BIM-based Framework Research Articles

A BIM-Based Framework for Managing Handover Information Loss

A BIM-Based Framework for Managing Handover Information Loss

Improving the Decision-Making for Sustainable Demolition Waste Management by Combining a Building Information Modelling-Based Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment Framework and Hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Aiding Approach

Increasing efforts have been devoted to promoting sustainable demolition waste management (DWM) from a life cycle thinking perspective. To this end, facilitating sustainability-oriented decision-making for DWM planning requires a sustainability assessment framework for assessing the trade-offs among multifaceted criteria. This study develops a BIM-based DWM sustainability assessment approach to facilitate the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) and decision-making by integrating LCSA-related properties and hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Aiding (MCDA) methods into a BIM environment using Dynamo visual scripting. A dynamic linkage is developed in the streamlined BIM-based LCSA process, where the enriched Industry Foundation Class (IFC) models are coupled with custom LCSA data templates to achieve seamless data exchange between the BIM platform and external LCA tools. Subsequently, hybrid MCDA methods convert the assessment results into DWM scenario ranking. A pilot study verifies the applicability of the BIM-based framework. The results unveil that the sustainability score ascended with the recycling rate. The optimal DWM alternative with the highest recycling rate yields the highest sustainability score at 91.63. Conversely, a DWM alternative reflecting the ‘status quo’ in China’s recycling industry has the lowest score at 8.37, significantly lower than the baseline scenario with a 50% recycling rate. It is worth noting that the ‘growth curve’ of the sustainability score continuously flattens as the target recycling rate escalates. The increment in recycling rate from the “Australian standard” scenario to the optimal scenario is 18.4%, whereas the sustainability score merely increases by 2.3%, implying that the former scenario arrived at an optimum point for maximising the cost-efficiency of DWM under the predefined settings.

Automated Prefabricated Slab Splitting Design Using a Multipopulation Coevolutionary Algorithm and BIM

The prefabricated composite slab (PCS) is an essential horizontal component in a building, which is made of a precast part and a cast-in-place concrete layer. In practice, the floor should be split into many small PCSs for the convenience of manufacturing and installation. Currently, the splitting design of PCS mostly relies on sound knowledge and valuable experience of construction. While rule-based parametric design tools using building information modeling (BIM) can facilitate PCS splitting, the generated solution is suboptimal and limited. This paper presents an intelligent BIM-based framework to automatically complete the splitting design of PCSs. A collaborative optimization model is formulated to minimize the composite costs of manufacturing and installation. Individuals with similar area information are grouped into a subpopulation, and the optimization objective is to minimize the specifications and quantities of PCSs. Through the correlation information within the subpopulation and the shared information among each other, the variable correlation is eliminated to accomplish the task of collaborative optimization. The multipopulation coevolution particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is implemented for the collaborative optimization model to determine the sizes and positions of all PCSs. The proposed framework is applied in the optimized splitting design of PCSs in a standard floor to demonstrate its practicability and efficiency.

A BIM-based Framework for Quantifying Embodied Emissions from MEP Systems in Building Life Cycle Assessments

Embodied emissions from Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing systems (MEP) in buildings contribute substantially to the carbon footprint of buildings. Because of lack of standardized methods, reliable data, and environmental product declarations (EPD), MEP systems have typically been excluded from Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). With increasing emission reduction efforts for other building components, the share of embodied emissions for MEP will rise if not focused on. This research fills the gap by introducing a comprehensive framework for quantifying embodied emissions for Mechanical and plumbing systems (MP). Our approach includes three main components: a BIM based embodied emissions calculation methodology, an EPD database, and guidelines for estimating emissions in data gaps. Seamless integration into the building information model (BIM) tool Revit, allows MEP designers to access real-time emissions data and engage in iterative design for reduced carbon footprint. Testing of the framework on a building in the design-stage indicates that emissions from replacement of components can constitute up to 50% of total material emissions for MP during the calculation period, that the emissions from MP can be in the order of 8-20 % of the total emissions from material use in a new office building and that ventilation, heating and fire suppression constitute the largest contribution to the total. Optimization of MP-solutions appears to offer substantial emission reduction.

BIM-based framework of automatic tunnel segment assembly and deviation control

The design of universal segments and deviation control of segment assembly are essential for robust and low-risk tunnel construction. A building information modeling (BIM)-based framework was proposed for parametric modeling, automatic assembly, and deviation control of universal segments. First, segment models of different levels of detail (LoDs) were built based on BIM visual programming language (VPL) for different project life cycles. Then, the geometric constraints, requirements, and procedures for parametric segment assembly were distilled to develop a program that combines a novel typesetting algorithm with a 3D path replanning algorithm. Typesetting is implemented by introducing a point indication matrix, characterizing segments by sides, and manipulating geometries in a VPL. Simultaneously, 3D path replanning, with non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) and arcs as basic shapes, was used to resolve unacceptable deviation situations after typesetting. Finally, the proposed framework was validated on a water diversion line and was found to be more effective and accurate than the previous method.

A BIM-based framework for optimization and assessment of buildings' cost and carbon emissions

Global concerns regarding climate change have attracted increasing attention from researchers in the previous years. The building industry is responsible for a significant share of total energy use and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The severity of this problem has drawn increased attention from researchers in recent times; however, a more comprehensive analysis of buildings' emissions is still warranted. This study aims to propose and evaluate a framework for estimating the total carbon emissions, while also considering economic factors of the project. Focusing on the embodied and operational stages of buildings' life cycle, which are critical phases, the objective of the framework is to provide a straightforward method for optimizing operational carbon, calculating embodied carbon, and quantifying costs and savings. The developed method and findings are valuable resources for designers and decision-makers seeking to make more informed sustainability-related choices. An average reduction of 24.92% in carbon emissions was observed after implementing the proposed framework in a case study, and the economic analysis was repeated in several countries to provide further insights. Based on an economic evaluation of suggested alternatives, energy pricing is a crucial factor in determining the return on investment.

Automated clash resolution for reinforcement steel design in precast concrete wall panels via generative adversarial network and reinforcement learning

The increasing adoption of precast concrete elements (PCEs) is evident in civil infrastructure projects. The structural integrity of prefabricated structures relies on the quality of connections between adjacent components, necessitating the design of reinforcing steel bars (rebars) in PCEs. Dealing with PCEsand the complex design codes for rebars' arrangement can be labor-intensive, impractical, and error-prone when using traditional computer software due to their irregular shapes. This often results in frequent rebar clashes on construction sites. On the other hand, Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, which is widely employed for structural design in the industry, offers potential solutions to these challenges. Several studies have proposed clash resolution strategies for moving components using optimization algorithms; these strategies are only suitable for regular reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The optimized path of rebars cannot be adjusted to avoid obstacles in PCEs. Due to strict design codes and large dimensions, existing studies do not possess the learning knowledge from design codes or drawings needed to generate clash-free rebar arrangements for real-world PCEs automatically. To overcome this limitation, we present a BIM-based framework that utilizes Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) and Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) to automatically generate clash-free rebar designs in prefabricated concrete wall panels (PCWPs). Our method employs GAN to learn from designers’ experiences from existing design drawings and generate 2D preliminary rebar designs, which are then transformed into mesh environments for DRL. The DRL engine incorporates state, action, and rewards designed according to buildability constraints and design codes. We conduct extensive experiments on real-world PCWPs to assess the efficacy of the proposed method. The results indicate that our framework can reduce engineering time for rebar designs by up to 80% compared to manual design, while achieving clash-free designs that adhere to design codes.

Renovation or Redevelopment: The Case of Smart Decision-Support in Aging Buildings

In Germany, as in many developed countries, over 60% of buildings were constructed before 1978, where most are in critical condition, requiring either demolition with plans for redevelopment or renovation and rehabilitation. Given the urgency of climate action and relevant sustainable development goals set by the United Nations, more attention must be shifted toward the various sustainability aspects when deciding on a strategy for the renovation or redevelopment of existing buildings. To this end, this study focused on developing a smart decision support framework for aging buildings based on lifecycle sustainability considerations. The framework integrated digital technological advancements, such as building information modeling (BIM), point clouds processing with field information modeling (FIM)®, and structural optimization, together with lifecycle assessment to evaluate and rate the environmental impact of different solutions. Three sustainability aspects, namely, cost, energy consumption, and carbon emissions, were quantitatively evaluated and compared in two scenarios, namely, renovation, and demolition or deconstruction combined with redevelopment. A real building constructed in 1961 was the subject of the experiments to validate the framework. The result outlined the limitations and advantages of each method in terms of economics and sustainability. It was further observed that optimizing the building design with the goal of reducing embodied energy and carbon in compliance with modern energy standards was crucial to improving overall energy performance. This work demonstrated that the BIM-based framework developed to assess the environmental impact of rehabilitation work in aging buildings can provide effective ratings to guide decision-making in real-world projects.

A BIM-based framework for road construction quality control and quality assurance

ABSTRACT Large-scale data processing for road construction monitoring may significantly improve the efficiency of quality control and quality assurance (QC&QA). However, the traditional construction data storage, management and analysis methods rely on paper documents and limited electronic files, leading to the low data utilisation, fuzzy data features and data value loss. This study proposes a BIM-based road QC&QA framework, which realises the real-time construction data integration in the information model, achieves data analysis and visualisation by the combination between the model and database, and uses structured construction data for QC&QA. Specifically, a BIM-oriented method for transmitting and storing road construction data in real-time, a BIM-oriented process for integrating road construction data, and a road QC&QA model based on AHP, ANN and GA throughout the entire road construction process are involved in the proposed framework. The proposed framework was tested through a case study using data from the Xintai Highway construction project. The results showed a significant improvement in data integration, visualisation and analysis during the QC&QA process. As a result, the overall construction quality of the Xintai project exceeded 95%, providing strong evidence of the effectiveness of the proposed framework.

A BIM-based framework for automatic numerical modelling and geotechnical analysis of a large-scale deep excavation for transportation infrastructures

Abstract Employing emerging information and communication technologies such as building information modelling (BIM) to streamline engineering design and analysis has been mainstream over the past several years. Although BIM models are well established for aboveground infrastructures, underground BIM is still in its infancy. On one hand, valuable subsurface ground models are missing in current BIM applications as site-specific geotechnical data are often sparse and limited. On the other hand, BIM has been mainly used as a visualization tool for concise representation of design and construction data, and it has not been integrated and utilized to assess geotechnical risks associated with underground infrastructures. This paper proposes a BIM-based approach for automatic numerical modelling and geotechnical analysis. Structural information (e.g. geometries) of different project BIMs are grouped, exported, and saved, which provides a unified interface for automatic information extraction using computer codes (e.g. Python). Subsequently, subsurface ground models generated from sparse data are integrated with extracted basic geometric properties for automatic geotechnical model setup and finite element analysis. The performance of the proposed framework is illustrated using a real deep excavation project. It is revealed that BIM, as a data repository, enables timely and accurate information exchange between structural and geotechnical models in an automatic manner, which emphasizes the need of a BIM-based approach for assessing and managing geotechnical risks associated with deep excavations for underground transportation infrastructures, especially in the urban context.

Dynamo script and a BIM-based process for measuring embodied carbon in buildings during the design phase

Abstract In recent years, worldwide efforts have been made towards reducing energy use and emissions, which have a variety of impacts such as contributing to climate change. Hence, environmental analysis in the construction sector is essential today to develop good products that perform adequately, are safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. A significant emission from various stages in the building sector is carbon dioxide, which can be separated into two categories: embedded emissions and operating emissions. The aim of this paper is to introduce a simple tool integrated into a building information modelling (BIM)-based framework that provides an analysis of embodied carbon (related to the SE2050 commitment to net zero) in order to produce a manual to guide designers in selecting appropriate materials, systems and alternatives during the design phase of a construction project. The suggested integration procedure was carried out using Autodesk Revit (to produce the 3D model), Dynamo (a visual programming tool), and BIM360 (to link with), with good interoperability between each product. To finish, a case study was carried out to apply and validate this process and verify that the tool is ready to use. The results show that the maximum variance was 0.047, which supports developers’ environmental strategies, and enables clients and other stockholders to consider environmental impacts during the early phases of construction projects.

4B & 5B MODELLEMENİN MİMARLIKTA YAPIM YÖNETİMİ EĞİTİMİNE ENTEGRASYONU: BİR DİJİTALLEŞME ÇERÇEVESİ

In architecture education, the conventional method for construction management subjects is a theoretical approach in general, which is limited to satisfying the emerging needs of Construction 4.0 in the AEC industry. This study aims to develop and integrate a 4D & 5D modelling framework to construction management courses for architecture students to be able to fulfil the AEC industry’s qualification demands, as a part of Construction 4.0. The methodology of this research consists of the establishment of a framework structured upon theoretical background on construction management current industry requirements and its implementation into “construction management and economics” course in architecture education. Additionally, a survey was conducted among the students to evaluate the efficiency of the framework. One of the key findings of the study is the development of a framework to integrate 4D-5D modelling into a construction management course in architecture. It was developed in intersection clusters between BIM, AR, and VR to perform 4D visualization of construction, monitor the whole process, and detect clashes. According to the survey and results, the 4D-5D BIM-based framework is considered beneficial and enhances perception and understanding of cost and time management. This study involves a new digitalization framework that is adaptable to construction management courses employing a systematic approach. Additionally, this framework has the potential to be employed by industry professionals.

Framework for (semi) automatised construction specification and quantity takeoff in the context of small and medium architectural design offices

BIM-based construction specification and quantity takeoff (QTO) processes have proven faster and more reliable than traditional methods. However, their execution and integration still rely on time-consuming and error-prone manual or semi-automatic interventions to deal with the lack of completeness, suitability and granularity of produced BIM models in design practice, mostly related to elements and activities not digitally represented in these models. In addition, besides the BIM authoring tool, they demand other proprietary platforms to obtain the expected outcomes, leading to interoperability issues and representing an obstacle to small and medium architectural design offices in terms of needed investment and customisations inherent to their business model. This work addresses the problem by proposing a BIM-based framework for automatised coordinated construction specification and quantity takeoff. It encompasses information modelling requirements, establishing a construction specification database and an add-in on the authoring tool that automatically produces joint construction specifications and quantity QTO documentation. The proposed system improves current BIM-based practices by mitigating the number of non-automatised intermediary steps, not requiring any other proprietary BIM platform rather than the authoring tool. Besides, it structures alternative ways of digitally representing elements and activities not graphically expressed in the model, allowing automated, more efficient, faster and cheaper production of coordinated reports of quantities and construction specifications. Two real projects validated the implementation of the framework, as well as the capabilities of the add-in, demonstrating its applicability in practical cases.

Development and validation of a framework for preventing and mitigating construction delay using 4D BIM platform in Bangladeshi construction sector

PurposeAs a developing nation, Bangladesh still has scarce technological applications in the construction sector, which results in construction delays. This paper aims to propose a framework that will diminish manual labor, reduce human error and apply four-dimensional (4D) building information modeling (BIM)-based solutions to mitigate and prevent construction project delays.Design/methodology/approachFirst, a systematic literature review was conducted on analyzing the construction delay scenario in the context of Bangladesh and other countries. Next, a 4D BIM-based framework was developed using Autodesk Navisworks Manage. Finally, it was used to run on-site simulations on an ongoing construction project which faced delays because of design errors and inefficient planning.FindingsAffirmative results were found from applying these methods through real-time project simulation. The current status of the project and the status after using BIM technology were compared. It was observed that during both the preconstruction and execution phases, the application of 4D BIM could reduce the delay posed by design error and inefficient planning.Practical implicationsThe project manager and the design engineers can use these frameworks to review their projects. For the design engineers, the preconstruction phase portion of the framework will help identify the probable errors in the design. For the project managers, keeping track of time using the execution phase portion of the framework will be resourceful.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to assess the significant delay factors endemic in Bangladesh and develop a BIM-based technological solution. This study is solely dedicated to reforming the construction techniques in Bangladesh through the application of 4D BIM technology.

A BIM-based framework for property dispute minimization – A case study for Victoria, Australia

Property disputes in multi-owned buildings (MOB) should be effectively managed to ensure harmonious land use in urban areas. Many studies indicate that a well-planned governance structure of MOBs relying on ownership systems could mitigate property disputes by eliminating their causes contrary to owner needs. However, issues in MOB use and management, stemming from the ownership systems and its relevant architectural systems, are hardly addressed in 2D-based building subdivision practices and frequently result in property disputes. To proactively address these issues, this paper proposes an approach based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) to minimize disputes in MOBs at planning stages in the context of Victoria, Australia. The paper argues that BIM is a suitable data environment to represent and detect dispute triggers interpreted in the spatial context. We first modeled a MOB governance structure as a sociotechnical system (STS) to provide a consistent view for characterizing dispute triggers. We then developed a BIM-based framework for identifying dispute triggers in the MOB governance STS. We implemented the framework and tested its feasibility using a real-world complex building. The results confirmed that the proposedframework would help developers, surveyors, and architects recognize dispute triggers and make better decisions to minimize disputes in planning MOBs.

BIM-based framework to quantify delays and cost overruns due to changes in construction projects

BIM-based framework to quantify delays and cost overruns due to changes in construction projects

User-Centric BIM-Based Framework for HVAC Root-Cause Detection

In the building operation phase, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) equipment are the main contributors to excessive energy consumption unless proper design and maintenance is carried out. Moreover, HVAC problems might have an impact on occupants’ discomfort in thermal comfort. Hence, the identification of the root cause of HVAC problems is imperative for facility managers to plan preventive and corrective maintenance actions. However, due to the complex interaction between various equipment and the lack of data integration among Facility Management (FM) systems, they fail to provide necessary information to identify the root cause of HVAC problems. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a potential solution for maintenance activities to address the challenges of information reliability and interoperability. Therefore, this paper presents a novel conceptual model and user-centric framework to determine the causes of HVAC problems implemented in BIM for its visualization. CMMS and BMS data were integrated into BIM and utilized by the framework to analyze the root cause of HVAC problems. A case study in a university building was used to demonstrate the applicability of the approach. This framework assists the FM team to determine the most probable cause of an HVAC problem, reducing the time to detect equipment faults, and providing potential actions to solve them.

Development of a BIM-Based Framework Using Reverberation Time (BFRT) as a Tool for Assessing and Improving Building Acoustic Environment

Both the building design and the construction process determine the indoor acoustic quality of enclosures. A suitable indoor acoustic environment is crucial for the productivity and well-being of users. For this purpose, Reverberation Time (RT) is often calculated or measured in situ. Recently, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has provided a new paradigm to face building projects. Nevertheless, little research has been conducted on the optimisation of indoor acoustics using BIM methodology. In this context, the objective of this work is to propose and develop a BIM-based framework for the analysis, evaluation and optimization of the RT. The proposed procedure allows designers to explore alternatives in order to achieve an adequate acoustic performance without any further needs of specific software. This proposal is devised to consider some important characteristics of the project, such as its location, applicable regulations, room uses, materials and costs. This framework calculates the solution set that meets the requirements, showing the set of optimal solutions according to the minimization of both the cost and the optimum absorbent surface area. BFRT contributes by offering a tool to support the decision making process of designers during the initial design phase in the field of acoustic conditioning of buildings.

BIM-Based Framework for Formwork Planning Considering Potential Reuse

AbstractConcrete formwork is frequently required with the increasing demands of building and infrastructure construction and has a significant impact on the costs of concrete works. Onsite formwork...

Digital design and stability simulation for large underground powerhouse caverns with parametric model based on BIM-based framework

Large infrastructures involving underground engineering like the underground powerhouse caverns constitute multi-medium, complicated and interaction systems, which require geotechnical data management, parametric model construction, optimal design alternatives, and real-time safety assessment. However, even though the data needed for numerical analysis is recorded in the Building Information Modeling (BIM) parametric models, the transformation of geometric characteristics between BIM and numerical models is cumbersome. Therefore, an automatic numerical simulation analysis framework was proposed, which can not only convert 3D parametric structural geometry model by indirect method, but also realize automatic pre-treatment and analysis, such as mechanical properties definition, boundary conditions assignment and mesh generation. In this study, the digital model of underground powerhouse caverns accompanying with cavern support system could be constructed automatically via secondary development on CATIA software. Reorganized borehole logs at geological profiles accompanying with topographic-geologic map are also used to define the 3D subsoil model. Python codes are programmed for pre-treatment of numerical model to enhance the calculation efficiency and alleviate the manual interventions by linking differ-format data files. Furthermore, a case study of Suki Kinari underground powerhouse caverns was exemplified the advantages of this framework in terms of modeling and pre-treatment efficiency, and error-free geometric information translation. The proposed framework provides a fundamental process for automatic design-to-analysis, hence mitigates user intervention and error-free structural calculation for design-making.