BIM Visualisation Platform for the Venues and Exhibition Halls of Fira Barcelona

Fira Barcelona needed to unlock the value of its BIM data

Fira Barcelona manages around 240,000 square metres of exhibition space and organises large-scale events, including globally recognised fairs such as Mobile World Congress and Smart City Expo World Congress.

Each event involves the setup of hundreds of stands and the coordination of a wide range of suppliers and stakeholders — all under tight deadlines and with a pressing need for timely access to spatial and technical information about the venues.

To support this work, Fira wanted to make the information from its pavilions’ BIM models available to all parties involved. However, these models contain a high level of technical detail, much of which is not relevant to every type of user.

Fira therefore identified the need for a solution that could share its BIM models securely and at scale, without incurring additional user-based licensing costs, and with flexible access permissions tailored to each collaborator’s role.

At the same time, Fira needed to retain full ownership and control of its BIM models. That meant avoiding third-party imports and hosting everything within its own Common Data Environment (CDE) built on SharePoint.

Finally, Fira was looking for an open solution — one that would allow for the development and integration of new functionalities, so it could continue delivering value to its clients and partners over time.

Modelical.io 3D Viewer

To meet this challenge, Modelical adapted its flexible and robust web-based 3D BIM viewer — an application from the Modelical.io platform designed to visualise complex 3D models and provide targeted access to key information based on user roles.

Modelical.io platform not only supports smooth navigation and exploration of Fira’s venues, but is also ready to integrate future features in response to the organisation’s evolving needs.

The main challenge in this project was to develop a solution that enabled agile management of the numerous BIM models making up the Gran Via venue, which spans over 240,000 m² of exhibition space. The simultaneous loading of multiple models could compromise the performance of users’ browsers and devices.

Key Features of the Fira 3D Viewer

Based on the industry-standard IFC: The 3D viewer is built on the IFC format, widely adopted by the AECO community, ensuring interoperability with a wide range of tools and existing workflows.

Integrated with Fira’s own CDE: The application reads models directly from Fira’s document management system, ensuring data ownership and allowing the internal team to manage version updates without leaving the platform. This guarantees users are always working with the latest information.

Scalable access model: The tool is available to Fira staff, exhibitors, and suppliers with no restrictions on the number of users, enabling broad collaboration without escalating software costs.

Interactive navigation: Users access the platform via a link in Fira’s CDE, landing on an interactive map of the venue. From there, they can select a specific pavilion and explore its 3D model.

Advanced BIM viewer: it allows users to visualise BIM models in 3D, select objects, and access key information, as well as use advanced tools such as measurement and sectioning to better understand the space.

Web application integrated into Modelical.io: The BIM viewer is part of Modelical.io, our platform for managing large portfolios of built assets. Accessible from any device, it brings unparalleled control, visibility, and operational efficiency.

Development Approach

Fira and Modelical applied a co-creation methodology. Instead of developing and funding a fully bespoke product for Fira, both parties jointly defined the core requirements, which Modelical then incorporated into its product roadmap.

In this way, Fira financed only part of the development in exchange for being the first to access a tailored solution at a reasonable cost, while Modelical retained ownership of the developed technology in order to incorporate it into the value proposition of Modelical.io.

“We believe this approach is well suited to developing technology that connects BIM with operations in the AECO sector — a sector not traditionally inclined to invest in bespoke development — as it aligns objectives and creates an ongoing obligation to deliver value to clients and end users.” – Begoña Gassó Palop, Product Owner at Modelical.

We also followed best practices:

• Aligning the solution with the client’s real workflows: From the outset, we worked closely with Fira’s teams to understand their processes and ensure the application integrated seamlessly into their digital ecosystem — without resorting to a fully bespoke build.
• Continuous improvement: Rather than developing a closed solution and delivering it at the end, we worked in ongoing iterations — testing, refining, and improving the viewer based  real-world use. This helped identify and address issues earlier and before the final implementation.
• Enhancing the user experience: By involving key users in the development process, we ensured the tool was intuitive and effective from day one — facilitating adoption and ensuring a positive impact on event management.
  

Ultimately, this co-creation approach has laid the groundwork for future collaborations with Fira and other operator clients to keep evolving the platform.

Conclusion

With the Modelical.io viewer, Fira now has a complete and scalable solution to make information about its pavilions and venues accessible to clients, partners, and internal teams. The Modelical.io viewer is also ready to support the addition of new features such as space management, assembly planning and logistics, or integration with CMMS systems — all of which will bring added value to the management of events and trade fairs

About Modelical.io

Modelical.io is an innovative platform designed for organisations that manage large portfolios of built assets and whose business depends on their ongoing performance. Its purpose is to provide greater control, operational visibility, and decision-making efficiency — even in dynamic and constantly evolving environments.

The platform is built on a Core infrastructure that connects BIM models with each client’s various data sources, ensuring a solid and scalable foundation. On top of this, it includes an Admin application that allows for centralised user access and permission management, ensuring secure and efficient administration.

In addition, Modelical.io features a Use Case Architecture that expands the capabilities of BIM models, enabling the automation of model-based processes and facilitating integration with other digital systems already in place across the organisation. As part of its modular and flexible approach, the platform also allows for the development of Custom Use Cases tailored to the specific needs and workflows of each client.