Informationsphase

Informationsphase, or information phase, is a project lifecycle stage focused on defining and organizing the information requirements for a project and on establishing how information will be managed and delivered. The term is commonly used in German-speaking construction and engineering practice and is closely associated with modern information management and BIM (Building Information Modeling).

The purpose of the Informationsphase is to determine what information stakeholders need, in which format and level of detail, and when it should be delivered. This includes identifying information deliverables, data standards, classification systems, metadata, and interoperability requirements. It also involves assigning roles and responsibilities for information creation, validation, and governance, and setting up a plan for information delivery across the project.

Typical activities in this phase include gathering stakeholder needs, defining the Project Information Requirements and Organizational Information Requirements, establishing an Information Delivery Plan, and agreeing on data structures, submission formats, and exchange protocols (for example, IFC or other interoperable formats). Outputs commonly include PIRs, OIRs, the Information Delivery Plan, a BIM Execution Plan or equivalent, and agreed data schemas and standards.

The Informationsphase precedes subsequent design and construction activities and informs later stages of planning, design, and construction by ensuring consistent, usable data flows. Benefits include clearer expectations, reduced information gaps and rework, and improved collaboration and asset management. While its exact scope varies by project and region, the phase is a core element of BIM-enabled workflows and ISO 19650-aligned information management.