Highway Talk

NIBS issues call for transportation infrastructure

The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration, announced the release of the Report for a Central Building Information Modeling (BIM) Transportation Library (CBTL), "a landmark roadmap for creating national, interoperable BIM standards across highways, bridges, and transit infrastructure," per a September 26 press release.

Developed through collaboration with industry leaders, federal and state agencies, and research partners, the report establishes a framework for modernizing the design, construction, and management of transportation assets. The CBTL has the potential to unify fragmented digital practices into a single, authoritative resource, reducing lifecycle costs, streamlining project delivery, and strengthening resilience against natural and man-made threats.

“America’s global competitiveness depends on a transportation network built for the future,” said George Guszcza, President and CEO of NIBS. “By following the recommendations made in this report, the nation can harness digital innovation to deliver safer, smarter, and stronger infrastructure for every community.”

Key outcomes of implementing the recommendations from the report include:

• Lower long-term maintenance and operations costs.

• Enhanced resilience through predictive asset management.

• Accelerated adoption of digital design and construction practices.

• Greater economic opportunity through more efficient project delivery.