On May 28, 2026, the SOGI Agile Group (aG) GeoBIM met for its first session and was officially established. Through this group, SOGI is specifically pooling expertise related to GeoBIM—the interface between geoinformation and Building Information Modeling (BIM).

Background: GeoBIM in Switzerland

GeoBIM refers to the linking and integration of geoinformation with BIM processes. With the increasing use of BIM in the planning, construction, and operation of buildings, this interface is gaining in importance. In Switzerland, there are numerous projects and initiatives related to GeoBIM; however, these have so far been largely uncoordinated and lacked overarching oversight—this is where the SOGI aG GeoBIM comes in.

Members

The group brings together experts from the private sector, public administration, and academia:

  • Andreas Barmettler, Trigonet AG
  • Michael Buri, Amberg Infra 7D
  • Lukas Schildknecht, FHNW Institute for Digital Construction (Chair)
  • Regula Vedruccio, Acht Grad Ost AG
  • Sebastian Wolf, Basler & Hofmann
  • Selina Meier, City of Lucerne
  • Armando Demarmels, City of Lucerne

The group is open to additional members, particularly from French-speaking Switzerland.

Goals for 2026: Mirror Group for SGS Action 3-26-1

The focus of the group’s work in 2026 is its participation as a mirror group for SGS Action 3-26-1 “GeoBIM: Identification of Current Challenges and Gaps.” This action under the Swiss Geoinformation Strategy (SGS) is coordinated by the KGK (Project Lead: Filipa Machado) and carried out with the participation of Swisstopo and the FHNW.

The GeoBIM Working Group supports this work critically and creatively: it contributes broad industry knowledge, brings together perspectives from the private sector, public administration, and research, and ensures that all relevant aspects and roles of GeoBIM are incorporated into the initiative’s results. Starting in 2027, the group will decide on its future structure and potential tasks within the framework of SOGI.

Further Reading

The article «GeoBIM Fields of Action. A Foundation for Understanding» by Lukas Schildknecht and Olivier Schneider (FHNW), published in the open-access journal Phase0, provides a solid foundation for understanding the subject area. The article proposes a categorization into five GeoBIM fields of action, thereby facilitating communication and the classification of existing activities in practice and research.