BIMcollab Strengthens Collaboration in the Oosterweel Project 

For decades, Antwerp has been working on completing its ring road. The Oosterweel Project—a highly ambitious, large-scale, and socially significant infrastructure project—is the final piece of that puzzle. Benjamin Maes, BIM Process Manager VTTI at Lantis, plays a key role in this effort. Together with his team, he ensures the quality control of the models and data for the tunnel-technical installations. BIMcollab has become indispensable in his approach. “You could say that the license costs pay for themselves in the time it takes for a project manager to walk to the printer to print a drawing.” How BIMcollab structurally strengthens collaboration in one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects? Let’s find out.

A project with social impact

The Oosterweel Project is much more than just the construction of a stretch of motorway. It is an essential component of the plan to close Antwerp’s ring road, improve mobility in and around the city, and drastically enhance the quality of life for its residents. Through new tunnels, overpasses, and smart infrastructure, traffic will not only flow more smoothly but new green spaces and public areas will also emerge. The city will be able to breathe again. 

The Oosterweel link is part of the Flemish Government’s Master Plan 2020. This master plan comprises sixteen infrastructure projects for roads, waterways, public transport, and bicycle and pedestrian zones. The project’s impact is enormous: economically—by improving connections for the port and logistics—and socially, through a healthier living environment. It’s no wonder that this megaproject is closely watched throughout Belgium and the Netherlands, as drivers from both countries are all too familiar with the perpetual traffic jams around Antwerp.

From BIM Coordinator to bridge builder

Benjamin began his Oosterweel journey in 2022 as an external expert through engineering firm Geonius. For Lantis—the management company of the Flemish Government whose name combines the mission “Livable Antwerp through Innovation and Collaboration”—he is responsible for the BIM process in tunnel technology. Think of fans, sprinkler systems, emergency exits, and signaling. His task? Ensuring that all models meet the requirements in both execution and maintenance. 

With more than 300 active BIMcollab users in the project and thousands of stakeholders involved, clear communication through models and issue management is crucial. “When we validate a model, we want to be sure the data is correct. And that’s only possible with a tight, structured process and smart tools,” Benjamin explains.

Why BIMcollab?

At Geonius, Benjamin already worked with BIMcollab Zoom. He brought that experience to Lantis—and with success.

I didn’t push BIMcollab; I showed it. I knew: the product sells itself.

Both within the Geonius team and at Lantis, the added value quickly became apparent: using smart color coding and Smart Views in Zoom makes models clearer and easier to check. 

The integration with Power BI makes it possible to involve non-technical stakeholders in a visual way. BIMcollab Zoom became our standard. “Not because we had to, but because it worked.” 

Issue management as the backbone of communication

In a project with multiple contractors, each responsible for different sub-areas, good coordination is critical. Using BIMcollab Nexus, model issues, clashes, and interfaces between parties are centrally managed.

The interface register refers to BIMcollab issues. This allows us to track exactly where we stand per model, per location, and per stakeholder. And most importantly: who is responsible for what.

The combination of a visual 3D context, snapshot functionality, and action-holder registration makes issue management with BIMcollab not only more efficient but also more reliable. “As soon as you can link a model and an action at a glance, you avoid miscommunication.” 

For document management in the Oosterweel Project, a three-pronged approach was chosen: Autodesk, Microsoft, and SharePoint. However, there is growing interest in BIMcollab Twin as a full-fledged documentation and information management solution—especially with a view to the maintenance phase, where reliable data is indispensable. 

BIM Maturity in infrastructure

Belgium lagged behind in BIM adoption in construction for some time, but infrastructure projects like Oosterweel are accelerating uptake. “You can see that there are still questions about information management, but the willingness to work with models has grown. We’ve moved from ‘What is BIM?’ to ‘What can I do with it?’” says Benjamin. 

According to him, BIM maturity in infrastructure technology is sometimes even higher than in traditional construction: “The complexity of roads, slopes, gradients, and tunnel technology almost forces you to automate more.” 

The power of stories: Benjamin’s BIM Podcast 

In addition to his professional work, Benjamin created his own podcast: BIM Podcasts—an accessible series of conversations where he talks with a range of guests about the real story behind BIM. No marketing talk, but honest conversations about what really matters: people, processes, and collaboration. Benjamin: “I noticed that a lot of communication around BIM is very technical and doesn’t resonate with non-specialists. With the podcast, I try to bridge that gap. No scripted answers—just open conversations where mistakes are also discussed. That’s how we all learn.” 

The episodes are well-received in the industry, reaching thousands of listeners. “For a niche like BIM, that’s pretty special. It shows there’s a need for an honest and relatable voice. But don’t mention that too much in this article, because it’s not about me, okay?” he laughs, the quasi-influencer. 

Building societal results together

The added value of BIMcollab is not just in facilitating technical workflows but especially in strengthening collaboration in complex environments. “Oosterweel is not a construction project; it’s a societal project,” Benjamin emphasizes.

With BIMcollab, we can work from a single source of truth, reduce errors, and make decisions faster. And that’s exactly what you need in a project of this scale and impact.

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Discover how structured communication and centralized issue tracking in BIMcollab help you align early with stakeholders, resolve clashes faster, and deliver better outcomes.