Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups working on solutions for the construction sector. As there are a lot of startups working on various different applications, we want to share our insights with you. Today, we take a look at promising building information modeling (BIM) startups.
Heat Map: 5 Top Building Information Modeling Startups
Using our StartUs Insights Platform, covering 1.116.000+ startups & emerging companies, we looked at innovation in the field of building information modeling. For this research, we identified 338 relevant solutions and picked 5 to showcase below. These companies were chosen based on a data-driven startup scouting approach, taking into account factors such as location, founding year, and technology among others. Depending on your specific criteria, the top picks might look entirely different.
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 startups & emerging companies developing BIM solutions for the construction sector. Moreover, the Heat Map reveals regions that observe a high startup activity and illustrates the geographic distribution of all 338 companies we analyzed for this specific topic.
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BIM Track – BIM Communication
Failure to communicate any problematic issues on the construction site with other teams often leads to costly errors during construction. Inaccurate time-recording at any phase of the construction process decreases the overall efficacy of a project. Software solutions that integrate BIM and communication technologies allow for better collaboration among all stakeholders.
The Canadian startup BIM Track develops communication solutions for the construction industry. Their platform is available both as an add-on for popular BIM software such as Autodesk Revit or AutoCAD and as a standalone web-app. It allows project managers, even those without technical know-how, to collaborate faster and minimize errors. It also offers the option to automate coordination reports at fixed intervals.
Avvir – Mobile BIM Scanner
BIM is an idealized plan of how a construction project is supposed to proceed. However, construction errors and delays cause deviations from the original plans. It is hard to incorporate changes at a later stage. Solutions that scan projects during the construction process update BIMs as and when required.
The US-based startup Avvir develops a mobile scanner that detects construction mistakes in real-time. Their scanner uses lasers and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to scan under-construction buildings at 2.787 sqm (30.000 square feet) per hour. It then compares the scans to the building plans to identify construction errors and delays. This provides on-site managers the choice to either fix the issue immediately or to push construction updates to the original BIM.
XYZ Reality – Augmented BIM
It is hard for builders to visualize how their two-dimensional plans overlay with three-dimensional BIMs laid out by architects. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) visualize BIMs and make them more accessible at the project site. This speeds up construction and reduces costs by making it easier for builders to spot errors in real-time.
XYZ Reality, a startup based out of the United Kingdom, uses augmented reality to make building information models more precise. Their solution lets builders visualize the BIM at the construction site and eliminates the need for floor plans. It also identifies if the construction follows the original models within the allowed limits of construction tolerance.
Kabandy – BIM Project Management
Building information modeling starts with a three-dimensional model of a building and simulates the entire lifecycle of the project. However, there are a lot of unexpected delays and budget changes because a lot of different stakeholders are involved. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions built for the construction industry mitigate these hurdles with better project management.
Kabandy is a Belgian startup that develops a project management platform for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Their platform services all stages of a building project, including design, procurement of materials, and construction. It converts building information models into dashboards that estimate construction costs and delays.
Voxelgrid – BIM For Existing Buildings
Data on building plans and materials are needed to make BIMs. However, this isn’t always available for older buildings. Manually mapping buildings takes immense effort and time and isn’t always possible. Advancements in imaging have led to relatively inexpensive alternatives such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR), spectrometry, and computer vision. These extend the benefits of BIM to old and existing buildings.
Voxelgrid is a Germany-based startup developing a BIM solution for existing buildings. Their solution uses LiDAR, photogrammetry, and deep learning to generate a three-dimensional model. It then uses hyperspectral analysis to determine the materials used in the construction of the building. It records up to 10.000 square meters (107.639 sqft) of floor area in a day.
What About The Other 333 Solutions?
While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence so you can achieve your goals faster. The 5 building information modeling startups showcased above are promising examples out of 338 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria, get in touch.
