ABSTRACT

The integration of Engineering Information Modeling (EIM) and Building Information Modeling (BIM), enabled by an object-oriented engineering platform, represents a strategic advance in multidisciplinary substation data management. This approach consolidates structured data, documents, 2D and 3D models, and automated workflows in a unified digital foundation. With support for interoperability among disciplines and external systems—such as 3D modeling tools, point-cloud viewers, maintenance systems, and common data environments—it enables changes to be tracked, tasks to be automated, models to be enriched with technical attributes, and collaboration to become more efficient. Case studies demonstrate how the integration results in reliable digital infrastructure that supports activities from design through operation and maintenance.

1.0 – INTRODUCTION

The digital transformation of industries has intensified demand for models that integrate technical data in a structured, reliable, and traceable manner (1). The challenge of managing complex information under constant change is driving the adoption of data-oriented methodologies that promote genuine collaboration among the disciplines involved in projects. Although it originated in civil construction, the digitalization movement promoted by BIM reveals a broader trend, as indicated by the NBS BIM Report 2019: 63% of professionals who adopted BIM reported success in the process; 55% of those not yet using it feared falling behind; and 63% predicted that the methodology would become mandatory in all projects (2). These figures reinforce the consolidation of integrated practices in specialized technical areas as well.

In this context, EIM stands out as a methodology focused on technical engineering disciplines. The centralized model proposed by EIM follows the single-source-of-truth principle, under which all technical project information is organized in a coherent, interoperable structure (3). This approach is particularly effective in Protection, Automation and Control Systems (PACS) projects, where isolated changes—such as replacing a device or relocating a terminal—can affect multiple project layers, including protection configurations, physical connections, functional diagrams, and equipment parameterization (4).

By adding functional, operational, and control information to three-dimensional models, BIM and EIM integration expands the usefulness and reliability of digital representations. This integration is especially valuable in projects such as substations, power plants, and industrial plants, where system technical performance depends directly on the quality of electrical and automation modeling.

The technology enabling application of the EIM methodology presented in this work is AUCOTEC's Engineering Base (EB), an Engineering Platform (EP). EB is based on a relational database and follows an object-oriented concept, allowing technical data, documents, diagrams, and functional representations to be consolidated in a cohesive digital model. Elements such as protection devices, panels, cables, and control logic are represented as interconnected objects with their own attributes and continuous change-tracking support, enabling structured and collaborative management of substation PAC information throughout the asset life cycle.

2.0 – MULTIDISCIPLINARY COORDINATION

Adopting a platform such as EB, built on a SQL database and object-oriented modeling, represents a significant advance in information management for complex projects because the platform acts as a technical database. This centralized model supports both Project Information Management (PIM) and the management of assets in operation through Asset Information Management (AIM), in accordance with ISO 19650 guidelines (5).

EB also provides essential features for developing PAC projects, including the automation of recurring tasks, version control, revision recording, and synchronization among different project disciplines. Through XML-based standardization and tools native to the platform, information can be exchanged between its database and other systems, such as BIM software normally used to model civil and electromechanical project data. This makes it possible to navigate between electrical and mechanical representations of elements, establish associations between PAC data and 3D geometric models, and flag discrepancies between environments with the option of automatic synchronization, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

This data integration promotes interoperability among disciplines. Connecting structured data from multiple substation sources—PACS, electromechanical, and civil—improves consistency between functional and spatial representations, reducing the risk of interference, omissions, and rework. Other systems can also be populated or synchronized from the database. Data exchange with the three-dimensional modeling ecosystem through the BIM methodology, which is characterized by open interoperability standards such as IFC as well as native formats from proprietary software such as Autodesk Revit, can take place through the native 3D portal feature. In addition, data originating in EB can be used in an AIM context with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), geographic information systems (GIS), and point-cloud viewers through the DaaS interface, as shown in Figure 3.

This ecosystem is complemented by EB Mobile View, which enables remote access to the central technical model through mobile devices. With this tool, operation and maintenance teams can directly consult project data, access diagrams, verify equipment attributes, and track revisions in the field.

2.1 BIM Dimensions

Multidisciplinary data management in substation projects requires continuous integration among technical information, graphical representations, and spatial data. Combining EIM and BIM—that is, integrating structured PACS, electromechanical, and civil data—meets this need across multiple dimensions: 1D (structured data), 2D (technical documentation), 3D (spatial representation), and the 4D-to-7D extensions covering scheduling, cost, operation, and maintenance (6).

At every one of these stages, EB can serve as the technical core and central repository for PAC information. In the 1D dimension, technical data are structured in an object-oriented database. Equipment, relays, panels, cables, and control signals are represented as interrelated entities with specific attributes, change histories, and functional links. EB consolidates this information in a single environment, promoting complete traceability, consistency across disciplines, and the automation of tasks such as generating lists, reports, and protection configurations.

In the 2D dimension, EB provides structured support for developing technical documents such as single-line, functional, and logic diagrams and connection lists. These documents can be created directly by design engineers in the Visio-based graphical environment with the support of native automations or customized routines according to project requirements. They can also be created by applying modular-engineering features through a Top-Down approach based on reusable functional and structural typicals, using tools such as Advanced Typical Manager (ATM) and Project Builder (PB). The platform directly links graphical elements to the technical data in the 1D database, ensuring consistency and traceability. Although EB can automatically generate these documents from predefined structures, the process can also be adapted to the engineering team's specific preferences and needs, balancing standardization with flexibility.

In the 3D dimension, EB integration with platforms such as Autodesk Revit and Navisworks goes beyond simple geometric visualization. The spatial representation of devices facilitates layout analysis, switching planning, and the precise location of field assets. Through the Standard 3D Portal and XML-format standardization, technical data from PACS, electromechanical, and civil disciplines can be integrated. This enables physical elements to be associated with functional attributes, creating an integrated database that supports cross-navigation among different project domains. As a result, inconsistencies can be identified, project rules validated, and intervention planning optimized, going beyond spatial representation to provide a unified, data-oriented view of engineering assets.

The 4D dimension, related to time and scheduling, enables project information to be integrated with construction and commissioning planning systems. By mapping technical objects to project phases, it is possible to track physical implementation progress, establish dependencies among activities, and view installation progress on a timeline. EB supports this process by structuring data according to a functional hierarchy and enabling temporal tracking and the auditing of records.

The 5D dimension adds the cost variable by associating technical data with financial values. EB allows equipment, cables, and components to be linked to suppliers, commercial models, and service packages, enabling information to be exported to estimating systems. This integration supports financial-impact analyses when project changes occur and ensures cost control throughout every stage of the project.

In the 6D dimension, focused on sustainability, efficiency, and operation, EB supports the modeling of different operational scenarios and control modes. Through parameter control and device operating histories, installation behavior can be analyzed under different conditions.

The 7D dimension addresses asset life-cycle and maintenance management. EB maintains a complete history of each object, including revision tracking, those responsible for changes, and links to technical documents, while also allowing association with maintenance plans. Three-dimensional visualization, combined with the technical database, supports more precise planning of inspections and interventions.

To support all these dimensions, EB includes a native feature for modeling automated and customized workflows. It makes it possible to define process stages, assign task owners, configure deadlines, establish user groups by discipline, and monitor activity progress through management dashboards. This control contributes to the technical governance of data and ensures that collaboration among departments takes place in a structured, traceable manner aligned with project objectives.

This multidimensional approach, anchored in EIM and BIM, enables more efficient, secure, and integrated substation management from the design stage through asset operation and maintenance.

2.2 Benefits of EIM and BIM Integration

By enabling the integration of data from different engineering disciplines—even when originating in separate environments based on EIM or BIM methodologies—it becomes possible to promote automatic alignment among electrical, civil, mechanical, and automation engineering teams. This convergence of information is especially critical in projects such as substations, power plants, and major infrastructure developments, where coordination among disciplines is essential to reduce inconsistencies, mitigate errors, and avoid rework.

Another crucial aspect of substation data management is change management. Tools such as Data Tracking, the Revision Assistant, and Object History make it possible to record every change made to project objects—such as replaced equipment, adjusted parameters, or modified cable connections—indicating what changed, when, and by whom. This information is fundamental to ensuring the traceability and integrity of the model throughout the installation life cycle, from design through operation and maintenance, aspects that are highly valued in EIM and BIM methodologies (7).

Operational safety in substations is a critical issue, especially in protection and control systems. A failure in the operation of protection relays, for example, can have serious consequences. A typical case involves equipment experiencing a short circuit without the protection system operating correctly, which can lead to overheating, fire, human risk, and catastrophic damage to the installation.

From this perspective, traceability of protection logic and the association between physical devices and their functions are decisive factors in root-cause analysis and rapid response (8). Using a platform such as EB together with 3D modeling systems therefore becomes a strategic advantage: users can precisely identify in a graphical environment which equipment failed, where it is physically installed, which elements are connected to it, and what its expected protection logic was (9). Cross-navigation between functional diagrams and the 3D model allows engineers, operators, and maintenance teams to quickly view the affected components, analyze logical and physical connections, and make decisions based on concrete, up-to-date data.

Besides accelerating emergency response, this structure is equally valuable for preventive and corrective maintenance planning. With an object-oriented database, reliable life-cycle data for each item of equipment can be fully controlled, including its physical location, functional data, maintenance history, settings applied, and links to associated diagrams and documents.

This integrated data structure therefore enables maintenance teams to identify critical equipment more easily and execute action plans in a structured manner. In addition, the ability of engineering platforms to integrate with systems such as CMMS and GIS complements spatial analyses and facilitates work-order management.

3.0 – CASE STUDIES

3.1 Standard 3D Portal

Standard 3D Portal is a native EB assistant developed to promote integration between the data-oriented model and three-dimensional modeling environments. Although connection with Autodesk Revit is one of its most prominent applications, the portal is not limited to that platform. Its architecture is based on XML files and enables structured communication with a variety of CAD and PLM tools, including Plant 3D, Primtech, Inventor, E3D, and IFC-based systems.

In the Revit context, Standard 3D Portal makes it possible to associate technical objects defined in EB—such as protection equipment, panels, cables, and automation devices—with specific families in the three-dimensional model. The mapping can be configured flexibly, allowing attributes to be renamed, equipment types to be selected for export, and correspondence to be established between technical parameters and graphical properties. This integration ensures that the 3D model developed in Revit incorporates the data already consolidated in EB in a structured manner.

A central feature of this process is data synchronization between the platforms. EB can detect discrepancies between the models, such as changes in attributes, positioning, or missing links, and flag these inconsistencies for review. The user can then decide whether to synchronize the data, ensuring consistency between the two environments. This approach significantly reduces rework, increases information reliability, and prevents changes in one project discipline from failing to be reflected in another.

In addition to data exchange and synchronization, Standard 3D Portal provides cross-navigation between platforms. From an object in EB, the user can access its representation in Revit, and the reverse is also possible. This bidirectional navigation provides a broader understanding of the spatial context of assets and supports coordination among disciplines, especially in complex projects such as substations.

The process also contributes to project traceability. Any change made in the Revit model can be brought back into EB with a version record, change history, and link to the original object. This allows the database to remain the reliable reference throughout all project phases, from development through commissioning and operation.

3.2 Point-Cloud Integration for 3D Digital Twin Visualization

The integration of EB with the Cintoo platform represents a strategic advance in the digitalization of existing assets, especially in environments such as substations. This solution directly connects the structured technical data in EB with three-dimensional representations captured through laser scanning of the physical environment.

Cintoo is a web platform specialized in point-cloud visualization and analysis, providing a faithful representation of the real world based on data obtained through 3D scanning. This feature is particularly useful in brownfield environments—that is, existing facilities already in operation—where current or complete 3D models are often unavailable (10). In this context, reconstructing the geometric model tends to be costly. By contrast, a point cloud can provide a reliable overview within a few weeks and at a much lower cost than traditional three-dimensional modeling.

From this perspective, EB's role is to connect directly to the scanned three-dimensional model, allowing users, for example, to locate a specific piece of equipment through EB's search features and navigate to its representation in the point cloud, or vice versa. The flexible data structure allows EB attributes such as serial number, maintenance status, or manufacturer to be mapped directly to the metadata of the visualized object, enriching the navigation and data-integration experience. Cintoo also offers a module that applies artificial intelligence algorithms to automatically recognize equipment in the point cloud, resulting in seamless integration between the EB model and its visualization in the 3D environment.

Connectivity between the systems enables a wide range of applications, from remotely planning maintenance activities to supporting emergency teams in critical situations such as substation fires.

Another advantage is support for immersive visualization using virtual-reality headsets. This feature makes it possible to visually inspect substations or industrial units from the point cloud, enabling remote training, intervention simulations, and decision support based on real data. It also contributes to acceptance after the commissioning phase by allowing the 3D representation generated through scanning to be compared with the 3D model.

3.3 Common Data Environment

Implementing a Common Data Environment (CDE) is one of the fundamental pillars for consolidating BIM in collaborative and interdisciplinary environments. As defined in ISO 19650 guidelines, a CDE establishes a single shared foundation where models, documents, revisions, and metadata are organized in a structured and controlled manner, ensuring information integrity, traceability, and governance throughout the entire asset life cycle (5).

In complex technical projects such as substations and industrial facilities, integrating this environment with the engineering core becomes strategic. In this context, EB stands out by supporting extension of a CDE based on shared directories (network drives) through integration with BIM models using external references (XREF). This approach links three-dimensional models to the EB technical environment without duplicating data, keeping the database lightweight and efficient. The integrated view makes it possible to navigate BIM elements synchronized with database objects, creating a genuine semantic connection between disciplines and spatial representations.

A relevant differentiator of this integration is the ability to create markups directly on the referenced 3D model. Users can highlight specific components or areas, add technical comments, assign responsibilities, set deadlines, and configure automatic follow-up alerts.

Using XREF prevents BIM models from occupying space in the primary database because they remain as external references accessed on demand. This architecture is particularly useful for handling complex, large files, allowing them to be updated independently without losing their technical links. It ensures smooth navigation even in projects with a high degree of geometric detail.

By incorporating these features with data from different disciplines, collaboration among teams becomes more coordinated and contextualized, enabling integrated workflows and real-time revision control. This process aligns with the principles of versioning, traceability, visibility, and responsibility assignment defined by information-management standards in the BIM context, strengthening data governance throughout the project life cycle.

4.0 – CONCLUSION

Adopting a multidisciplinary approach based on EIM and BIM has proven essential for consolidating engineering data, integrating disciplines, and ensuring complete traceability in substation projects. Integrating structured data (1D), technical documentation (2D), and spatial models (3D), and extending this foundation to scheduling (4D), cost (5D), operation (6D), and maintenance (7D), creates robust digital infrastructure capable of supporting decisions throughout the entire asset life cycle.

This EIM and BIM integration produces significant gains in project quality, interoperability among systems, and field-response capability. Eliminating rework, maintaining consistency across disciplines, and providing access to reliable real-time information make the digital model a strategic resource for substation operation, commissioning, and maintenance. From this perspective, platforms that enable this integration represent a fundamental component of the technical management of electrical infrastructure, with direct effects on installation safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

5.0 – BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

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