Integration of BIM and GIS for Construction Automation, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) Combining Bibliometric and Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

For several decades now, the construction industry is suffering from low productivity, especially in comparison to manufacturing industries which have succeeded to benefit from digitalization of their processes. Furthermore, scarceness of qualified workforce is expected in the near future. Construction automation is introduced as a solution to these challenges. The capabilities of construction robots are improving at an accelerated pace. They are starting to be used in non-laboratory contexts for automating processes ranging from infrastructure inspection to digital fabrication. One fundamental requirement of employing robots in construction is their autonomous positioning. Building information modelling (BIM) and geographic information system (GIS) are now a necessity for the construction projects. Integration between BIM and GIS provides holistic digital representation of the built environment that robots could potentially utilize for positioning purposes. Preceding this research, a number of reviews have been conducted on BIM–GIS integration, but none studied it from automation perspective. This research addresses this deficiency through a systematic literature review of the state-of-the-art on BIM–GIS integration with the purpose of robot positioning and navigation on construction sites. Using software tools and “science-mapping” methods, 236 papers were explored. Trends, challenges, potentials, and deficiencies identified and mapped. Citation patterns of journal articles along with the analysis of studies; visualized and analyzed. Bibliometric analysis is followed by a thorough qualitative analysis of the articles identified by the systematic methodology indicating limitations of current studies such as vertical navigation, inaccuracy, dynamics of construction sites, indoor-outdoor navigation. Requirements for robot positioning using BIM–GIS integration are defined.