In October 2024, Valencia faced severe flooding caused by a Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos (DANA), highlighting once again the vulnerability of our cities to extreme natural phenomena. To address these challenges, the integration of technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has emerged as a crucial solution to mitigate the impacts of future natural disasters.
Fuente: EFE | Miguel Ángel Polo
H2. How do BIM and GIS complement each other?
Urban flooding is a complex issue involving factors like climate change, rapid urbanization, and inadequate drainage infrastructure. Like many other cities, Valencia requires more efficient planning and management to prevent and respond to such emergencies. This is where technological tools like BIM and GIS can make a significant difference.
- GIS: Spatial analysis and prediction: GIS enables the analysis and modeling of large amounts of geospatial data, which is essential for identifying high-risk areas and planning preventive measures. By incorporating topographic, hydrological, and meteorological information, GIS helps predict floods and design strategies to minimize their impact.
- BIM: Detailed infrastructure simulation: BIM provides detailed digital models of urban infrastructures, such as drainage systems, roads, and buildings. This methodology allows the simulation of how these structures respond to various flooding scenarios, optimizing their design to withstand extreme weather events.
The integration of GIS and BIM offers a comprehensive perspective: GIS provides geospatial context, while BIM details the characteristics and behaviors of infrastructures within that context. Together, these technologies enable more informed and proactive planning.
H2. Practical applications for flood prevention
- Planning and designing drainage systems: GIS identifies flood-prone areas, while BIM helps design drainage systems tailored to these specific conditions, ensuring their effectiveness.
- Scenario simulation: Using BIM and GIS, cities can simulate extreme weather events to assess infrastructure responses and implement corrective measures before disasters occur.
- Real-time monitoring: GIS integrated with IoT sensors can monitor variables such as water levels and precipitation in real time. BIM can incorporate this data to adjust the operation of critical infrastructures dynamically.
Cities like Copenhagen and Singapore are already leveraging the combination of BIM and GIS to manage climate risks and develop resilient infrastructures. In Valencia’s case, this technology could be implemented to redesign the drainage system, plan water retention areas, and create green corridors that act as natural buffers.
The collaboration between BIM and GIS is not only an effective tool for preventing natural disasters like flooding but also an investment in the resilience and sustainability of our cities. At Fisotec, we are committed to applying these technologies to ensure safer and better-prepared urban environments for the challenges of the future.