Silvia Biagi is a Building Engineer and currently a Research Fellow at the Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering (DESTEC) of the University of Pisa, where she obtained her PhD (37th Cycle) with a dissertation entitled “BIM for Public Administration: Critical Investigation of the European Situation and Implementation Perspectives for the Italian Case.” The research was funded through the ESF-REACT-EU programme, PON “Research and Innovation” 2014–2020 (Ministerial Decree 1061/2021), Action IV.5 “Green-Themed Doctorates.”
Her current research programme focuses on the “Development of the BIM Method for Public Contracting Authorities: Digital Innovation for the Design, Construction and Management of New and Existing Assets.” The activity involves the delivery of innovative digital services for Public Administrations (PAs) and companies, with particular emphasis on BIM adoption. This includes, for example, the development of customised design–construction–management solutions, the preparation of Information Requirements (IRs), and support in project development and construction processes, aimed at fostering internal expertise and operational autonomy for both public and private organisations.
At the same time, a systematic and ongoing analysis of the national and international regulatory framework is carried out. This research highlights the misalignment between mandatory requirements and voluntary practices, the existence of self-referential standards and certification mechanisms, and the interpretative and operational challenges faced by Contracting Authorities (CAs) and stakeholders in the construction sector. These actors often struggle to establish coherent and effective internal processes, particularly with regard to the object-oriented relationship between design and construction.
The adopted holistic methodological approach includes process–product analysis, co-design activities involving both technical and managerial roles, and the implementation of BIM Authoring tools, Common Data Environments (CDEs), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Scan-to-BIM technologies, HBIM resources, 3D Printing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Continuous validation of research outcomes is achieved through ongoing collaboration with both public and private stakeholders. Indeed, the considerable diversity of needs among Public Administrations and companies requires tailored interventions, dedicated training programmes, and software customisation through scripting, as demonstrated and documented throughout the research activities. Continuous alignment with the state of the art is ensured through extensive international collaborations within the field.