Construction Operations Building Information Exchange Research Articles

Building Information Modeling and Geographic Information System: Integrated Framework in Support of Facility Management (FM)

Currently, the management of public real estate stocks is one of the most challenging activities. In this case, facility management emerges as a strategic but complex discipline that requires a great amount of integrated and structured data and information of heterogeneous origin and nature. Starting from this premise, this paper focuses on how FM discipline can be supported by Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) integrated methodologies and tools achieving high levels of effectiveness and efficiency in public building stock management. This led to the definition and development of a framework that mainly takes advantage of open-source tools (e.g., Quantum Geographic Information System—QGIS, and Dynamo) and non-proprietary data exchange formats like the COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange) international standard. This methodological framework is capable of integrating different but strongly complementary tools, data, information, and expert knowledge for a multiscale approach. The methodology presented in this paper does not provide for an integral transfer of BIM data to the GIS platform but leads instead to an effective bidirectional integration between the two informative systems, by properly relating them and allowing for an easy switch from one system database to the other. The findings of experimental applications of the methodological approach to the former Macciotta pediatric hospital, a healthcare building owned by the University of Cagliari, are presented and discussed. Finally, the analysis about potentials and criticalities of the developed methodological framework aims to trigger the widest future development and dissemination of this research.

Building information modelling for airport facility management: the case of a US airport

Facility management (FM) at airports involves the use of systems such as computerised maintenance-management systems (CMMSs). Currently, the integration of building information modelling (BIM) with CMMSs is yet to reach maturity, resulting in the inability to reuse BIM data produced prior to the operation and maintenance phase. The lack of accurate equipment data and its untimely handover contribute to failed CMMS programmes. The studied US airport had a low CMMS utilisation, resulting from a lack of equipment data from recent and old construction projects, and it also lacked an efficient process for acquiring, storing and exchanging asset data from construction into its CMMS. To address this, the airport sought solutions to reuse BIM data in the CMMS. Utilising a design science research methodology, this research proposed and tested a solution technology innovation comprising a BIM–FM integration framework and a structured workflow based on BIM and Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (Cobie) for FM data delivery into a CMMS. The proposed solution was tested on a real-world project at the airport, showing efficacy in providing the required equipment data in a timely and accurate manner as compared with the existing practice. The study provides practical evidence of application of BIM and Cobie in FM data delivery from a handover perspective.

Automated generation of a model view definition from an information delivery manual using idmXSD and buildingSMART data dictionary

The development of an integrated information delivery manual (IDM) and model view definition (MVD) using the buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD) as a lexicon has been identified as an ideal way of developing IDMs and MVDs. Several previous studies proposed methods to integrate the IDM and MVD development process. However, they were inherently limited in various ways because they were proposed before the core relevant technologies were ready. This study proposes an integrated IDM and MVD development method using bSDD as a lexicon based on three international standards—ISO 12006-3, ISO 16739-1, and ISO 29481-3. In particular, ISO 29481-3 is deployed as a core data schema to integrate the entire process. ISO 29481-3, of which the authors were the main developers, is a new ISO standard that specifies the information delivery manual XML schema definition (idmXSD). In addition, the concept-based MVD generation algorithm was adopted to generate a syntactically valid MVD. The proposed method was validated against the basic Facility Management (FM) Handover MVD and the Construction–Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) MVD. The proposed approach is expected to help facilitate the development of IDM and MVD by allowing developers to utilize bSDD as a common lexicon and share and repurpose existing IDMs and their relationships to MVDs in a machine-readable format using idmXSD.

The interaction of BIM And FM through sport projects life cycle (case study: Sailia training site in Qatar)

ABSTRACT ‘It is all about the data’. In this context, ‘data’ refers to the massive amounts of information facility managers require for their work, including the frameworks that serve as the basis for successful and productive facility management (FM). The paper discusses building information modeling (BIM) and how this can be applied to facility management to address current industry challenges to BIM & FM Interaction. The research is dependent on transforming the interaction of more specialization in engineering by linking the different disciplines in a single project and using new technologies in a case study project. This construction project is concerned with the role of BIM and construction operations building information exchange (COBie) in sports facilities and operations and maintenance (O & M) information to view the benefits of BIM-based on the experience of the Arab world in the field of construction. The research presents a case study for the Technical Masterclass, Delivering the BIM/COBie & IFC in Revit according to the NBIMS-US COBie standard to support the facility’s management. The project is FIFA training facilities, Sailia Training Site. This case study project examines the role of BIM and COBie in facility and O & M information to demonstrate the benefits of BIM. The idea of BIM for facility management is implemented through COBie as a data transfer method.

Smart Facility Management System Based on Open BIM and Augmented Reality Technology

With the wave of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the construction industry is also witnessing the application of numerous state-of-the-art technologies. Among these, augmented reality (AR) technology has the advantage of utilizing existing 3D models and BIM data and is thus an area of active research. However, the main area of research to date has either been in visualizing information during the design phase, where architects and project stakeholders can share viewings, or in confirming the required information for construction management through visualization during the construction phase. As such, more research is required in the application of AR during the facility management (FM) phase. Research utilizing BIM in the FM phase, which constitutes the longest period during the lifecycle of a building, has been continuously carried out but has faced challenges with regard to on-site application. The reason for this is that information required for BIM during the design, construction and FM phases is different, and the reproduced information is vast, so identifying the required BIM data for FM and interfacing with other systems is difficult. As a measure to overcome this limitation, advanced countries such as the US and UK have developed and are using Construction Operations Building information exchange (COBie), which is an open-source BIM-based information exchange system. In order to effectively convert open-source BIM data to AR data, this research defined COBie data for windows and doors, converted them to a system and validated that it could actually be applied for on-site FM. The results of this system’s creation and validation showed that the proposed AR-based smart FMS demonstrated faster and easier access to information compared with existing 2D blueprint-based FM work, while information obtained through AR allowed for immediate, more visual and easier means to express the information when integrated with actual objects.

Exploring the application of property graph model in visualizing COBie data

Purpose The usability aspect of the construction operations building information exchange (COBie) datasheet has been largely overlooked. Users find it difficult to find relevant data inside COBie and understand the dependencies of information. This research study is a part of a more comprehensive research study to identify the usability issues associated with COBie and propose solutions to deal with them. This paper aims to discuss the challenges associated with the visualization aspect of COBie and proposes a solution to mitigate them. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on design thinking and waterfall methodology. While the design thinking methodology is used to explore the issues associated with the visualization aspect of COBie, the waterfall methodology is used to develop a working prototype of the visualizer for the COBie datasheet using a spreadsheet format. Findings The paper demonstrates that the property graph model based on a node-link diagram can be effectively used to represent the COBie datasheet. This will help in storing data in a visually connected manner and looking at links more dynamically. Moreover, converting and storing data into an appropriate database will help reach data directly rather than navigate multiple workbooks. This database can also help get the history of data inside the COBie datasheet as it develops throughout the project. Originality/value This research proposes a novel approach to visualize the COBie datasheet interactively using the property graph model, a type of node-link diagram. Using the property graph model will help users see data in a connected way, which is currently missing in the spreadsheet representation of COBie data. Moreover, this research also highlights that storing historical changes in COBie data can help understand how data has evolved throughout the construction. Additionally, structured storage of data in relationship format can help users to access the end of connected data directly through the efficient search.

A bibliometric review of advances in building information modeling (BIM) research

Purpose This paper aims to provide a bibliometric analysis of advances in building information modeling (BIM) research globally. It provides a recent state-of-the-art assessment on trends as it relates to the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Being a vastly emerging research area, there is a need for the appraisal of research trends. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted using a dual step filtering system on an initial volume of 2347 documents in the first stage between 2010 and 2020, and of 311 publications in the final stage of the analyses which emphasized more on 2015–2020 from the WoS database. Frequency analyses on the sources, affiliations, authors and country/ region of publication were assessed in the first stage of the analyses. Co-authorship and evidence of author collaboration were also examined. The second stage included a co-occurrence keyword network analysis. Further, text mining/mapping of the abstract of the documents was performed. Findings Emerging trends in the field of BIM research include but are not limited to historical building information modeling (h-BIM) applications, the use of blockchain technology, digital twin, Construction Operations Building information exchange (COBiE), Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), dynamo-bim, energy plus software and BIM laser scanning innovations. The possibility of these innovations solving some current BIM challenges were also discussed. Originality/value The study provides an insight into the BIM research trends globally while identifying existing challenges. The study uses text mining of unstructured abstracts, which has not been reported in BIM research.

Development of a rule-based system to enhance the data consistency and usability of COBie datasheets☆

Abstract Building information modeling (BIM) for facilities management (FM) has been gaining considerable attention. Construction operations building information exchange (COBie) datasheets are conceptualized as an electronic format of data for FM handover extracted from the BIM model and supplemented with information from other sources. To build an efficient COBie datasheet, it is advocated to build and verify data at all stages of design and construction, commonly known as data drops. Nevertheless, data consistency verification is a difficult task pertaining to COBie's complex structure and data representation. This study aims to understand the challenges associated with the COBie datasheet verification and consistency checking process, especially during data drop stages, and develop a solution to mitigate these challenges. The study uses a combined methodology of design thinking and waterfall model from the software development process. The outcome of the research study manifests in a prototype application. The prototype application can help in verifying COBie datasheet consistency during data drop stages. Additionally, this study proposes a new dimension to utilize the COBie datasheet to track various asset-related changes in a project by comparing COBie datasheets and visualizing this data in a visually interactive manner using a property graph model.

Building Information Model and Optimization Algorithms for Supporting Campus Facility Maintenance Management: A Case Study of Maintaining Water Dispensers

Effective management for the maintenance of water dispensers dispersed throughout an academic campus is essential for ensuring the quality of drinking water. Conventionally, water dispenser maintenance is conducted approximately bimonthly or when a passive fault notice is obtained. This maintenance frequency usually results in ineffective allocation of maintenance staff and poor maintenance quality. This study proposes a new model for campus facility maintenance management that enables maintenance staff to maintain water dispensers at the optimal time and select the shortest maintenance path. The proposed model was developed using the maintenance information of the Construction Operations Building Information Exchange obtained from building information models of multiple buildings, water dispenser operation data from a water dispenser monitoring module, and an optimization algorithm developed by integrating Dijkstra’s algorithm, simulated annealing, and a genetic algorithm to identify the shortest maintenance path. The proposed model was tested on a campus in Northern Taiwan. The application results revealed that maintenance strategies could be systematically established to determine the optimal time to dispatch maintenance staff based on the lowest unit cost criterion; this approach was also used to identify the shortest maintenance path through multiple buildings.

Rules and validation processes for interoperable BIM data exchange

Abstract Diverse industries have recognized the significance of a neutral data standard for seamless building information modeling (BIM) data exchanges and adopted commonly agreed schemes such as the industry foundation classes (IFC) schema for enhancing BIM data interoperability. To selectively employ domain-specific data exchange requirements, the AEC-FM (the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Facility Management) industries have developed their own schema with a subset of the IFC schema, named a model view definition (MVD). However, because of latent human errors, inadequate MVD definitions, and error-prone data mapping problems, the adoption of IFC for exchanging and sharing BIM data is frequently limited with severe data integrity issues. This challenging situation requires the detailed examination of the limitations of the heterogeneous IFC translation processes of the current BIM authoring and application tools. To accomplish this objective, the authors thoroughly investigated the two MVDs, the Coordination View Version 2.0 and the Construction Operations Building Information Exchange, broadly used as an international standard for developing the IFC translation processes, and then identified their intrinsic requirements/rules and developed rule-based data validation processes. These new intrinsic knowledge of the two MVD specifications will be fundamental foundations to create coherent BIM data exchange systems that are currently scattered and dispersed in heterogeneous IFC translation processes and structures. Newly revealed rules pertaining to these two MVDs have been executed with IfcDoc, which is the IFC documentation tool. This BIM data validation process is expected to not only accurately evaluate the translation processes between BIM native data and IFC ones but also help industry professionals ensure the integrity and the accuracy of their BIM data according to the BIM data exchange standards using the two MVDs. In addition, the outcomes of this research study are expected to bolster the interoperable BIM adoption and offer the values of greater consistency of BIM data exchange.

BIM-based benchmarking for healthcare construction projects

In the healthcare industry, the BIM-based benchmarking approach was identified as an alternative method to improve the current laborious and error-prone benchmarking practice by reducing manual inputs required for data collection and entry. However, the current body of knowledge lacks a robust and consistent approach to obtain useful and reliable benchmarking data from heterogeneous models. To accomplish the BIM-based benchmarking for healthcare projects, this paper develops a formalized schema that aims to transform data stored in BIM models for obtaining useful and reliable benchmarking data focusing on Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie). Based on findings from previous research combined with case studies using five real-world information models, it defines the sets of transformation processes applicable to different groups of benchmarking data classified according to their attributes. Through the validation, it was found that the schema generated benchmarking data with a reasonable range of deviation from their actual values.

Lifecycle Exchange for Asset Data (LEAD)

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to outline the problems associated with asset information management using the Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) standard and to analyse the causes of industry failure to successfully adopt the standard. Based on this analysis, the paper will propose a process model, namely, Lifecycle Exchange of Asset Data (LEAD) to manage asset dataflow between all building stakeholders from design to construction and ultimately to the facility management team. This model aims to help the construction supply chain to produce complete and high-quality asset data that supports the operation phase of the built environment.Design/methodology/approachA review of relevant studies provided a theoretical background for this study. The authors then collected and analysed COBie data from five live construction projects using building information modelling (BIM) projects from different design and construction companies. The process model is based on an industry placement within Bouygues UK construction company, which was a Tier 1 building contractor in London in the period from December 2016 to December 2018. The researcher used an inductive approach observing current practises in two construction projects to produce “LEAD” model. Then a focus group was conducted with industry experts to discuss and refine the process model.FindingsAnalysis of literature and data collected in the course of this study revealed that although COBie is a BIM Level 2 standard in the UK, there is currently a low success rate in producing complete and accurate COBie data in the UK construction industry. This low rate is because of COBie’s rigid data syntax/structure, complexity and ambiguity of its data exchange process, which suggests that COBie may not be the future of the industry. Based on these findings, the study proposed a process model, namely, “LEAD,” to improve COBie output and also to be used with project-specific information requirements.Practical implicationsTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first to focus solely on asset data exchange process using COBie standard and highlights the problems the industry faces in this remit. The study is based on industry placement for two years, so the analysis is based on actual and current industry problems. Current industry practices also informed the “LEAD” model, and the model provides a step-by-step guidance in producing and exchanging BIM asset data in all stages of the building lifecycle.Originality/valueThis paper provides a detailed analysis of the most common problems associated with COBie as an asset data exchange standard. Understanding these problems is of high value for industry practitioners to avoid them in projects. The paper also proposed a novel process model that can be used either to improve COBie quality or can be used with any project-specific data requirements.

Effects of BIM and COBie Database Facility Management on Work Order Processing Times: Case Study

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of using building information modeling (BIM) and construction operations building information exchange (COBie) data for facility management (FM) over mul...

BIM-based facilities information: streamlining the information exchange process

Purpose The purpose of this study is to address challenges in the current information exchange process between building information modelling (BIM) and facilities management (FM) systems and to propose a workable solution. This study’s objective is to identify the information exchange requirements and to develop methods for seamless information flow between building information models and FM systems. Design/methodology/approach Data collection and analysis was based on an extensive literature review of similar studies followed by a questionnaire survey with a total of 112 participants and 2 focus groups with a total of 12 participants to validate the conceptual framework. The outputs of the survey analysis formed the background of the proposed framework to streamline information exchange process between building information models and FM systems. Findings The study findings form a foundation for enabling the integration of various data sources including building information models. Such integrated platforms will enable automated information exchange between the various data sources and FM systems. The study also provides key information requirements sources to complement the existing construction operations building information exchange information and to support standardization for information exchange process. Originality/value The contribution of this study is the identification of information exchange requirements and sources to enable seamless information flow between BIM and FM systems. The study findings will also lay the basis for research studies using the developed framework context to enable the identification of specific data outputs for FM systems inputs.

Exploring the use of Gestalt’s principles in improving the visualization, user experience and comprehension of COBie data extension

Purpose Until now, the usage and usability factors associated with AEC–FM standards have remained largely overlooked. This oversight could be a potentially significant factor in the adoption rates as well as effective utilization of such advanced solutions in the AEC–FM industry. Therefore, from a conceptual and theoretical viewpoint, the purpose of this paper is to address this gap in understanding and enhancing the usability aspects of standards such as construction operations building information exchange (COBie) over its spreadsheet representation. Besides, findings from this study and the proposed theoretical fundamentals to enhance the usability and functionality of COBie spreadsheet representation could potentially lay the foundation for a VisualCOBie approach. Design/methodology/approach The iterative steps of design thinking and agile development are harmonized to form the main research methodology. Design thinking is useful in problem (re)formulation, and agile development is useful in iterative software development. The approach aims to identify and understand the needs and requirements of the AEC–FM users from the standardized approaches and associated IT solutions; and formulate the main features and functionalities of the proposed solution. The methodology supports the aim of generating a broad range of possible solutions instead of coming up with the “right” solution. Findings Despite the standards and associated IT developments, the AEC–FM industry still suffers from inefficient information management. To date, most initiatives have focused on utilization of the outputs from different IT solutions in terms of accuracy and completeness of the data defined in the standards. This research found that well-established standards such as COBie and corresponding IT solutions are not merely technical issues, but it is equally important to understand how the end-users cognitively perceive and process them. The developed solutions need to address user point of view to facilitate wider utilization of these standards in practice. Research limitations/implications In this research, Gestalt’s visual perception principles have been used to evaluate the usability issues of COBie spreadsheet. Although Gestalt principles provide a valid and proven viewpoint, there can be other cognitive principles that could also be taken into consideration. Originality/value The usage and usability factors associated with AEC–FM standards have remained largely overlooked, indicating a gap in the literature. This gap was considered as a potentially significant factor in the adoption as well as effective utilization of such standards and advanced solutions in the AEC–FM industry. By grounding the research in cognitive and usability perspectives of information exchange standards, the authors demonstrate how such theoretical underpinning can lead to innovative solutions.

VisualCOBie for facilities management

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the technical features, underlying concepts and implementation details of a novel Building Information Modeling (BIM)-integrated, graph-based platform developed to support BIM for facilities management through a usability driven visual representation of the construction operations building information exchange (COBie) spreadsheet data.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on the iterative steps of design thinking and agile software development methodology. The conceptual development of the VisualCOBie platform is based on Gestalt’s principles of visual perception to facilitate usability and comprehension of the COBie data.FindingsThe paper demonstrates that Gestalt’s principles of visual perception provide a suitable conceptual as well as implementable basis for improving the usability and comprehension of COBie spreadsheets. The implemented BIM-integrated, graph-based VisualCOBie platform supports visual navigation and dynamic search, reducing the cognitive load of large spreadsheets that are common in facilities management software.Research limitations/implicationsThe usability, visual search and dependencies-based search of VisualCOBie can potentially transform how we implement and use facilities and information management systems in construction, where large spreadsheets are frequently used in conjunction with BIM and other tools. VisualCOBie also provides usability-based step towards BIM for facilities management.Originality/valueThe VisualCOBie approach provides a novel user interface and information management platform. This paper may also foster a potential paradigm shift in our approach to the representation and use of information exchange standards such as COBie, which are required to facilitate the research and practice on BIM for facilities management.

Using big data to improve the performance management: a case study from the UAE FM industry

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how big data analytics (BDA) collected and stored through specific data software [Construction Operations Building Information Exchange [COBie], integrated workplace management systems [IWMS], computer aided facilities management (CAFM), etc.] can play an essential role in improving the performance management system in the facility management (FM) industry. It defines the big data components and explores the benefit of BDA in any business through an extensive literature review and a pilot case study in the UAE.Design/methodology/approachThe research was carried out based on a qualitative approach. It attempts to identify through a case study how the data collected and the technologies that go along with will increase the functionality and the efficiency of the FM services. The research studies the implementation of a big FM organization, hereafter referred as “M” of software that exports the data collected from COBie and the computer aided facilities management (CAFM) system and shapes them into input to improve the performance of the FM service providers. The study includes two components in anticipation of providing a complete picture: first, five semi-structured interviews with industry experts and company employees representing the hierarchy of the staff, i.e. top, middle and operational levels; one director, two managers and two operational-level employees were interviewed to determine the current situation of the company in terms of BDA; and second, detailed documents and archives records review for the data collected on a randomly chosen sample of facilities for the period 2013-2015. The interviews were designed to achieve two specific objectives. Primarily, they were aimed at collecting empirical evidence on the existing status of big data within the UAE FM context and at investigating the importance of the data collected for performance measurement in the industry as supported in the literature. Second, these interviews sought to identify any critical issues that need to be addressed within the data collection process when devising the big data platform for FM.FindingsThe paper seeks to provide a guideline to the service providers in the FM market to understand the importance of big data to be shared from the design and construction to the operational phase as it improves their operational performance.Originality/valueThis paper studies the impact of big data on the FM performance management, a very recent topic where only few researches were conducted earlier.

A systems information model for managing electrical, control, and instrumentation assets

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to present a systems information model (SIM) that is akin to a building information model (BIM) and can be used by asset managers and staff to make more informed and quicker decisions about maintenance.Design/methodology/approach– The problems associated with managing assets are examined alongside recent international efforts to standardize methods of data collection for meeting the objectives of owners. A case study in the domain of electrical, control and instrumentation (ECI) documentation is examined in detail, with particular reference to the amelioration of errors and omissions in “as built” drawings in order to provide the underlying foundation to support effective asset management (AM).Findings– The findings show that object oriented data models such as SIM provide a robust structure for effective and efficient AM and associated leverage of benefits throughout the entire facility lifecycle of a project. In particular object oriented data enables appropriate and reliable information to be created as a project progresses through its lifecycle, at little cost to the creators.Originality/value– The above special approach to enabling data collection at the point of creation is in alignment with recent Government initiatives such as Construction Operations Building Information Exchange, which are beginning to gather traction within the industry. While the potential benefits for AM of such systems are espoused throughout the industry, there are few successful examples in existence with measurable realization of benefits.

상수도시설물의 유지관리를 위한 BIM모델 개발 및 BIM 데이터 관리방안

3D-based BIM(Building Information Modeling) technologies can be utilized effectively as a means of systematic management of facility information for safety assurance and effective maintenance of waterworks facilities. In this study, BIM models of water treatment facilities that can be used as basic data for BIM-based maintenance of waterworks facilities were developed. Information exchange and generality of the developed BIM models were evaluated by conducting interoperability analysis of IFC(Industry Foundation Classes) conversion models. In addition, the application of COBie(Construction Operations Building information exchange) was recommended as an effective countermeasure to deal with technical limitation regarding exchange and utilization of facilities-related information through current IFC models. The results of this study can contribute to the development of BIM-based maintenance system for waterworks facilities.

Data Sharing for Sustainable Building Assessment

Sustainable design assessment requires information, which is aggregated from different phases of a building design, and evaluated according to criteria specified in a ‘sustainable building rating system.’ In the architecture engineering and construction (AEC) domain much of the necessary information is available through open source data standards such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). However, no single standard that provides support for sustainability assessment completely suffices as a data structure. This paper explores the augmentation of the Construction Operations Building information exchange (COBie) model, as an intermediary data structure, to bridge between requirements of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and a building information model. Development of a general framework for data sharing and information management for LEED assessments is illustrated through an implementation of a prototype using functional databases. The prototype checks and augments available data as needed, which is used to populate LEED submission templates.