Constraints in Authoring BIM Components for Optimal Data Reuse and Interoperability

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Lockley ◽  
David Greenwood ◽  
Jane Matthews ◽  
Claudio Benghi
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Visual Analysis ◽  
Data Reuse ◽  
Test Model ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Industry Foundation Classes ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Geometric Representations ◽  
Software Platforms ◽  
Exchange Data

This research investigates the issues of authoring reusable BIM components that can be delivered across multiple platforms. A key constraint in the uptake of Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology is interoperability, the ability to accurately and automatically share and exchange data. This has been addressed by the creation of a system of standards; Industry Foundation Classes (Ifcs). Recognising the importance of Ifc standards, the promoters of many proprietary BIM software platforms generally claim that their products support them fully. This has been challenged, and the reported work has aimed to test these assertions. A simple test model was constructed to represent the various geometries that are encountered, which were then expressed in Ifc files. Fourteen commonly-used BIM software tools were subjected to tests in which the range of geometries within the test model was imported into each tool in Ifc format. A simple visual analysis of the outcomes showed a dramatic failure to process the geometries as they were intended. The results of the study indicate that the current commercial BIM authoring tools, whilst being technically capable of providing support for the required component geometric representations, are constrained from doing so by their conversion interfaces from Ifc geometries. The practical implications of this are considerable, and could result in the possibility of serious errors within designs for construction projects. This is particularly relevant in the case of the BIM library components that are currently being authored for importing into project design models. The test model has been circulated to experts in the area, and their observations, as well as results of any further tests will be made publicly available.

scholarly journals Constraints in Authoring BIM Components

2018 ◽  
pp. 27-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Benghi ◽  
David Greenwood
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Project Design ◽  
Test Model ◽  
Authoring Tools ◽  
Simple Test ◽  
Design Models ◽  
Industry Foundation Classes ◽  
Geometric Representations ◽  
Software Platforms

The authors investigated issues of geometric interoperability for reusable BIM components across multiple platforms using industry foundation classes (IFCs) which many proprietary BIM software platforms claim to fully support. These assertions were tested, first in 2012 and then in 2017 to assess the state and evolution of interoperability in the industry. A simple test model was created representing significant types of geometry encountered in component libraries, which were then expressed in IFC files. In the 2012 study, 11 commonly used BIM tools showed a dramatic failure to process the geometries as intended, indicating that the authoring tools, whilst technically capable of supporting required component geometric representations, were constrained from doing so by their conversion interfaces with IFC geometries. In the 2017 tests, improvements were observed though there were still significant processing failures that could result in serious errors; particularly in the case of the BIM library components imported into project design models.

Developing an integrated framework for optimization of spatial requirements of construction equipment

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hemalattha ◽  
R. Vidjeapriya
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Outdoor Environment ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Actual Structure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Space Planning ◽  
Existing Structures ◽  
Building Information

PurposeThis study aims to develop a framework for optimizing the spatial requirements of the equipment in a construction site using a geographic information system (GIS).Design/methodology/approachAn ongoing construction project, an existing thermal powerplant in India, is considered to be the case study, and the corresponding construction activities were scheduled. The equipment spaces were defined for the scheduled activities in building information modelling (BIM), which was further imported to GIS to define the topology rules, validate and optimize the spatial requirements. The BIM simulates the indoor environment, which includes the actual structure being constructed, and the GIS helps in modelling the outdoor environment, which includes the existing structures, temporary facilitates, topography of the site, etc.; thus, this study incorporates the knowledge of BIM in a geospatial environment to obtain optimized equipment spaces for various activities.FindingsSpace in construction projects is to be considered as a resource as well as a constraint, which is to be modelled and planned according to the requirements. The integration of BIM and GIS for equipment space planning will enable precise identification of the errors in the equipment spaces defined and also result in fewer errors as possible. The integration has also eased the process of assigning the topology rules and validating the same, which otherwise is a tedious process.Originality/valueThe workspace for each activity will include the space of the equipment. But, in most of the previous works of workspace planning, only the labour space is considered, and the conflicts and congestions occurring due to the equipment were neglected. The planning of equipment spaces cannot be done based only on the indoor environment; it has to be carried out by considering the surroundings and topography of the site, which have not been researched extensively despite its importance.

scholarly journals IFC-CENTRIC VEGETATION MODELLING FOR BIM

2021 ◽  
Vol VIII-4/W2-2021 ◽  
pp. 91-98
Author(s):  
L. Gobeawan ◽  
S. E. Lin ◽  
X. Liu ◽  
S. T. Wong ◽  
C. W. Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Exchange ◽  
Existing Buildings ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Vegetation Model ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Industry Foundation Classes ◽  
Vegetation Modelling ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Vegetation Database ◽  
Model Generator

Abstract. There has been a growing interest in integrating vegetation into the built environment in order to ameliorate the negative effects of increasing urbanisation. In Singapore, government policies encourage the inclusion of skyrise greenery into new and existing buildings. To further streamline workflows, statutory BIM (Building Information Modelling) submissions in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries have been mandated. However, landscape plans are still excluded from these BIM submissions due to the lack of a centralised vegetation database and the absence of a standardised BIM format for landscape architectural submissions. This paper presents a streamlined methodology for creating and using a centralised vegetation library for landscape architects. The workflow leverages off the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard for data exchange regardless of the BIM authoring software used and provides a framework of four operational modules: an expandable and low-maintenance species-level vegetation library, a BIM authoring workflow that allows inclusion of vegetation objects, an IFC interface, and a lightweight 3D vegetation model generator. This paper also showcases a use-case of embedding information-enriched 3D vegetation objects into a simulated landscape plan. The proposed workflow, when adopted in AEC industries, will enable governing agencies to track diverse greening efforts by the industry and to potentially include other measurements such as cooling performance or maintainability.

scholarly journals Attributes That Determine the Building Information Modelling Capability Maturity of Quantity Surveying Practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 312 ◽  
pp. 02002
Author(s):  
Abdul-Majeed Mahamadu ◽  
Lamine Mahdjoubi ◽  
Patrick Manu ◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Information Modelling ◽  
Capability Maturity ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Building Information

With more than 80% of all construction projects overrunning their budget, there is a need for more efficient management of the estimated 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that is expended annually on construction across the world. It has been proposed that better information and data management through Building Information Modelling (BIM) will lead to cost savings and greater predictability. Notwithstanding the role of quantity surveyors (QS) in modelling and managing construction cost, they remain among the least capable of assimilating BIM into their existing traditional processes. Despite the increasing need for BIM capability assessments for projects, there remains, no tool specifically developed for assessing QS firm’s BIM utilisation capacity or performance. As a result, it is unclear the attributes that indicate BIM capability of QS firms as well as QS practices on projects. This study sought to address this through a review of BIM capability assessment frameworks in order to ascertain their suitability for QS practices. An expert focus group discussion was then used to identify peculiar attributes suitable for QS BIM capability assessment as a precursor to the development of a comprehensive model of QS BIM capability maturity. Findings reveal that most QS BIM capability attributes relate to processes including criteria for effective information definition and data management such that they are consistent with QS measurement standards. The BIM competence of staff also emerged as one of the key attributes highlighting the need for QSs to improve their knowledge, skills and experience in the application of BIM amidst current low levels of adoption. The proposed attributes would assist the development of performance and maturity indicators that would help QS firms better understand their own capability as well as the requirements for delivering costing services through BIM on projects.

scholarly journals OpenBIM: An Enabling Solution for Information Interoperability

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (24) ◽  
pp. 5358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaohua Jiang ◽  
Liping Jiang ◽  
Yunwei Han ◽  
Zheng Wu ◽  
Na Wang
Keyword(s):  
Information Integration ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Information Interaction ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Engineering Information ◽  
Software Platforms

The expansion of scale and the increase of complexity of construction projects puts higher requirements on the level of collaboration among different stakeholders. How to realize better information interoperability among multiple disciplines and different software platforms becomes a key problem in the collaborative process. openBIM (building information model), as a common approach of information exchange, can meet the needs of information interaction among different software well and improve the efficiency and accuracy of collaboration. To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no comprehensive survey of openBIM approach in the context of the AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) industry, this paper fills the gap and presents a literature review of openBIM. In this paper, the openBIM related standards, software platforms, and tools enabling information interoperability are introduced and analyzed comprehensively based on related websites and literature. Furthermore, engineering information interoperability research supported by openBIM is analyzed from the perspectives of information representation, information query, information exchange, information extension, and information integration. Finally, research gaps and future directions are presented based on the analysis of existing research. The systematic analysis of the theory and practice of openBIM in this paper can provide support for its further research and application.

scholarly journals BRIEF OF BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING FOR INDONESIAN ARCHITECTURE

MODUL ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Bangun IR Harsritanto ◽  
Gentina Pratama Putra ◽  
Rona Fika Jamila
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Architecture Education ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Information Modelling ◽  
Resource Requirements ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Large Worker ◽  
High Initial Cost ◽  
Agent Of Change

Building information modelling (BIM) is a system that integrates multi-dimensional aspects of construction project at every phase. Simply said BIM unified all project databases from and to all stakeholders. This system still continuously developed and widely spread on each countries construction projects. In architecture, the BIM has been revolute the human resource requirements on the projects. Indonesia as developing country is still performing transitions from large worker project into more compact projects; from centralized projects into decentralized project. The BIM system has been a mandatory in several Indonesia big infrastructure projects to plan, simulate, design and deliver databases for making more quick decision making and improve the facilities. This paper aim is describing the benefit-challenge factors of BIM adoption on Indonesia architecture projects and the potential driving factors of BIM application. This study was qualitative paradigm with analysis method of selected literatures and previous research paper review which stratified by the cases. The results of this study are BIM bring the high efficiency and represent the complete skills for an architect. However the high initial cost of technology and human investment, the unsupported regulation and conventional system resistant challenged the Indonesia architecture society to adopt BIM. Furthermore the Indonesia architecture education is still struggling to learn and teach the BIM as an integral part in studio as the agent of change.

Emerging technical risks from the application of building information modelling

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-212
Author(s):  
Moshabab Aljarman ◽  
Halim Boussabaine ◽  
Khalid Almarri
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Modelling ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Technical Risks ◽  
Software Platforms ◽  
Modelling Data

Purpose Building information modelling (BIM) is not without risk, as the greater reliance on information technology has associated technical risks. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to assess the perceptions of the users of BIM regarding the likelihood of emergence of technical risks which might influence the successful application of BIM, to facilitate the successful implementation of BIM in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach The primary data were collected via a questionnaire to document the BIM risks, where 105 responses were recorded from constructors, consultants, cost consultants and other professionals from the UK construction industry. Subsequently, the analysis of the results was driven by univariate and inferential statistics (ANOVA) to assess the perception of risk emergence. Findings The study found the most likely technical risks that might emerge from BIM application. These risks are complexity of transferring modelling data from one program to another, lack of understanding of the BIM for the different software platforms, interoperability shortcomings, failure to discover errors in the model and risks of different software platforms. Practical implications The results will certainly intensify the discussion about BIM risks, risk allocation and all other aspects that are related to BIM contractual processes. Also, the compiled list of risks will help stakeholders in assessing financial implications that may result from BIM application. Originality/value Important technical risks have been identified in the application of BIM. This renders a new understanding of the risks that might influence the successful application of BIM. The respondents generally agreed on the importance of the following risks: “complexity of transferring modelling data between programs from one program to another”, “lack of understanding of the BIM for the different software platforms”, “interoperability shortcomings”, “failure to discover errors in the model” and “risks of different software platforms”, which are in line with current literature.

scholarly journals Interoperability Analyses of BIM Platforms for Construction Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 4437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Iapige De Gaetani ◽  
Mertkan Mert ◽  
Federica Migliaccio
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Industry Foundation Classes ◽  
Software Packages ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Exchange Data ◽  
Aec Industry

It is incontrovertible that an exchange of files is essentially required at several stages of the workflow in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Therefore, investigating and detecting the capabilities/inabilities of building information modeling (BIM) software packages with respect to interoperability can be informative to stakeholders who exchange data between various BIM packages. The work presented in this paper includes a discussion on the interoperability of different software platforms commonly used in the AEC industry. Although, in theory, flawless interoperability of some types of files between different BIM platforms is ensured, in practical applications, this is not always the case. Hence, this research aims to identify faults in data exchange by assessing different possible scenarios where a sample Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) four-dimensions (4D) BIM model and related Gantt charts are exchanged. Throughout the interoperability analysis of both IFC file and Gantt charts, the following checks were carried out: geometrical and nongeometrical information exchange through IFC files, 4D information correct readability, and presence of missing schedule information in Gantt charts after their import/export procedure. The results show that interoperability between the analyzed platforms is not always ensured, providing useful insight into realistic scenarios.

scholarly journals Benefits of Building Information Modelling in the Project Lifecycle: Construction Projects in Asia

10.5772/58447 ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Li ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Xiangyu Wang ◽  
Hanbin Luo ◽  
Shih-Chung Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Information Modelling ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Project Lifecycle
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