Abstract
In both the Geospatial (Geo) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) domains, it is widely acknowledged that the integration of geo-data and BIM-data is beneficial and a crucial step towards solving the multi-disciplinary challenges of our built environment. The result of this integration—broadly termed GeoBIM—has the potential to be particularly beneficial in the context of the construction of large infrastructure projects, which could make use of data relating to the larger spatial extents typically handled in geographical information systems (GIS) as well as the detailed models generated by BIM. To date, GeoBIM integration has mainly been explored for buildings, in a 3D context and for small projects. This paper demonstrates the results of the next level of integration, exploring the addition of the fourth dimension by linking project schedule information to create 4D GeoBIM, examining interoperability challenges and benefits in the context of a number of use cases relating to the enabling works for a major commercial infrastructure project. The integrating power of location and time—knowing where and when data relate to—allows us to explore data interoperability challenges relating to linking real world construction data, created using commercial software, with other data sources; we are then able to demonstrate the benefits of 4D GeoBIM in the context of three decision making scenarios: examining the potential for prioritisation of noise mitigation interventions by identifying apartments closest to the noisiest construction process; development of a 4D location-enabled risk register allowing, for example, work to continue underground if a risk is specific to the top of a building; ensuring construction safety by using 3D buffering to ensure that the required distances between moving construction equipment and surrounding infrastructure are not breached. Additionally, once integrated, we are able to ‘democratize’ the data—make it accessible beyond the BIM and GIS expert group—by embedding it into a 3D/4D open source Web GIS tool.
Highlights
The construction sector in the United Kingdom (UK) contributed around £103 billion, 6.5% of GDP, and comprised 2.1 million jobs, 6.3% of the UK jobs total in 2014 [1] and the UK’s Government Construction Strategy document, issued in 2016, forecast savings of £1.7 billion due to improved construction efficiency, with £3 billion savings having been made in the 2011–2016 period preceding the report [1]
As well as exploring theoretical opportunities and challenges, the paper explores the realities of interoperability in practice, using real-world data to allow a realistic understanding of the data processing effort involved to be gained. To permit this effort to be evaluated against benefits gained, we present three case studies that demonstrate the benefits of the integration of 4D project-related Building Information Modelling (BIM) data with geographical information systems (GIS): noise mitigation, improving risk registers and construction safety
A three-part method underpins the research described in this paper—firstly, data was converted from Synchro into a format suitable for use in GIS; in parallel with this, a number of use cases were developed to help Costain Skanska Joint Venture (CSJV) understand the benefits of the potentially complicated data integration task
Summary
The construction sector in the United Kingdom (UK) contributed around £103 billion, 6.5% of GDP, and comprised 2.1 million jobs, 6.3% of the UK jobs total in 2014 [1] and the UK’s Government Construction Strategy document, issued in 2016, forecast savings of £1.7 billion due to improved construction efficiency, with £3 billion savings having been made in the 2011–2016 period preceding the report [1]. According to [1], BIM is “a collaborative way of working that facilitates early contractor involvement, underpinned by the digital technologies which unlock more efficient methods of designing, creating and maintaining our assets.”. Narrowing this definition slightly to give a more data-centric focus, NBS (“the connected information platform that powers construction”) defines BIM as a process for creating and managing information on a construction project across the project lifecycle, noting that one of the key outputs of this process is the Building Information Model, the digital description of every aspect of the built asset [9]. The CDE is ”a digital data room where geometric and other information from the contributing designers and other participants in the project comes together” [11]
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