Information modeling technologies in urban development of Russia and China

Zolotukhina Mariya Sergeevna Independent researcher 13 Orenburgskaya str., office 1, Moscow, 111622, Russia 7848933@mail.ru

Substantiation of the relevance of the study. Information modeling (IM) technologies are becoming increasingly popular among construction industry experts around the world ^[18]. The United Kingdom, Canada, Finland, and New Zealand are just a few countries where TIM is applied at a high level ^[15]. As a result, both awareness and usage of TIM have increased significantly: from 13% in 2011 to about 73% in 2020 ^[15].

TIM is an intelligent 3D model—based process that provides architects, engineers, and construction professionals with tools for more efficient planning, design, construction, and management of buildings and infrastructure. The technology has a hidden potential to increase efficiency at all stages of the facility's life cycle. TIM continues to undergo significant changes in response to the demands of stakeholders who use these technologies to address recurring issues such as productivity, cost, and time management. Moreover, TIM improves communication between management, data and processes, which contributes to maximum building performance. In this regard, TIM was recognized as an important lifecycle management technology that has a significant positive impact on the duration of the project.

Despite the many clear advantages that this technology provides, its full potential and capabilities have not yet been fully explored. Many authors have tried to understand the problems of TIM implementation by analyzing aspects such as the degree of technology adoption, the nature of obstacles and motivation ^{[8, 16, 17]}. The construction industry does not have systemic initiatives aimed at studying the problems of TIM implementation.

TIM in Russian Urban Planning: current state and problems.

Russia, being the largest country in the world, implements and develops TIM technologies in urban planning, claiming a leading position in the international arena. This approach opens up opportunities to explore what is common and distinctive in the application of TIM in Russia and China, where digital technologies are also actively developing in the construction industry.

As part of the activities of the Ministry of Construction and Housing of the Russian Federation, digital technologies are being introduced into the urban planning sector. Key initiatives include automating government customer processes, creating digital platforms for expertise and supervision, developing analytical and predictive management tools, and launching the Digital Construction superservice. Work is also underway to improve the pricing system in construction and introduce effective solutions for managing the industry's workforce. All these measures are aimed at increasing the use of modern technologies, the introduction of advanced approaches to the management of construction processes and the dissemination of best practices.

The largest and most technologically advanced organizations in Russia actively use information modeling technologies in urban planning. The implementation of TIM is supported by the processes of globalization.

In Russia, TIM is seen as a tool capable of bringing urban planning to the forefront and strengthening competitiveness in the international arena. In the countries of Asia and the Caucasus, the demand for TIM services is growing, associated with the active development of urban planning in these regions.

As in many other countries, the implementation of TIM in Russia is progressing steadily, albeit at a restrained pace. Large companies are demonstrating significant success by investing in training, developing the "TEAM culture" and technology, as well as learning from pilot projects, including the construction of residential, industrial and medical facilities.

At the same time, the implementation of TIM in Russia is fraught with a number of difficulties. Large contractors are already focusing on the successful experience of countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States in order to improve technologies and accelerate their implementation. Medium and large companies also gain access to the necessary competencies by working on large-scale projects and interacting with international teams.

However, design bureaus, contractors, and small businesses are currently facing difficulties and lack of awareness about the benefits of TIM. The promotion of these technologies requires the active participation of government institutions, which should help spread knowledge about its benefits and create conditions for wider use.

The development of information modeling technologies in urban planning in the Russian Federation is based on a systematic approach to the creation of a legal and regulatory framework aimed at integrating digital tools into the processes of design, construction and operation of facilities.

The fundamental legal act regulating the use of information modeling technologies is the Urban Planning Code of the Russian Federation ^[1], which defines the principles of digitalization of urban planning activities. On May 7, 2024, a new Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 614 was adopted, which approves the current rules for the formation and maintenance of an information model of a capital construction facility ^[2]. This document entered into force on September 1, 2024 and will be valid until September 1, 2030. The resolution also defined the list and format of electronic documents. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 331 ^[3] supplements the regulatory framework for the introduction of information modeling technologies in Russia, creates the legal basis for the use of TIM in capital construction projects. The case of an obligation to form and maintain an ACS by responsible persons has been established.

The Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 08/26/2023 No. 1389 establishes the rules for the creation, development, operation and maintenance of the Unified State Register of Urban Planning Activities Stroykompleks.RF ^[4].

By Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 09/28/2020 No. 1558, the KSI was approved as a subsystem of the GISOGD ^[5]. Information models should be uploaded to the GIS database of the subjects of the Russian Federation. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 09/12/2020 No. 1416 approved the rules for the formation and maintenance of a classifier of construction information ^[6].

In the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 03/13/2020 No. 279, the GISOGD section "Information models of capital construction facilities" was approved, which contains information, documents and materials ^[7].

Information modeling technology is the process of creating a digital model of a construction object that includes all design solutions: architectural, structural, technological, electrical and economic. One of the key principles of TIM is that changing one parameter of the model automatically leads to a change in the associated values, which significantly increases the accuracy of calculations.

Starting from July 1, 2024, developers in Russia are required to implement information modeling technologies when implementing capital construction projects. Despite this, the industry is currently facing a number of challenges related to a large number of regulations and standards, which complicates the process of digitalization in construction.

It is estimated that only about 20% of Russian enterprises use TIM tools in their operations, while the rest of the companies continue to use traditional two-dimensional models. In addition, only 10% of the tender documentation includes requirements for the mandatory use of digital information models.

The main factor contributing to the spread of TIM is the government initiative. The introduction of information modeling technologies helps to increase work efficiency, improve the accuracy of management processes and reduce ambiguity in working with data.

Special attention should be paid to the integration of information modeling technologies with artificial intelligence (AI). TIM provides a broad digital database of a construction project, while AI has the potential to analyze and extract information from this data. Such synergy can significantly improve the efficiency of construction project management.

The development and problems of TIM implementation in the Chinese construction industry.

In China, TIM technologies are increasingly being introduced into the processes of industrialization and informatization of construction. The accelerated development of TIM is largely due to the support of the Chinese government, which is developing mandatory regulations, including standards for design, drawings, calculations and allocation of responsibilities.

Despite the widespread use of TIM in urban planning, their introduction in China began relatively recently, which led to a number of difficulties and limitations. The main problem remains the lack of standards and tools aimed at the domestic market, which hinders the development of TIM in sustainable construction and informatization.

In developed countries, such as the USA and Australia, TIM standards have been developed to manage technology adoption. In China, the standards are still in the formative stages, and there is no unified standard for the application of TIM in the field of sustainable construction and informatization. In addition, most of TIM's software works offline, which creates obstacles for integration into various application scenarios. For example, Autodesk Revit does not provide customized functions for the design of modular structures and sustainable construction, which complicates the management of materials, costs and operation ^[23].

The lack of appropriate standards and localized software solutions makes it difficult to implement TIM and limits technology development. Many specialists maintain a wait-and-see attitude, which slows down the spread of TIM in the construction industry.

Despite the rapid growth of TIM adoption in China, unresolved problems remain, including the lack of an adequate number of standards and tools focused on regional markets, as well as the uneven distribution of TIM in cities of different levels. For example, in large cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, the use of TIM in government projects exceeds 85%, while in third- and fourth-tier cities this figure is less than 50% ^[24].

Data and information system compatibility issues remain the main barriers to the development of TIM in China. Research shows that the integration of TIM with the latest technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS), the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR) and big data technologies, can significantly improve the effectiveness of projects ^[11]. However, most of the existing research focuses on individual application scenarios, without systematically considering the issues of sustainable construction and informatization.

From 2011 to 2021, China actively developed national and regional policies and standards aimed at implementing TIM in urban planning. It was in 2011 that TIM was identified as a key national project within the framework of the 12th five-year plan for scientific and technological development. This year was called "The first year of the TIM in China" ^[14].

Significant differences have been identified at the regional level. The northern and eastern provinces of China, located near the administrative (Beijing) and economic (Shanghai) centers of the country, have published more TIM policies and standards compared to other regions. This is due to the high degree of development of these territories and their active role in the implementation of urban development projects.

Despite the fact that the concept of sustainable construction using TIM has already become widespread in China, its implementation is fraught with a number of problems. One of the main problems remains the lack of integration of these approaches into projects. In addition, projects focused on sustainable construction are often more complex due to the need to take into account specialized processes and requirements.

Design automation using TIM places higher demands on the professionals of the future. They must have broad knowledge, skills and competencies to work with such technologies. Further development of the TIM software is also required to enhance its functionality in the field of sustainable construction.

Informatization of construction involves the use of information technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, laser scanning, virtual reality (VR), digital construction and other technologies. TIM is a key application of informatization, providing integration of construction information using an object-oriented approach and three-dimensional graphics.

TIM actively integrates with the latest technologies to create comprehensive solutions. For example, the combination of TIM and IoT unites the entire process of building information management. TIM performs the functions of integration, interaction, and information management, while IoT is responsible for data collection, transmission, and monitoring. This interaction ensures a closed cycle of information flow at all stages of construction and the organic integration of virtual management and physical data.

An example is a platform based on the integration of IoT and TIM, developed for modular construction in Hong Kong. This platform eliminates the problems associated with inconvenient data collection, lack of automated decision support and incomplete information, which is especially important for the interaction of independent project participants.

A combination of TIM and 3D printing technologies is also a promising direction ^[19]. This combination helps to reduce costs, save energy, improve coordination between industries, and improve the quality of the final product. TIM becomes the core of the 3D printing process by providing design and construction management software. For example, TIM technologies support the development of detailed geometric models for modular construction, and the robotic simulation of 3D printing allows you to plan the production of modules.

The integration of TIM with 3D laser scanning has been actively investigated in recent years ^[19]. 3D scanning technologies allow us to obtain accurate information about the condition of a construction site, which is especially useful for the subsequent creation of TIM models. This integration provides the ability to compare, transform, and coordinate the TIM model with 3D scanning data, which helps to perform quality control, accelerate modeling, and reduce the amount of improvements.

In addition, the combination of TIM and 3D scanning is actively used in the reconstruction of buildings, which is especially useful for the reconstruction of old buildings, where it is necessary to take into account the initial condition of the object.

The integration of TIM with virtual reality (VR) technologies allows the creation of simulated environments in which users can interact with computer models. For example, designers and builders can check architectural and engineering models, specifications, and design features in a virtual environment. Thanks to real-time database updates, all changes are instantly visualized, allowing for a better understanding of their impact on the construction process.

The digital construction system involves the creation of a digital geographic platform, the use of remote sensing technologies, global positioning systems (GPS) and other tools. These technologies ensure the integration of the information resources of the construction site, which makes it possible to overcome the limitations of time and space, creating an open information environment.

TIM in the processes of urban renewal and the challenges of informatization of construction.

The use of digital technologies, including the integration of TIM and reverse engineering (RE), makes it possible to increase the efficiency of information at all stages of the project and reduce the number of errors and improvements during reconstruction, especially during urban renewal.

Dean and co-authors (2019) proposed an integrated information and organization management model combining TIM, RE, and supporting technologies such as VR, 3D laser scanning, 3D printing, and modular construction ^[22]. This approach involves the use of tools for structuring work and models, which contributes to improving the quality of project management.

The model was successfully applied in the reconstruction project of the Hainan shopping center, which managed to increase work efficiency by 15%, reduce design changes by 30% and reduce the volume of improvements by 25%. As a result, the project was completed two months earlier than planned, saving 7.41% of the cost of the steel canopy ^[10].

Despite the success of TIM implementation, large-scale informatization of construction faces a number of obstacles:

1) various participants in the construction process (customers, contractors, designers, etc.) use their own systems, which leads to the lack of a unified information environment;

2) the existence of "information islands" makes it difficult to synchronize and exchange data between participants;

3) TIM software often does not take into account the specifics of urban planning, where it is necessary to standardize management, forms of documentation and the intensity of information flows;

4) insufficient understanding of the need for informatization among industry specialists;

5) insufficient provision of construction sites with qualified personnel and modern technical facilities.

In general, the development of informatization in the construction industry remains uneven. Many companies limit themselves to using separate software products (financial systems, personnel and materials management), which prevents the creation of a single integrated project management platform. To overcome this barrier, it is necessary to take into account the interests of all participants in the process, implement project management approaches at all stages, and eliminate "information islands" for shared access to data.

Comparative analysis of the introduction of information modeling technologies in urban development in Russia and China.

One of the common aspects of TIM implementation in both countries is government support, which plays a major role in the dissemination of these technologies. In Russia and China, the government is actively implementing regulations aimed at regulating and stimulating the use of TIM in the construction industry.

Work is underway in both countries to create and implement standards for the effective use of TIM. Russia and China are also actively developing and implementing national and regional standards to simplify technology integration and improve coordination between various participants in construction processes. In both countries, there is an increase in the use of TIM in government projects, which is confirmed by the high level of application of these technologies in large cities and a significant number of projects focused on the use of digital models for the design and operation of buildings.

Despite common efforts to implement TIM, there are significant differences in approaches to this process in Russia and China. One of them is related to the level of development of the regulatory framework. In Russia, the TIM regulation process is just beginning to actively develop, despite the adoption of a number of federal laws and regulations. Since July 2024, developers are required to use TIM in capital construction, but in general, the percentage of companies using these technologies is still relatively low. In China, on the contrary, TIM has been considered the main element of science and technology policy since 2011. In large Chinese cities, the use of TIM in government projects reaches 85%, but in smaller cities this figure is much lower. This fact indicates a more mature TIM implementation system in the major economic and administrative centers of China.

China is actively integrating TIM with the latest technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS), the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data, which significantly improves the efficiency of design and construction. In Russia, however, these technologies have not yet become widespread.

In both countries, there are difficulties in realizing the full potential of TIM. In Russia, the main problem remains the high cost of implementing TIM, which is especially important for small and medium-sized enterprises that are not always ready to invest in training and software. In China, despite significant progress in the use of TIM, problems continue with the integration of standards, as well as with insufficient staff training and the lack of localized software solutions for individual regions.

Both countries recognize the importance of further improving TIM for the sustainable development of urban development. In Russia, the main focus is to expand the use of TIM in the private and public sectors, taking into account the specifics of the regions and project requirements. China continues to strengthen government initiatives to integrate TIM with other modern technologies, which contributes to the creation of more integrated and efficient construction solutions.

Conclusions.

1. A comparative analysis of the implementation of TIM in Russia and China has shown that both countries actively support the development of information modeling technologies at the state level, including the development of a regulatory framework and the introduction of standards. However, the level of TIM integration into the construction industry differs significantly, due to the different levels of maturity of the regulatory framework and technical infrastructure.

2. The main barriers are the high cost of implementation, the shortage of highly qualified specialists and insufficient standardization of processes. In China, there are difficulties with localization of software solutions and uneven technology distribution between regions. In Russia, there is a slow pace of digitalization and insufficient awareness of small and medium—sized enterprises.

3. Recommendations for Russia:

Accelerate the development and implementation of unified standards that ensure the integration of TIM at all levels of construction processes.

Strengthen government support for small and medium-sized enterprises to reduce barriers to entry, including subsidies for training and software procurement.

Promote the integration of TIM with other technologies — AI and geographic information systems.

5. A hypothesis for further research.

Increasing the level of standardization and harmonization of regulatory requirements can significantly accelerate the process of digitalization of the construction industry in Russia.

6. The results of the study can be used by government agencies, construction companies and software developers to improve approaches to the implementation of TIM and increase the efficiency of construction processes.

Thus, despite the fact that the Russian Federation and the PRC face similar challenges in implementing TIM in urban planning, their approaches to solving these problems differ. China has achieved a faster pace of digitalization in construction due to a mature regulatory framework and the integration of TIM with the latest technologies. In Russia, despite the progress, the TIM implementation process remains at the initial stages and requires significant efforts to ensure accessibility and unification of standards. Nevertheless, both states are focused on the long—term development of digital technologies in construction, which will open up new opportunities for improving the efficiency and sustainability of urban construction.