAS – – –
(Liu, 2022a) Revit – Maptek i-Site Studio 7.0 – – – – –
(Hong, 2020) Revit – – – – – WebGIS ✓
(Atef & Bristow, 2022) Revit – Metashape – – – WebGL ✓
GeoServer
(Rong et al., 2019) Revit – – – – – – –
(Buffi et al., 2018) Civil 3D – – Visual Studio - – – –
(Hi and Gu, 2020) – – – – Unreal Engine – – ✓
Unity
(Rakhymberdina et al., 2022) – – – – – – – –
(Zhang et al., 2021) Revit – – – – – – –
(Hasan et al., 2023) Revit – – – – – – –
(Sentosa et al., 2023) – – – Matlab – – – –
(Arbad et al., 2023) Revit – Metashape Pix4Dmapper – – – – –
Recap
(Zhang et al., 2018) Revit – – – – – – –
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT

(Khassaf, 2021) Digitals – – – EMGIS – – –

(Lao & Qin, 2022) – – – MySQL – – WebGIS –
a
Usage of IFC schema
11
12 R. CHEHAB CANTO PEREIRA ET AL.

Figure 11. Software used for each category of application.

Zhang & Jiang, 2021; Zhou et al., 2023; Arbad et al., 2023; Hi & Gu, 2020; Lao & Qin, 2022; Sentosa
et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2018).
The Workflow Management category encompasses tools that facilitate interaction between
models and the tasks that need to be performed, with 4 software applications being mentioned.
BIM 360, BIMserver, and ProjectWise were analyzed in an article, where a comparison was made
between them (Zhang et al., 2017). Autodesk Forge (currently known as Autodesk Platform Services)
was utilized for creating a Digital Twin (Liu et al., 2019).
The Web Platform category includes software applications designed for data visualization via the
web. Both WEBGL (Liu et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2020) and WEBGis (Zhang et al., 2021; Zhang & Jiang,
2021) were referenced in two articles.
In the Point Cloud category, tools capable of processing photogrammetry or laser
scanning results were included. Agisoft Metashape was utilized in more than half of the articles
that conducted this process (Arbad et al., 2020; Buffi et al., 2018; Khassaf, 2021; Zhang et al.,
2020).
The Data Management category comprises software tools employed for applying mathematical
and computational methods using data provided by BIM models. The software MySQL was used
in two articles (Zhang et al., 2021; Zhou et al., 2023), as well as Matlab (Rong et al., 2019; Shishehgar­
khaneh et al., 2022) and Visual Studio (Lao & Qin, 2022; Tanoli, Raza, Lee, & Seo, 2017).
 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT 13

The Construction Simulation category involves software applications that simulate the construc­
tion progress according to the project’s planning or tools that assist in this process. Navisworks stood
out in this category, being utilized in 5 publications (Ji & Hu, 2019; Liu, 2022a; Shishehgarkhaneh
et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2018).
The Performance Simulation category encompasses various simulations: (1) Flood Areas, (2)
Equipment Inspection and Maintenance, (3) Risk Analysis and Interdependencies, and (4) Finite
Elements. For flood area simulation, HEC-RAS was utilized (Nugraha et al., 2021) along with EMGIS
(Rakhymberdina et al., 2022). For Equipment Inspection and Maintenance simulation, Unreal
Engine and Unity were employed (Ye et al., 2021). Risk Analysis and Interdependencies, as well as
Finite Element simulations, were conducted using RiskOutlook (Atef & Bristow, 2019) and Abaqus
(Sentosa et al., 2023).
This wide array of software necessitates interoperability among them to maintain the flow of
information. One way to achieve communication between different software applications is
through the IFC schema, an open and international standard (ISO 16739-1:2018) (buildingSMART
B-Cert, 2023). Notably, the IFC scheme is intentionally engineered to exhibit vendor-neutrality, ensur­
ing compatibility across an extensive array of hardware devices, software platforms, and interfaces,
thereby accommodating diverse utilization scenarios. Some software applications from the same
developer come with plugins that enable file exchange without the use of IFC, such as Autodesk’s
Revit and Navisworks (Figure 12).

BIM usage
In the selected articles, diverse applications of BIM for DAM and Hydroelectric projects were
found, featuring various methodological approaches. To gain a comprehensive understanding
of the existing academic work, five types of BIM technology usage for these projects were ident­
ified: New Project, As-Is Modeling, Software Development, Digital Twin, and Simulation. Conse­
quently, the articles were categorized based on the specific BIM usages addressed in their case
studies (Table 5). It is noteworthy that a single study might encompass more than one BIM
application.
Articles were categorized as ‘New Project’ if they discussed the creation of a BIM model for a new
project and its coordination for construction. Those articles detailing the process of creating a model
for an already constructed building were classified as ‘As-Is Modeling.’ The simulation category com­
prises articles leveraging the BIM model to conduct simulations spanning the entirety of the con­
struction process, from design through operational phases. In ‘Software Development,’ articles
focused on creating new computational tools that utilize data provided by the BIM model to
perform specific tasks. Finally, articles falling under the category ‘Digital Twin’ presented a digital

Figure 12. Use of the IFC schema.

14 R. CHEHAB CANTO PEREIRA ET AL.

Table 5. BIM usage by research.

Research New project As is modeling Software development Digital twin Simulation
(Guévremont & Hammad, 2019) ✓ – – – –
(Liu, 2022a) ✓ – – – ✓
(Shishehgarkhaneh et al., 2022) – – – – ✓
(Zhou et al., 2023) ✓ ✓ – – –
(Zhang et al., 2017) ✓ – – – ✓
(Atef & Bristow, 2019) – – ✓ ✓ –
(Arbad et al., 2020) ✓ – ✓ ✓ –
(Ji & Hu, 2019) – ✓ – – ✓
(Liu et al., 2019) ✓ – ✓ – –
(Nugraha et al., 2021) ✓ – – – –
(Hendriatiningsih et al., 2021) ✓ – – – ✓
(Zhang & Jiang, 2021) ✓ – – ✓ ✓
(Zhang et al., 2020) – – – ✓ –
(Tanoli et al., 2017) ✓ – – – ✓
(Ye et al., 2021) – ✓ – – ✓
(Liu, 2022a) – ✓ – – –
(Hong, 2020) – – ✓ – –
(Atef & Bristow, 2022) – ✓ ✓ – –
(Rong et al., 2019) ✓ – – – –
(Buffi et al., 2018) – – ✓ – –
(Hi and Gu, 2020) – – – ✓ –
(Rakhymberdina et al., 2022) ✓ – – – –
(Zhang et al., 2021) ✓ – ✓ – –
(Hasan et al., 2023) – ✓ – – ✓
(Sentosa et al., 2023) – ✓ – – ✓
(Arbad et al., 2023) – ✓ – – –
(Zhang et al., 2018) ✓ – – – ✓
(Khassaf, 2021) – ✓ – – ✓
(Lao & Qin, 2022) ✓ – – ✓ –
Total 15 9 7 6 12

representation of a physical component, where the physical project and its digital twin regularly
exchange data throughout the lifecycle (buildingSMART, 2020).

New project
The ‘New Project’ category encompasses BIM-modeled designs for new developments, allowing the
selection of optimal designs and streamlining the construction process. The software Revit was the
most frequently chosen tool for modeling, utilized in six articles (Hong, 2020; Ji & Hu, 2019; Liu,
2022a; Shishehgarkhaneh et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2017; Hi & Gu, 2020; Khassaf, 2021; Lao & Qin,
2022; Sentosa et al., 2023).
Additionally, some of these articles extended the use of these models, integrating them with
project coordination and construction planning software, such as Navisworks (Ji & Hu, 2019; Liu,
2022a; Sentosa et al., 2023; Shishehgarkhaneh et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2017). HDS present a
higher complexity in project coordination due to systems that are not present in conventional struc­
tures or infrastructure works, such as: oil systems, compressed air, cooling systems, among others.
Additionally, their elements exhibit high structural complexity, as they are subject to non-conven­
tional forces such as water thrust, forces related to soil retention, and dynamic efforts resulting
from hydraulic events.
Another application of these models involved their comparison with point clouds generated
through photogrammetry to monitor construction progress (Arbad et al., 2020).
These applications can help minimize accidents related to ‘design’ and ‘construction,’ which are
the most recurrent (International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), 2019), as these tools are
aimed at minimizing errors that could occur on-site, especially regarding project coordination,
and ensure better management of project information and details.
 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT 15

As is modeling
There are various tools available for creating models of existing structures, including modeling based
on as-built technical drawings, point clouds, and satellite images. The most common method for
creating models was through point clouds, with 4 obtained through laser scanning (Atef &
Bristow, 2019; Atef & Bristow, 2022; Hendriatiningsih et al., 2021; Liu, 2022a), 1 through photogram­
metry (Buffi et al., 2018), and 1 did not specify how the point cloud was obtained (Rong et al., 2019).
Additionally, two articles created models using satellite images (Rakhymberdina et al., 2022; Zhang
et al., 2020; Zhou et al., 2023), with one of these articles also incorporating technical drawings
(Rakhymberdina et al., 2022).
Many accidents within the ‘design’ category occurred because construction methods were deemed
acceptable at the time of construction, but later proved insufficient due to new knowledge derived
from research and experience. Therefore, creating an ‘as is’ modeling of these structures allows the
creation of a model that can be used to assess whether the way this HDS was built is still considered
safe according to current safety standards. Additionally, with this model created, simulations can be
conducted to propose improvements and optimize dams that were built a long time ago.

Software development
Given that HDS constructions involve specific engineering challenges, they are not always ade­
quately addressed by existing tools. The construction of these structures entails intricate engineering
challenges, requiring collaboration among numerous stakeholders. Consequently, various platforms
have been developed to address these challenges: contract-based Engineering, Procurement, and
Construction (EPC) collaboration (Tanoli et al., 2017), project management aided by GIS visualization
(Zhang et al., 2020), and project management integrated with the philosophy of reverse design
(Hong, 2020). Additionally, a tool was created for planning earth-moving activities necessary for
such projects (Tanoli et al., 2017).
In the development of customized computational solutions, a common challenge faced is the
flow of data and its interoperability. Considering that the current IFC schema does not encompass
elements specific to hydroelectric plants, Zhang and Jiang (Zhang & Jiang, 2021) devised a software
that creates an extension where the elements of these structures are properly grouped and
classified. Moreover, integrating 3D models with crucial dam safety data, such as sensor information,
is a complex task. To address this, Zhou et al. (Zhou et al., 2023) established an ontological domain
that organized information received from diverse sources, while Lao and Qin (Lao & Qin, 2022) uti­
lized Cloud Computing to integrate a 3D model with security data derived from devices such as
sensors, cameras, meteorological stations, water and rainfall monitoring stations, and patrol
detectors.
The development of these tools is of paramount importance and occurred because existing sol­
utions did not meet specific demands of this type of structure. For instance, the IFC extension
created by Zhang and Jiang (Zhang & Jiang, 2021), aims to encompass specific elements of hydro­
electric power plants.

Digital twin
Based on the integration of real-time data collected from the building with its virtual model, this BIM
usage has been presented in five distinct studies. The incorporation of field-acquired information,
whether through remote sensors (Ji & Hu, 2019; Liu et al., 2019; Ye et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2021;
Zhou et al., 2023) or via Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and manual inspections (Liu et al.,
2019), aims to continually update the digital model and bring it closer to the actual state of the con­
struction. These updated pieces of information contribute to decision-making in various challenges
encountered in HDS engineering.
The articles presented various objectives for the creation of the digital twin, such as: for better
construction control and future planning (Ji & Hu, 2019; Zhang et al., 2021); for collaborative
16 R. CHEHAB CANTO PEREIRA ET AL.

control of construction progress through field-collected data (Zhang et al., 2017); for asset manage­
ment of an HDS, as these are complex projects requiring various maintenance fronts for safe and
efficient operation (Ye et al., 2021); and for safety monitoring to prevent catastrophic events,
seeking rapid responses to accidents (Liu et al., 2019; Zhou et al., 2023).
To consolidate all the information and automate workflows, the use of commercial tools such as Auto­
desk Forge (Liu et al., 2019) and NavisWorks (Zhang et al., 2017) was observed, as well as custom software
development for organizing and inferring information tailored to specific needs (Zhou et al., 2023).
Thus, the Digital Twin has the capability to minimize accidents during the construction phase (Ji & Hu,
2019; Zhang et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2021), as it links construction data to the model, facilitating the
detection of construction errors or design flaws. Additionally, it possesses the ability to support operation
and maintenance, preventing accidents during this HDS stage (Liu et al., 2019; Ye et al., 2021; Zhou et al.,
2023). The digital twin can present the properties and state of electromechanical equipment, making it
easier for the operation team to identify and correct equipment malfunctions. In turn, the maintenance
team can use the Digital Twin to input issues such as animal burrows, woody vegetation roots, and cracks
in structures, creating a maintenance history and improving activity control.

Simulation
Given that HDS engineering is a complex and interdisciplinary challenge, simulations with various
objectives are conducted. Using different methods, structural analyses (Atef & Bristow, 2019; Ji &
Hu, 2019; SHi & Gu, 2020; Khassaf, 2021), hydraulic and hydrological studies (Nugraha et al., 2021;
Rakhymberdina et al., 2022; Rong et al., 2019), construction-related investigations (Guévremont &
Hammad, 2019; Hasan, Naimi, & Hameed, 2023; Sentosa et al., 2023; Shishehgarkhaneh et al.,
2022), and assessments of the performance of building systems (Atef & Bristow, 2019; Atef &
Bristow, 2022) have been carried out.
All the studies pointed to the benefits of using BIM models for calculations, enabling more
precise, detailed, and visual analyses. The organized and integrated availability of data through
BIM models allowed for the use of various simulation methods such as Finite Element Analysis (Ji
& Hu, 2019; Lao & Qin, 2022), Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes (Rong et al., 2019), CSPH-TVD
(Rakhymberdina et al., 2022), meta-heuristic algorithms (Shishehgarkhaneh et al., 2022), and 4D
simulation (Guévremont & Hammad, 2019). Furthermore, computational tools that support
diverse simulation methods were utilized, including Hec-Ras (Nugraha et al., 2021) and RiskOutlook
(Atef & Bristow, 2019).
Finite element simulations and hydraulic simulations reduce the chances of accidents due to design
errors, as they can simulate the behavior of the structure in extreme situations, verifying if the structure
behaves as expected (Kiraa, Zeidan, Nasr, & Heza, 2023; Sotiropoulos, 2015). Additionally, simulations
using HEC-Ras to predict floodplains (Dhiwar, Verma, & Prasad, 2022) enable the prediction of gate
opening and closing to reduce the chance of operation-related accidents. In the cases mentioned,
these techniques involved in the design and monitoring of HDS are integrated with a BIM model,
enhancing their results or streamlining the workflow. For example, the use of the geometry of
these models for creating meshes required in Finite Element Analysis (Ji & Hu, 2019; Khassaf, 2021).

Discussion
In this section, we aim to address the research questions based on the SLR and the questions raised
in the introduction.

How has BIM been used?

An analysis of the applications identified reveals diverse directions for the utilization of BIM in this
context. The trends explored in the reviewed articles encompass the development of: New
Project, As-Is Modeling, Software Development, Digital Twin, and Simulation.
 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT 17

The benefits of using BIM for HDS were observed from project conception to the management
and maintenance of these structures. Employing BIM for project conception provided the following
advantages: the identification and resolution of conflicts among structural, electrical, mechanical,
and hydraulic disciplines; structural and hydraulic simulations to optimize HDS design and reduce
costs; integration with construction planning to simulate the construction process and predict build­
ing site logistics; improved information management and document control, as key information is
linked to the model.
Furthermore, the use of BIM for existing HDS enabled the creation of ‘as-is’ models that can be
employed for operation and maintenance. The ‘as is’ models can also be employed to assess the
safety of HDS that were constructed a long time ago and determine whether their current condition
aligns with current safety standards or if they require reinforcement. Consequently, after the HDS
were built, BIM models gained new functionalities, such as finite element simulations to predict structural
forces and settlements, performance assessments of the systems within the building to enhance oper­
ational efficiency, flood area simulations to anticipate accidents and control reservoir levels, among
others. These simulations facilitate the operation of these structures and contribute to decision-making.
Some studies also explored the use of digital twins, integrating sensor data or equipment with BIM
models. It utilizes a digital representation of physical structures and enables technologies such as
sensors, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things to collect and exchange
real-time data (buildingSMART, 2020). Thus, the physical entity and the digital twin regularly exchange
data throughout the lifecycle, including planning, construction, operation, and demolition.
This technology is useful for the operation and maintenance of HDS, as it offers benefits such as
synchronous and remote data analysis, expedited decision-making, field team coordination, infor­
mation management, and automation of safety-related aspects. Furthermore, this technology allows
for greater control over the condition of these structures, as cracks or structural anomalies identified
by the field team can be incorporated into the model, creating a history of necessary corrections.

Where has this application been most prominent?

A significant increase in the application of BIM in HDS has been observed in recent years. Through an
analysis of all the studies conducted, several characteristics have been identified that can be high­
lighted for a better understanding of the current scenario of BIM application in HDS. Over the
past five years, there has been a noticeable growth in scientific production.
The relevance of Asia in the scientific production of this niche, with a particular emphasis on
China, is evident, as the continent contributes 15 publications out of the total analyzed, with
China alone accounting for 12 of them. This fact also corresponds with the observation that Asia,
being the continent with the most dams, exhibits the lowest accident rate (International Commission
on Large Dams (ICOLD), 2019), indicating a correlation suggesting that research interest in this area
may contribute to accident reduction efforts. Esse fato também condiz com o fato de que a Asia ser o
continente com mais barragens e apresenta a menor taxa de acidentes indicando a relação de que o
interesse nessa área de pesquisa pode auxiliar na redução de acidentes. Furthermore, concerning the
geographical location of new projects, it is noticeable that out of the 15, 8 are located in China. One
possible reason for this is related to the fact that China’s power generation and water conservation
chain have received national attention and political encouragement (Hi & Gu, 2020). As a result, these
new projects are adopting the most current tools that enhance efficiency in the construction and
operation processes.

What were the most widely used software applications according to their research
applications?
Out of the 31 software tools utilized, Autodesk was responsible for the development of 9, with par­
ticular emphasis on Revit and Navisworks. Bentley’s Power Civil and Project Wise software were
18 R. CHEHAB CANTO PEREIRA ET AL.

featured in two articles. Both Revit and Power Civil are 3D modeling software, however, a market
leadership trend is noticeable for Revit, as it was employed in 18 articles, while Power Civil was
used in only 1.
Since the use of BIM for infrastructure still presents some challenges and limitations, there is sig­
nificant potential for growth and improvement of these tools. Given that 7 articles proposed the
development of new software tools, it can be inferred that there is still a need for the maturation
or creation of software to cater to this sector.

What technologies support this process?

The use of UAS as an auxiliary tool in BIM methodology deserves special mention. HDS structures are
known for their complexity and often pose challenges in terms of access for inspection activities,
topographical surveys, and other relevant operations. In this context, the use of UAS emerges as
an extremely relevant component to overcome such difficulties. Among the identified uses are
support for generating ‘as-is’ models through aerial photogrammetry (Buffi et al., 2018), progress
monitoring of construction works (Arbad et al., 2020), creation of topography models (Zhang
et al., 2021), and structural damage detection (Liu et al., 2019).
Other technologies have also been employed to obtain geometric data from already constructed
HDS, such as terrestrial laser scanning and satellite images. This underscores the importance of using
information capture technologies for large-scale structures, which often have inaccessible regions.
The use of these technologies is expected to become more widespread and accessible, as data acqui­
sition is facilitated by the constant improvement of technologies, including increased precision,
range, enhanced processing capabilities, and cost reduction. Therefore, these technological tools
are anticipated to be increasingly integrated into the BIM methodology for HDS.

What are the limitations and lessons learned from its usage?
Several articles reported challenges and limitations in the use of BIM in the proposed applications.
Some of these deserve special attention as they appeared more than once and are likely to be faced
by those who will work with BIM projects for this type of building, including: (a) structures complex­
ity; (b) data inconsistency; (c) the need for specialized teams and robust equipment.

Structures complexity
The complexity of HDS can present significant challenges throughout all phases of their lifecycle. The
substantial amount of data generated during the construction of these projects complicates moni­
toring engineering contracts (Zhang et al., 2017) and the modeling of building systems, as they rep­
resent robust and intricate systems (Atef & Bristow, 2019). Furthermore, the substantial quantity of
materials involved, coupled with management and the lengthy construction period, complicates
cost estimation (Shishehgarkhaneh et al., 2022; Ye et al., 2021). To address the complexity of the
structure, the implementation of simulation tools (for construction, logistics, and costs) can
prevent construction errors, aid in site planning, and optimize resources.
Another issue concerns the numerous security risks associated with HDS, making risk assessment
a challenging task (Guévremont & Hammad, 2019). This is an inherent challenge due to the complex­
ity of these structures; however, the reuse of simulation routines could ease these processes,
enabling their application in other scenarios.
Furthermore, the presence of a wide variety of components requires effective organization and
integration of information (Zhou et al., 2023), along with the creation of extensions to the IFC
schema, as some specific elements of these structures are not adequately specified in the standard
(Zhang & Jiang, 2021). Developing an IFC extension or an update to the main schema could encom­
pass specific elements of hydroelectric power plants, addressing the lack of standardization of
elements in these structures.
 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT 19

Furthermore, generating models through terrestrial laser scanning is challenging due to the sur­
rounding vegetation (Arbad et al., 2020; Arbad et al., 2023) or restricted accessibility (Atef & Bristow,
2022; Buffi et al., 2018; Hendriatiningsih et al., 2021). Hence, the use of UAS can overcome access
limitations to hard-to-reach areas, enabling the collection of detailed data.

Data inconsistency
The lack of precise data is a common concern in the analyzed studies, negatively impacting the
obtained results. The absence of accurate information about the structures can impede data inte­
gration into a single platform for contract management (Zhang et al., 2017), scheduling and moni­
toring (Sentosa et al., 2023), and the consistency of the final model (Hong, 2020). Additionally, the
scarcity of information regarding the accuracy of topographic data can affect the hydraulic modeling
of dams (Rong et al., 2019). To address this issue, the use of technologies such as laser scanning and
photogrammetry can contribute to the collection of precise information about structures and
topographies.
Furthermore, data with noise stemming from surveying equipment, such as UAS, can compromise
the effectiveness of BIM applications in these structures (Liu et al., 2019). Therefore, these data
sources can be combined with other surveys conducted by terrestrial laser scanning and conven­
tional topography to ensure greater accuracy.
The issues involving data loss when converting models into formats other than those native to a
given platform represent an additional concern (Ye et al., 2021). To circumvent this issue, employing
software with more established interoperability or utilizing plugins that facilitate information flow
can be recommended.

Requirement for specialized teams and robust equipment

The application of BIM tools in complex structures demands specialized resources, including hard­
ware and skilled labor. Beyond technical needs, a socio-technological integration among those
responsible for safety is crucial to ensure effective risk management (Guévremont & Hammad, 2019).
Additionally, various applications demand high processing capabilities, such as in the hydrodyn­
amic simulation of accidents in dams, where the necessity for supercomputers, complementary
tools, and expertise in algorithm efficiency is evident (Rakhymberdina et al., 2022). Moreover, the
generation of point clouds from multiple sources for highly accurate BIM modeling requires substan­
tial processing power, making the use of specialized hardware essential (Hendriatiningsih et al.,
2021). Cloud computing technologies are maturing and could potentially address this issue.
Moreover, integrating refined BIM models with GIS software may result in reduced rendering
speeds and loading delays (Zhang & Jiang, 2021). With the evolution of technologies, this issue is
likely to be resolved, as the emergence of specialized software for this integration can offer suitable
resources for efficient integration. Lastly, establishing strategic partnerships with academic insti­
tutions and specialized research centers in BIM can overcome technical barriers, ensuring access
to advanced knowledge and resources in the field.

How can BIM support safety in HDS?

As previously observed, all stages of the lifecycle of HDS require careful attention to avoid a chain of
accidents. With this in mind, the articles surveyed propose techniques aimed at optimizing these
processes, which can potentially prevent errors in design, construction, operation, or maintenance.
The creation of new projects directly impacts accidents related to design and construction, as
they will rely directly on BIM methodology in HDS conception. As-Is modeling also holds great
potential, as it can be used to verify whether the structure complies with the designs or to plan a
retrofit of HDS built long ago, to ensure they meet current safety standards.
The development of software and tools specific to this niche makes sense when specific needs of
these structures are not properly addressed in conventional options. This creates good opportunities
20 R. CHEHAB CANTO PEREIRA ET AL.

for those considering applying BIM to these structures. Digital twins can assist both in the construc­
tion process for monitoring the overall quality and safety of the work and in operation and mainten­
ance through integration with measurement instruments such as piezometers, flow meters, reservoir
level gauges, and displacement prisms.
Finally, simulation techniques conventionally applied in HDS structures such as floodplain cre­
ation, finite element simulation, and other hydraulic modeling can also be enhanced or facilitated
by integration with BIM models, as observed in articles on BIM usage for simulation.
Therefore, it is evident that BIM applications show promise in assisting in the resolution of engin­
eering problems faced in dam construction. This technology was precisely designed to optimize
existing processes in all stages of a building’s lifecycle. HDS, as seen in the report (International Com­
mission on Large Dams (ICOLD), 2019), have specific needs in all these stages, and the articles sur­
veyed present practical examples of how it can be used in each of these stages.

Conclusion
This research was based on the premise that HDS structures pose significant engineering challenges,
encompassing various fields across all stages, from planning to subsequent asset management. The
methodology of BIM was considered to support these processes. The study aimed to comprehend
how these constructions utilize software, the trends in application, the benefits, and limitations of
each case, and, with this information, to explore potential applications for HDS in Brazil.
The uses of BIM addressed in the articles were identified and classified, encompassing new pro­
jects, as-is modeling, software development, digital twin, and simulation. These applications, for the
most part, were tested on existing structures and demonstrated significant gains.
However, no paper was found addressing use cases in Brazil. This reflects the scarcity of research
on the subject in the country and highlights the need for further study for application in existing
infrastructures. Thus, the identified applications have the potential to assist Brazilian engineering
in managing HDS. Furthermore, they can also be applied in other contexts, including other infra­
structure projects involving the management of large amounts of data and requiring special atten­
tion to maintenance and operation, with a focus on safety.
As a perspective for future work, it would be interesting to establish specific IFC parameters for
HDS to ensure the standardization of modeled elements and facilitate the flow of information.

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their gratitude to the companies Foz do Chapecó, Baesa, Enercan, and Ceran for their
technical and financial support through the Research and Development project (R&D) 00642-0123/2023 – ‘BIM – Build­
ing Information Modeling Applied to Dam Safety,’ funded by the ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) R&D program.

Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Funding
This work was supported by Foz do Chapecó, Baesa, Enercan, and Ceran [grant number 00642-0123/2023].

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