BIM-GIS Integration for Smarter Infrastructure: Simulating Urban Flooding with 3D Spatial Intelligence

Introduction

Imagine standing in the heart of a city moments before a heavy monsoon storm. Streets flood, traffic halts, and buildings stand helpless. Now imagine if we could predict exactly which road will be submerged, which entrance of a school will be underwater, and how the water will flow around critical infrastructure—before the first drop falls.

That’s the promise of BIM-GIS integration—a synergy of precision and context, detail and landscape, building-level insight and city-scale intelligence.

In this blog, we explore how combining Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools like Revit with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platforms such as ArcGIS Pro unlocks the ability to simulate urban flooding in 3D, enhance infrastructure resilience, and empower city planners with data-driven foresight.

What is BIM

BIM, Building Information Model is more than just 3D modelling - it's a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a built asset. Think of it as a smart model that knows what it's made of, how it behaves, and how it's supposed to be maintained over time.

BIM is characterized by its ability to represent buildings in rich detail, far beyond simple geometry. Unlike traditional CAD drawings, BIM models are parametric and intelligent, meaning each component - such as a wall, beam, or pipe - is a digital object that carries information about its physical properties, materials, structural role, and even construction sequencing.

Figure 1. 3D representation of building components showcasing detailed architectural and structural data from a BIM model.

What is GIS

GIS, Geographic Information System is a system designed to capture, store, analyse, manage, and visualize geographic (spatial) data. It gives us the tools to answer questions like “Where is it”, “What is nearby” and “What changes over time”.

GIS is built around the concept of spatial data - data that is tied to a specific location on the Earth. A GIS organizes information into layers, such as transportation networks, zoning maps, hydrology, and demographic data, each with attribute tables that store associated non-spatial information. These layers can be analysed individually or in combination to answer complex questions about patterns, proximity, accessibility, or risk.

Figure 2. Spatial data layers representing maps, analysis, and infrastructure from a GIS environment.

Why BIM and GIS Work Better Together

While BIM gives insight into the “what” and “how” of individual structures, GIS gives us the “where” and “why” on a broader scale. When combined, they enable smarter decisions across the entire built environment.

Integrating BIM with GIS allows us to bridge the gap between micro and macro scales - from individual buildings to entire cities. This synergy supports smarter decision-making in urban planning, infrastructure development, environmental risk assessment, and emergency management. For example, in flood-prone areas, a GIS model can simulate rainfall and water flow across terrain, while a BIM model can provide detailed information about building materials, elevation, entrances, and vulnerabilities.

Figure 3. BIM for Water Network

Together, they enable precise impact simulations and targeted resilience planning such as

Urban Planning & Zoning

• Overlay flood risk maps with zoning boundaries to restrict development in vulnerable zones.

• Guide future urban expansion toward safer terrain using flood hazard buffers.

Infrastructure Design

• Use simulation outputs to reposition drainage outlets, elevate road segments, or redesign underground utilities for better resilience.

Emergency Response Planning

• Identify priority rescue routes, temporary shelters, and assets at risk.

• Simulations help emergency services visualize impact in advance and allocate resources effectively.

Climate Adaptation Strategies

• Test how future rainfall scenarios (due to climate change) affect the city.

• Compare "before and after" simulations to evaluate the benefits of green infrastructure or permeable surfaces.

Let’s take a real challenge: urban flooding. You want to know:

• Which areas are vulnerable?

• Which buildings will flood first?

• How deep will the water get?

• Can emergency services still reach a hospital?

Answering these questions needs both BIM and GIS.

GIS tells us how water flows across the landscape. BIM shows us how that water interacts with buildings. By integrating both, you get not just a map - but a smart, 3D simulation.

Since we are working with BIM data, which is inherently 3D and rich in vertical detail, the first step is to open a Local Scene in ArcGIS Pro. A local scene allows us to handle elevation-aware datasets and visualize structures with height, making it ideal for urban infrastructure simulations.

Figure 4. 3D local scene in ArcGIS Pro where BIM models are integrated with terrain for realistic visualization.

Next, add your BIM model — this could be a .RVT (Revit) or .IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) file. ArcGIS Pro natively supports these formats, but ensure the file:

• Is compatible with your software version

• Has the correct spatial reference system (projection).

Once imported, your building elements (walls, roofs, floors, etc.) become feature layers that can be visualized and analysed geospatially.

Now, under the Analysis ribbon, navigate to Simulation and rainfall. Define your area of interest, for which you want to run the simulation. To configure the simulation, in the configure simulation add the inputs.

Figure 5. The selected urban neighbourhood used as the focus area for the flood simulation study.

Set the rainfall rate, which can be given either in “mm” or “in” and duration. The rainfall rate can be set with different start time.

This rainfall input serves as the primary driver of surface runoff and flood accumulation.

Include a Water Depth Raster to represent areas that already have standing water or pre-existing saturation. This layer helps initialize the simulation with more realistic surface conditions, especially important for monsoon or coastal flood modelling.

Under Infiltration rasters, there are two key layers to prepare:

• Infiltration Raster: Shows how quickly different surfaces (e.g., soil, vegetation, concrete) can absorb water. This determines how much rain becomes runoff versus what percolates underground.

• Maximum Infiltration Raster: Sets the saturation threshold - once this value is reached, the surface is considered fully saturated, and no more water can be absorbed, increasing surface runoff.

These layers are crucial for modelling realistic water balance in an urban setting.

Figure 6. Interface showing all hydrological simulation inputs like rainfall, infiltration, and surface roughness

Next, bring in the Surface Roughness Raster, which simulates Manning’s n values. These define the resistance or friction water encounters as it flows across different land covers. This input affects the velocity and direction of water flow during the simulation.

Once all inputs are in place, run the simulation model.

Figure 7. Simulated flood extent and depth at 7 minutes after start of rainfall.

Figure 8. Simulated flood spread after 26 minutes, showing increased water coverage and flow paths

These outputs can then be visualized, enabling stakeholders to:

• Identify areas with dangerous flood levels that could compromise roads, basements, or utilities.

• Understand how topography and building elevation affect flood spread.

• Identify flow bottlenecks, natural drainage paths, and overloaded channels.

Conclusion

This integration enables us to shift from reactive disaster response to proactive risk mitigation. Urban planners can model how rainfall interacts with both terrain and individual buildings; engineers can identify infrastructural vulnerabilities with building-level detail; emergency responders can visualize critical zones in 3D before a disaster ever occurs. By embedding design intelligence within geographic context, we unlock a new paradigm of smart infrastructure planning - one that anticipates risk, empowers better decisions, and safeguards communities. Whether you're designing a new neighbourhood, upgrading stormwater systems, or preparing for climate extremes, the synergy of BIM and GIS ensures that your solutions are not only smart - but sustainable, spatially aware, and future-ready.