The Mittelstand 4.0 Kompetenzzentrum Planen und Bauen set up a multi‑partner effort to accelerate the digital transformation of small and medium‑sized construction firms. The project’s core aim was to embed digital tools throughout the entire project life cycle—from early planning and site preparation to construction and operation—so that SMEs could compete with larger firms and benefit from new business models. The initiative was funded by the German federal government under the Mittelstand 4.0 programme and ran over a three‑year period, involving partners such as Platform GmbH, TU Chemnitz, the University of Mannheim, Jade Hochschule, and eBZ GmbH.
Technically, the project produced a suite of demonstrators that illustrate how Building Information Modelling (BIM) can be leveraged for real‑world construction tasks. A digital construction‑site plan was created by enriching a BIM model with site‑specific data. Rule checkers were then attached to the model, allowing planners to query compliance rules and display the results on large screens at the site, thereby visualising the link between the site plan and the construction schedule. Another demonstrator showcased rule‑based, partially automated modelling methods that help users verify the formal completeness of BIM models during the design phase. A separate demonstrator captured construction data directly into the BIM model, providing a digital construction documentation workflow that can be exported to official building‑application procedures. The BIM‑based building‑application demonstrator showed how a BIM model can be integrated into the municipal approval process, highlighting time savings and increased transparency for all stakeholders.
Drone‑based inventory was also explored. The project mapped out the process of using UAVs to capture site conditions, then fed the data into the BIM model to update asset inventories and detect discrepancies. A VR safety‑training demonstrator was developed to provide digital, immersive training for construction site safety, enabling SMEs to deliver consistent safety education without the need for on‑site instructors.
The Platform GmbH partner delivered a website that became the central communication hub for the competence centre. Built on an existing intranet solution, the site offered structured content entry, a flexible rights system for different user groups, and SEO‑optimised, faceted search. A novel mapping tool was added, giving users a geographic, phase‑oriented view of reference projects that illustrate digital construction practices in SMEs. Usage statistics and newsletter subscriptions rose steadily, indicating growing engagement from the target audience.
Legal and data‑protection expertise was supplied by TU Chemnitz, ensuring that all digital workflows complied with German privacy regulations and that the demonstrators could be deployed safely in real projects. Throughout the project, continuous reporting, technical papers, and practice reports were produced to disseminate findings to the wider construction community.
Overall, the project delivered a coherent set of digital tools that demonstrate how BIM, rule checking, UAV data capture, VR training, and a robust web platform can be combined to streamline construction processes for SMEs. By providing tangible demonstrators and training workshops, the initiative helped bridge the digital divide in the German construction sector and laid a foundation for further adoption of digital business models across the industry.