In recent years, the construction sector has experienced a significant technological transition, driven by the introduction of innovative digital tools and the evolution of the legislative environment. This article presents a Systematic Scoping Review conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, aiming to examine the role of Public Administration (PA) regarding the adoption of innovative technologies, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Twin (DT), to improve the management of construction and public procurement processes. The review analyses the state of the art in the implementation of digitalised procedures for project management in the construction phase, according to PA organisational purposes and national and international standard requirements. The data obtained was used to structure the analysis in order to provide a useful framework for understanding the level of convergence between the academic world and public administration in the use of digital technologies and their combined applications. The review results are organised in a thematic matrix classifying contributions according to key topics, building process phases, and operational aims. This approach highlights adopted strategies and emerging best practices, aiming to support both PAs and professionals in overcoming digitalisation challenges. A specific focus has been dedicated to the need for continuous training and legislative adaptation, which are essential for integrating digital technologies into building processes. The analysis and verification of the results of the systematic scoping review on the digitalisation process in the construction sector, conducted between academia and the public administration, is supported by a comparison with an Italian case study from the Emilia-Romagna region, which illustrates the specific application of the strategies identified in the digital management of public construction processes.
The implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in public design processes enhances efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. However, public agencies often encounter significant barriers, particularly regarding organisational and managerial readiness. This study develops a BIM implementation framework tailored to the specific needs of an Italian public agency. The research adopts a qualitative approach, combining 15 semi-structured interviews with process mapping Using (Business Process Modeling Notation) BPMN. The current as-is workflows were analysed and validated by internal stakeholders. Based on this analysis, strategic objectives were defined, relevant (Building Information Modelling) BIM uses were selected, and revised to-be processes were proposed, integrating new roles and responsibilities according to the standards. The framework addresses both technical and organisational dimensions of BIM adoption, highlighting the need for training, coordination, and stakeholder engagement. The main outcomes include a structured process model, a priority-based selection of BIM uses, and a role matrix supporting organisational transformation. The added value for researchers lies in the replicable methodology that combines empirical process mapping with implementation planning. For practitioners, especially consultants in sustainable design, the study offers a practical roadmap for aligning BIM adoption with project goals, regulatory compliance, and environmental performance targets in complex public sector contexts.
The development of methods for building permit issuing supported by digital tools could improve the current mostly manual procedures for processing regulatory information and related compliance processes. Several studies are currently addressing the challenge of building permit digitalisation, mostly considering building information models as the source data for automating the regulations checks. However, many of the main checks, that usually represent the major bottlenecks of the compliance checking process, need a joint representation of the new proposed construction and its context, which could be effectively represented in a (3D) geographical information system. This study aims at supporting the automation of building permitting by addressing the rule interpretation as an input to model preparation and code checking. In particular, the regulations interpretation in this case is functional to the definition of data requirements and checking rules referring to a joint GIS and BIM (GeoBIM) framework. The approach is developed and tested in the case of an Italian municipality of 45.000 inhabitants. This paper describes the interpretation of distance-related regulations by adopting a semantic mark-up and sentence-centric approach. The resulting level of information need has been represented in conceptual models (object, attributes, relationships) as an essential input to city and building model preparation. While the case study is specific in location and regulations, the type of issues encountered are a generally applicable example for the building permit use case. Future works will extend the methodology to additional three European municipalities between 45.000 and 1.000.000 inhabitants, in three European countries, to address the need for a flexible and scalable approach