Required model content and information workflows enabling proficient BIM usage

Abstract

The modern issue within the construction industry is its conservative approach to innovation and poor data management. In a world where information means everything and efficient workflows are becoming the norm for advanced businesses, not using the attainable data pool is a recipe for stagnation and even regression. Different ways to mitigate the risks involved in building projects have been developed at the design company Elea iC to become more flexible and efficient. Through several large-scale high-rise and tunnelling BIM projects in the past four years, engineers at Elea iC have identified two crucial development barriers for advanced proficient BIM usage. The first is organizing the BIM models: internal model structure, information required in models, and how this information is written into models. The second barrier is establishing crucial information workflows to achieve valuable practical results. Exploration of the required model content and its organization together with data workflows are thus the main purposes of this article. Incremental improvement from project to project was needed to provide a much-needed baseline for crucial project data which makes 4D, 5D and 6D BIM modelling possible. A database structure for model properties was developed, from which consistent properties can be inserted into all project BIM models. This provides a unified internal standard ensuring the correct level of information modelling. At the same time essential workflows for BIM implementation, modelling, data sharing, and information management were also developed. Standard BIM software was used to create the base models, but collaboration with other software developers and adapting their solutions was needed in order to attain the desired outcomes of advanced BIM analyses. As more and more clients require advanced BIM solutions for their projects, neglecting to develop and implement new ways of using BIM will diminish companies’ potential in the market in the long run. This paper demonstrates that BIM, coupled with databases including standard model content requirements and information workflows, can provide a credible solution for proficient project data management in the construction industry. Therefore, BIM must not be seen as an impractical tool only requiring additional expenses, but as a system that needs internal company development to be adequately utilized and profited from.