About Us - BIM4I

Caltrans is implementing Building Information Modeling for Infrastructure (BIM4I) to improve teamwork, precision, and efficiency throughout the stages of planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining transportation infrastructure. By creating a shared digital environment, BIM4I enables Caltrans and its partners to visualize projects in 3-D, manage data effectively across a project’s lifecycle and ensure clear communication between teams. Caltrans BIM4I Program is responsible for leading BIM4I implementation efforts throughout Caltrans.

Implementation is well underway through various pilot projects and collaboration efforts. The BIM4I Program, under the Division of Project Management, oversees the implementation, standards, guidance, and training development efforts throughout Caltrans.

Annual BIM4I Summit

Our annual summit is an in-person workshop for discussing the adoption of digital tools to delivering transportation projects. We encourage Caltrans and industry partners to attend.

BIM4I Program Strategic Plan

Caltrans BIM4I Program 2026-2030 Strategic Plan (PDF), dated January 2026.  Caltrans BIM4I Program Strategic Plan outlines the program’s Vision and Mission along with five strategic focus areas for the BIM4I implementation. The plan is intended to enhance efficiency, transparency, collaboration, and integration.  The Caltrans BIM4I Implementation Plan is currently being updated to align with the refined focused areas identified in the BIM4I Program Strategic Plan.

Implementation Plans

• Caltrans Building Information Modeling for Infrastructure (BIM4I) Initiative Final Implementation Plan (PDF), dated April 2023. Caltrans’s BIM4I implementation plan provides the framework to: use a project information model (PIM) and digital files to convey design intent for construction; establishing the PIM and digital files as the project’s legal documentation in lieu of a two-dimensional (2-D) plan set; and capture digital as-built data during construction of the physical asset to build the Asset Information Model (AIM), the digital asset that will enhance the collaboration, support asset management, planning, and future project development.
• Caltrans Construction Contract Administration Systems Implementation Plan (PDF), dated December 2023. This implementation plan provides a roadmap and tools for adopting digital construction management technology for processes that fall within the Construction project administrative and management scope in alignment with AB 1037.

State Requirements

• Assembly Bill No. 1037 (AB-1037) Infrastructure construction: digital construction management technologies. (2021-2022) approved and filed September 23, 2022. This bill requires the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to develop an implementation plan for the use and integration of digital construction management technologies, as defined, for use on transportation infrastructure projects.

Construction Procedure Directives

• CPD 21-11 Falcon Electronic Document Management System (PDF). This directive requires all project records for construction projects awarded to be stored electronically in the Caltrans Falcon electronic document management system.

Federal Requirements

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Infrastructure. This FHWA web page provides an overview of Building Information Modeling (BIM), as applied to infrastructure (BIM for Infrastructure), as a collaborative work method for structuring, managing and using data and information about transportation assets throughout their lifecycle.
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) Practices in Highway Infrastructure – FHWA Global Benchmarking Program Report (PDF)dated March 2021.  This FHWA document provides evolving trends in BIM implementations in BIM-mature nations and their public highway infrastructure agencies, with a focus on understanding how other countries are using BIM for infrastructure to better deliver transportation projects, manage assets, and provide related services with a view to benchmark and advance U.S. practice.
• Advancing BIM for Infrastructure: National Strategic Roadmap (PDF), dated June 2021.  This FHWA document provides DOTs technical guidance.  Caltrans has attended many workshops including “International and U.S. Best Practices on BIM Workflows for Planning through Asset Management,” March 2023.