Portcoast Leads the Way in Applying GIS and BIM for Digital Transformation in Construction and Transportation

By congthuong.vn - 27/06/2025

On the afternoon of June 27th, at the seminar "GIS and BIM Application - Opportunities and Challenges?", numerous experts, managers, and business representatives shared their in-depth perspectives on the importance and effectiveness of integrating two key technologies: Geographic Information System (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the construction and transportation sectors. The forum affirmed that these are not merely technological tools, but also a driving force for digital transformation, enhancing competitiveness, optimizing resources, and contributing to the sustainable development of the construction industry. Mr. Tran Phuc Minh Khoi - Deputy General Director of Portcoast - shared: "BIM will not be fully effective if project owners remain resistant to change, operate under traditional models, lack multi-disciplinary coordination, and do not have a clear data strategy." He argued that transitioning from siloed (or fragmented) data to integrated data is a necessary evolution, in which GIS is the key tool that helps connect various data layers—from planning, geology, and environment to project progress and subsequent operations.

Shaping the Digital Future of the Construction Industry

The integration of construction data from BIM with GIS’s multi-layer spatial analysis allows stakeholders to gain a comprehensive view and more accurately assess factors such as terrain, natural conditions, infrastructure connectivity, and more.

According to Dr. Ta Ngoc Binh, Head of the Digital Construction and Investment Economics Research Department, Institute of Construction Economics, Ministry of Construction, BIM has become an indispensable tool, demonstrating outstanding efficiency in complex projects worldwide. Dr. Binh cited: “The Crossrail project (UK) saved hundreds of millions of pounds thanks to BIM; in Singapore, BIM reduced up to 50% of the construction approval time by integrating with the e-permitting system.”

In Vietnam, many key projects have piloted BIM and recorded significant effectiveness. Particularly, the implementation of the model in the Ring Road 3.5 project shows that Hanoi is taking the lead in this trend. However, the application process still faces many barriers, from institutional frameworks to human resources.

Mr. Bui Van Duong, Deputy Director General of the Department of Construction Economics and Investment Management (Ministry of Construction), frankly stated: “The current regulations are still incomplete and inconsistent. Standardizing input-output data, data security, and shared databases remain unclear.” In addition, the current state of “working in silos,” and the lack of standardized data formats among designers, consultants, and contractors, makes it difficult to determine costs, control quality, and manage post-construction operations.

BIM presents opportunities but also challenges in implementation capacity. “Software, hardware, and especially training and transition costs are major barriers,” Dr. Ta Ngoc Binh analyzed, and emphasized that the key lies not only in technology but in leadership mindset: “Enterprises that see BIM as a long-term strategic investment rather than a short-term cost will seize the opportunity.”

Sharing this view, Mr. Tran Phuc Minh Khoi – Deputy General Director of Portcoast – commented: “BIM will not be effective if project owners are reluctant to change, operate in traditional models, lack interdisciplinary coordination, and have no clear data strategy.” He argued that the shift from fragmented data to integrated data is inevitable, and GIS is the key tool to connect data layers – from planning, geology, and environment to project progress and operations.

Digital transformation journey in the construction sector

Alongside the discussions on opportunities, many experts also outlined a clear institutional roadmap for BIM – GIS to be practically applied. According to Mr. Bui Van Duong, the Ministry of Construction has submitted Decree 175/2024/ND-CP and Circular 09/2024/TT-BXD, detailing BIM application costs, and issued Decision 926/QD-BXD approving the Digital Transformation Plan for the Construction Industry for 2024–2025 with orientation to 2030.

Mr. Duong added: “The goal is to develop BIM and GIS platforms throughout the entire process from planning, appraisal, and permitting to urban infrastructure management. Administrative procedures will be handled entirely online, with data entered once and reusable across the Ministry’s and local authorities’ digital systems.”

Notably, the widespread promotion of BIM application has been strongly implemented in localities. Dr. Ta Ngoc Binh said: “We have coordinated nearly 30 workshops with local Departments of Construction from 2024 to early 2025. Pioneering provinces like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang have proactively guided project owners, consultants, and contractors to prepare for BIM implementation.”

According to Dr. Ta Ngoc Binh, the types of construction projects that most effectively apply BIM today include: state-funded level I projects, social housing, resettlement projects, and complex traffic junctions. “In localities with determined leadership and well-planned digital transformation investment, BIM is starting to deliver tangible value,” Dr. Binh emphasized.

A typical example is in the urban railway sector. Mr. Nguyen Tien Thong, Technical Team Leader, Hanoi Urban Railway Management Board, stated: “Previously, lines such as Nhon – Hanoi Station, Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien, and Cat Linh – Ha Dong did not apply BIM from the beginning, so there are no digital asset models for operation now.”

However, since 2024, BIM has become a mandatory requirement for major public investment projects. “BIM enables a clear visualization of future designs and identifies technical conflicts early on – something traditional 2D drawings cannot do,” Mr. Thong said.

From an overall perspective, Mr. Tran Phuc Minh Khoi warned about the “data fragmentation syndrome” in Vietnam: each technical team creates data in different formats, making sharing and collaboration ineffective. Mr. Khoi emphasized: “GIS is the key to ‘stitching’ those fragmented data pieces together, thereby forming a complete digital ecosystem for each project and for the entire construction industry.”

The success of BIM – GIS lies not in flashy software or 3D graphics, but in how they are embedded into management institutions, organizational processes, and the digital culture of enterprises and regulatory bodies.

GIS – BIM is no longer the technology of the future but the present key to a transparent, efficient, and sustainable construction industry. But to truly unlock their potential, alignment is needed – from policy to people, from data to digital infrastructure.