BIM modelling of infrastructure works is controlled by a global market consisting of few software suppliers and is contingent upon the functions provided by them. Customization options furnished by the software suppliers often enable enhancement of functions, which is essential for infrastructure BIM although not completely available. This enables improved interoperability of the software tools used in this area. IFC is most likely to become an established international format for data exchange with its constant but also intricate further development. However, in underground infrastructure construction, both international and national standards are used and the integration of the latter in IFC cannot be anticipated. Hence, the implementation of BIM has to apply national standards in the use cases of collaborative data exchange among the different disciplines in tunnelling. In this contribution, the use case of payment of excavation classes and its implementation in a BIM environment are addressed. It discusses the interoperable interlinkage of software tools commonly used in construction to generate consistent digital data transfer and it underscores the need for an interdisciplinary agreement to integrate national standards into adequate practice for the implementation of BIM.

Building information modelling (BIM) is a frequently discussed topic in tunnelling since it promises less loss of information and reduced lifetime cost of underground infrastructure. There is still some way to go as standardisation in this sector is immature, the implementation of three‐dimensional (3D) BIM models is developed for pilot cases of tunnelling only, and data transfer between software tools is a challenge. The long linear structures of tunnels make a specific approach of parameterised and adaptive modelling necessary to meet the requirements of repetitive construction elements and the natural differences of forecast and actual excavation conditions. This approach renders the matching of construction elements in the model and service items feasible for determining quantities for the tender and billing in tunnel projects. In this article, we show that only 57 % of service items can actually be linked to a physical item in traditional two‐dimensional (2D) design and highlight the need to consider how to incorporate these items into a BIM model. We also use a case study to propose an approach for parameterised and adaptive modelling of repetitive construction elements and show a way of a continuous data transfer from the forecast tunnelling class distribution via 3D BIM modelling to a billing software without data loss.