Introduction Of Building Information Modeling Research Articles

ИННОВАЦИИ В ЖИЗНЕННОМ ЦИКЛЕ СТРОИТЕЛЬСТВА ПОСРЕДСТВОМ ИНТЕГРАЦИИ BIM/ГИС

Innovation in the life cycle of construction is an important topic for the modern construction industry. The introduction of BIM (Building Information Modeling) and GIS (Geoinformation System) technologies into the construction process changes the traditional methodology of designing buildings and structures. The integration of BIM and GIS allows you to improve the accuracy and quality of information in design and construction. This is achieved through digital control and management of data stored in a single database accessible to all project participants. The use of system integration in the design of buildings makes it possible to display much more accurately the achievements of ergonomics and safety, work with energy, optimization of materials, as well as forecasting operating costs. Innovations in the construction life cycle can reduce time and financial costs, as well as improve the quality of work in the entire project delivery chain. This is important for various sectors, including residential construction, commercial real estate and infrastructure facilities. BIM and GIS also help to simplify the interaction between all project participants - from architects and engineers to builders and operational teams. This provides more effective problem solving and improves interaction throughout the project lifecycle. This study is dedicated to the topic of integration of BIM/GIS platforms. This article will describe the main terms and definitions, compare the functionality of the platforms under consideration. The advantages of technology integration will also be presented, the experience of using information modeling technologies used for urban planning activities on the example of a BIM model of a cafe building will be considered. The construction model will be exported from the BIM space to the GIS environment, during which some pros and cons of the transfers are identified, on the basis of which conclusions are formulated about the further application and integration of Graphisoft and Autodesk products.

A Framework of Contractual Protocol for Building Information Modelling (BIM) Implementation in Water Treatment Plant Projects

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is becoming a comprehensive collaborative process in the construction industry. Since the introduction of BIM in Malaysia in 2009, the technology adoption rate is slow when compared to other countries of the world. Most of the construction companies in Malaysia have an insight on the BIM concept but are yet to implement it in the management of their construction projects. By the year 2020, the Malaysian government will make BIM mandatory, this makes it important to carry out research on the possible applications of the technology. The aim for this research is to establish a Framework of Contractual Protocol for BIM-Water Treatment Plant projects in Malaysia. This research focuses on four (4) objectives which are: (a)to explore the Contractual Issues on BIM Implementation for Water Treatment Plant projects. (b) to identify the Contractual provision on BIM Implementation for Water Treatment Plant projects. (c) to determine the Requirement Components of Contractual Protocol for on BIM Implementation for Water Treatment Plant projects. (d) to establish a Framework of Contractual Protocol for on BIM Implementation for Water Treatment Plant projects. A qualitative method of enquiry was used for this study in Klang Valley using semi structured interview. The responses received were analyzed by using SPSS. The result of the analysis showed that the contractual issues posed by the adoption of BIM, the contractual provision, the requirement component of contractual protocol and to establish the framework of contractual protocol for BIM Implementation for Water Treatment Plant projects. The implication of this findings is that to prove the studies on legal and contractual aspect of BIM implementation in water Treatment Plant Projects is increase to meet the demand of the implementations of BIM technology is regarded as the future of construction industry, which makes it very important for the industry.

Modelling the Hindrances to Building Information Modelling Adoption on Construction Projects in Nigeria

This study was motivated by the need to deploy building information modelling (BIM) and its technologies to improve the realisation of construction projects. Prior to the introduction of BIM, the construction industry was confronted with obstacles and was sluggish in adopting change. Until recently, existing BIM research has mostly focused on large enterprises and there has been an apparent pattern of underrepresentation of medium-sized firms in BIM- related studies. Thus, the purpose of this article is to investigate the major hindrances to BIM’s adoption in construction projects as well as the dynamics of these hindrances in a developing country like Nigeria, using the total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) approach. The TISM displayed an 11-level hierarchy of hindrances made up of independent, dependent and linkage categories. Based on the Matrice d’Impacts Croises Multiplication Appliqué a Classement (MICMAC) analysis, “Lack of skilled BIM personnel” had the highest driving and the lowest dependence (independent) power, thus indicating its importance in the adoption of BIM. The findings further showed that “Lack of awareness of BIM” and “Resistance to change” are critical for the adoption of BIM in construction projects. The drivers (dependents) for the ease of adoption of BIM by policymakers and practitioners within the built industry are thus defined in this study. This study contributes to the early studies of BIM adoption from a developing country’s perspective.

Penerimaan BIM di Kalangan Kontraktor PKS dalam Industri Pembinaan Malaysia

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a modelling technology that provides construction professionals with digital tools for use in project planning, design, monitoring, and control. The potential advantages of putting BIM into practice are known to the Malaysian government. The Malaysian government has taken a number of steps to promote BIM in the hopes that Malaysian construction industry experts will utilize it extensively. However, significant difficulties are delaying the introduction of BIM in Malaysia. Implementing BIM typically presents difficulties for smaller businesses. Even though there are numerous benefits to utilizing BIM, small and medium-sized construction companies are still cautious to do so in the course of their work. This study examines BIM adoption in Malaysian small and medium-sized construction firms. The present degree of BIM adoption in Malaysia’s construction industry as well as the best tactics to encourage SME contractors in Malaysia’s construction industry to embrace BIM more effectively were the subjects of a questionnaire survey that was conducted. According to the survey’s results, SME contractors are still trailing behind in adopting BIM due to a number of obstacles that stand in the way of its adoption. In order to increase BIM adoption among SME contractors, it is crucial that government agencies successfully promote and encourage BIM use across the whole Malaysian construction sector. The importance of this study is in gathering data on the extent of BIM adoption among SME contractors, which might be utilized as a benchmark and reference for the development of BIM in the Malaysian construction industry.

A Constructability Assessment Model Based on BIM in Urban Renewal Projects in Limited Lands

One of the most significant concerns in urban development today is the organization of areas of cities that have become run-down over time. In order to complete previous constructability studies in other fields of construction, the current study evaluates constructability based on BIM, specifically in the context of the Tehran limited land renewal project. The motivation for this study is the current difficulties facing renewal designs for limited lands, and the lack of a quantitative constructability model for urban renewal projects in Iran. This paper aims (1) to discuss the design elements that should be considered in the design phase of urban renewal projects; (2) to identify the factors that may affect constructability; and (3) to propose a framework for assessing urban renewal designs by considering constructability factors using building information modeling (BIM). To meet these needs, this paper investigates constructability factors and their relative importance, considering the design elements that should be acknowledged in limited land renewal, using a multicriteria techniques. Some 28 constructability factors are identified through a literature review, and based on 52 responses received from a questionnaire survey, the factors are ranked using pairwise comparisons of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The final constructability factors that are identified through the technique for order preference using the similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method are standard dimensions, safety, simplification of structure, resource intelligence and alignment, and skilled labor availability. The contribution of this research to the body of knowledge is, firstly, the development of constructability factors for measuring the constructability of urban renewal designs, and secondly, the introduction of BIM as a most beneficial tool for assessing the constructability of the proposed designs. In using the constructability assessment framework and identifying the trade-offs between the constructability of renewal projects in the limited areas of urban spaces, design alternatives become more feasible.

A Systematic Literature Review of the Adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) on Life Cycle Cost (LCC)

The need for embedding sustainability in construction development contributed to the introduction of Building information Modelling (BIM) to be adopted into the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) process. Through BIM, project information used during design can be shared to estimate the project’s end of life costs. LCC enables to assess the overall cost of an asset (building) through its life cycle via functionalities including the original investment costs, maintenance expenses, operating expenses, and the remaining value of the asset at the end of its life. The objective of this paper is to discuss the merging of BIM into LCC through four prevalent aspects; methodology, design software used, benefits, and challenges. A total of 20 studies were reviewed upon filtering process using PRISMA method. These studies discussed at least one of the aspects mentioned and contributed to the information regarding BIM and LCC. This paper thus aims to expanding studies on BIM adoption on LCC through the collected information sourced from peer-reviewed publications.

DIGITAL BUILDING DATA LONGEVITY AND INTEROPERABILITY CHALLENGES IN THE DOCUMENTATION OF HERITAGE BUILDINGS

Abstract. One of the major motivations behind the introduction of BIM (Building Information Modelling) was to mitigate the challenges of interoperability and interdisciplinary interaction between different stakeholders, this is particularly critical in the heritage buildings sector that involves more diverse stakeholders in a wide range of disciplines compared to a standard construction project. A crucial concern in dealing with heritage buildings is the longevity and safeguarding of the digital documentation data that is usually required to be kept as a digital record for the future. This is especially challenging in the digital medium due to the diversity of the software tools, and the fast-advancing and changing software market.In order to assess the needs and challenges facing the heritage buildings sector in terms of data longevity and interoperability and to assess the interdisciplinary interaction needs of relevant disciplines, the authors designed an online survey targeting professionals and academics in the heritage buildings sector and the wider AEC industries. This paper presents the preliminary findings of this survey.

Defining Building Information Modeling implementation activities based on capability maturity evaluation: a theoretical model

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has become a widely accepted tool to overcome the many hurdles that currently face the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industries. However, implementing such a system is always complex and the recent introduction of BIM does not allow organizations to build their experience on acknowledged standards and procedures. Moreover, data on implementation projects is still disseminated and fragmentary. The objective of this study is to develop an assistance model for BIM implementation. Solutions that are proposed will help develop BIM that is better integrated and better used, and take into account the different maturity levels of each organization. Indeed, based on Critical Success Factors, concrete activities that help in implementation are identified and can be undertaken according to the previous maturity evaluation of an organization. The result of this research consists of a structured model linking maturity, success factors and actions, which operates on the following principle: once an organization has assessed its BIM maturity, it can identify various weaknesses and find relevant answers in the success factors and the associated actions.

Factors Restricting the Application of Modern BIM-Technologies in Reconstruction Projects

В статье выявлены факторы, препятствующие применению информационного моделирования зданий (BIM) в проектах реконструкции. Проекты реконструкции сталкиваются с неопределенностью высокого уровня в ходе реализации в основном из-за ненадлежащего управления информацией, недостаточного контроля качества и низкой компетентности участников. Применение передовых компьютерных инструментов, таких как BIM, которые используются как с передовыми информационными, так и коммуникационными технологиями (ИКТ), может стать способом решения проблем проектов реконструкции. Дан анализ существующих моделей информационного моделирования, используемых в строительных проектах зданий, и их краткая характеристика. Для выявления проблем предлагаются и внедрения BIM в проекты реконструкции, использование метода аналитической иерархии (МАИ). Определены этапы анализа факторов, ограничивающих применение BIM при реконструкции. На основе анализа наиболее значительных технических, организационных и управленческих проблем при применении современных технологий в проектах реконструкции выделены факторы, ограничивающие применение BIM в проектах реконструкции. Обоснована необходимость мониторинга этих факторов на протяжении всего жизненного цикла проекта. Проанализированы инструменты и действия, которые могли бы устранить выявленные факторы и повысить эффективность проектов.

BIM performance assessment system using a K-means clustering algorithm

ABSTRACT Currently, various guidelines regarding building information modelling (BIM) technology policy are being developed in different countries. However, for many companies, the cost-effectiveness of BIM investment remains unclear. Some studies suggest a return on investment (ROI) as the result of cost-effective analysis calculations, which can be obtained by the introduction of BIM. However, a lack of research has led to inconsistent metrics being applied to the calculation of BIM-ROI for various types of projects. The purpose of this study is to develop a system to evaluate the performance of BIM using a K-means clustering algorithm and ROI analysis to reflect the cost-effectiveness of BIM investment. The proposed system also includes methods for determining best-case projects with high similarities from existing case projects and benchmarking their evaluation know-how, and its usability was verified through experienced BIM users.

Longitudinal Study on Construction Organization’s BIM Acceptance

The Korean domestic market is focused on the introduction of BIM (Building Information Modeling) owing to an influx of investment due to increased interest and mandatory application of BIM. However, the rate of BIM introduction is high, while BIM user proficiency is low. Against these problems, the authors proposed an acceptance model for BIM in construction organizations in 2012. As the number of BIM application cases increases and the number of BIM-trained users increases as time goes on, BIM users’ positive perception of BIM values are expected to increase, which may change the BIM acceptance mechanism. Therefore, we conducted a longitudinal study of the 2012 BIM acceptance model against 2019 data to estimate changes in factors affecting BIM acceptance attitudes as well as the mechanism of the relationships between factors over time spent using the technology. To generalize the results, the respondents were spread across construction sites. The data obtained 119 samples from a sample of experienced users of BIM. We used AMOS 21.0 for hypothesis testing of structural equation modeling (SEM), and the 2019 BIM acceptance model was compared against the 2012 acceptance model using an independent sample t-test. As a result, it was confirmed that the 2012 BIM acceptance model is still suitable for describing the BIM acceptance mechanism of the construction organization, and there was a difference between the 2012 model and the 2019 model. This seems to have changed the mechanism of BIM acceptance by being change perception of BIM users as time goes on. The results of this study can be used to establish a BIM activation strategy for each BIM acceptance stage and are expected to be applicable to establishing a BIM activation strategy for construction organizations or countries with similar BIM acceptance stage.

The Adoption of Building Information Modelling and Intelligent Contract to Payment Process in Malaysian Conventional Contract

Payment conflicts are never ending issue in Malaysian construction industry. This issue is a common scenario especially in public work project, which involves a conventional contract. The late payment and non-payment occur due to client inefficient payment administration caused by documentation and human factors. It commonly ended up causing delays in project completion. However, the revolution of Information Technology (IT) within construction industry has shown the development of various management systems, which transformed the way projects are administered. The introduction of Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the project management systems, which have been created to centralised knowledge sharing resource as an effective collaborative and integrated approach between inter-disciplines in construction industry. The development of digital technology of Intelligent Contracts brings great potential in BIM management to automate the contractual process and thus create possible solutions towards payment conflicts in the construction project. This paper discusses the process of payment in the conventional contractual procedure, which relate to the causes of delay in payment. It is believed that by integrating BIM and Intelligent Contract’s attributes may help to eliminate the unnecessary procedure, which prolong the payment processes. Therefore, this study is carried out to explore what are the effects of adopting BIM and Intelligent Contracts attributes in conventional payment process. This is a descriptive study and the methodology used is essentially on review of the literature in relation to payment processes in conventional contract, BIM management system and attributes of Intelligent Contract. The analysis revealed that the adoption of BIM and Intelligent Contracts attributes in payment conventional process could improve the efficiency; reduce the time by eliminating third party interference and manual signatory. In addition, the project performance is analysed intelligently as well as minimise the risks of losing information by keeping historical audit trails in automatic system repository.

An Approach for Integrating Mixed Reality into BIM for Early Stage Design Coordination

Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its associated technologies have proved to be one of the most promising developments in the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Over the past few decades, the AEC sector has been restricted in its communication of design as a result of single interface methods based on 2D and 3D visualization of information. Thus, most issues with respect to construction are identified fairly late, resulting in costly changes. With the introduction of BIM, many other approaches to data visualization can be leveraged including Mixed Reality (MR) applications for the virtual representation of spaces and objects beyond 3D. MR offers a revolution in the virtual representation of objects and space through context awareness as well as the incorporation of information beyond 3D offering countless opportunities for more effective design visualization and coordination. Despite the capability of MR, however, few examples exist of its application to design coordination in the AEC. In addressing this gap this study proposes a novel methodology for the application of MR in design coordination as well as investigates the impact of introducing MR into BIM workflow with a focus on the identification and avoidance of clashes. A prototypical model of the MR design coordination is presented and discussed. Findings indicate that MR improves design productivity and quality but also highlights potential infrastructure issues inhibiting the mainstreaming of MR for design practice.

Overview of BIM integration into the Construction Sector in European Member States and European Union Acquis

The amount of information involved in any construction project and the necessity of control of time, cost and waste, has established Building Information Modelling (BIM) as an integral part of construction sector towards achieving adequate communication of information among various parties involved in construction projects. Moreover, it can be considered as a valuable tool for the optimum selection of materials, systems and design decisions, regarding not only the improve of a structure’s performance, but also in terms of reducing its carbon footprint during its life cycle. The study attempts to present the integration of BIM into the national legislation of European Member States, with a special focus on the energy related aspects of BIM analysis. This study performs an overview of the introduction of BIM into different aspects and requirements of the EU Member States building practices, through a comprehensive literature and legislation review of relative legislative documents of the construction sector. According to the findings of this overview study, the concept of BIM has already been incorporated in many aspects of the Acquis of EU Member States, which is recognized as a valuable tool to be exploited by the construction sector, however there is still room for development in this area. The study has revealed that especially in the energy assessment of the built environment, BIM applications are still lacking from the European Legislation. Examples and good practices of employing BIM for the implementation of the European Energy targets in the building sector are also presented and discussed. The findings of this study aim to shed light on the needs and requirements in the field of BIM development for the construction sector, as well as to indicate gaps and weaknesses of the European Member States Acquis towards harmonizing with BIM practices.

Awareness and challenges of building information modelling (BIM) implementation in the Yemen construction industry

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the awareness of construction practitioners of the adoption of building information modeling (BIM) and identification of the dominant challenges of implementing BIM in the life cycle of a construction project. Design/methodology/approach This study was sequentially conducted in the following in three main phases: a preliminary study of archival literature, where a rigorous study of the literature was conducted to identify the challenges of adopting BIM in the construction industry which was to be applied later to the challenges in the case of the Yemen construction industry; data collection, where data were collected using a questionnaire survey targeting 123 Yemeni construction practitioners working in managerial and technical levels; and data analysis, where data were analyzed using descriptive analysis by calculating the average index and standard deviations. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software. Findings The results show that the most critical challenges to adopt BIM are financial restrictions, lack of BIM knowledge, improper introduction of BIM concepts, lack of awareness of BIM benefits and no governmental enforcement. The study recommends policymakers and construction players to consider the challenges for a better introduction of BIM in the Yemen construction industry. Research limitations/implications This research focuses on the awareness and challenges of implementing BIM in the Yemen construction industry. Practical implications The findings of this study will help policymakers develop more constructive strategies to reduce the challenges and introduce governmental agendas towards the widespread use of the BIM concept and technology in the Yemen construction industry. The study suggested an in-depth investigation into the current curriculum in the Yemen universities and recommended the introduction of BIM concept in engineering courses. Social implications This study focused on the challenges of implementing BIM and the role of the social aspect in the issue. Originality/value From the extensive review of previous findings, this paper concentrates on the challenged to the implementation of BIM in the Yemen construction industry. There are lack of investigative studies that focus on the introduction of new technologies to advance the Yemen construction sector. Therefore, the findings help the authority to diagnose and address the sources of these challenges and introduce new solutions to the industry.

Building Information Maturity Model specific to the renovation sector

Abstract This article focuses on the relevance of a digital approach, Building Information Modeling (BIM), in the dynamic and diversified renovation sector, which is mainly driven by micro enterprises. It provides a synthesis of scientific references on this infrequently addressed subject. This scientific review demonstrates that there are not plentiful or sufficiently appropriate technologies and tools available to encourage the widespread use of BIM in the type of company that would be engaged in renovation work. The aim of this study is to propose the synthesis of scientific data that justifies the introduction of BIM in renovation work. An analysis of the tools and critical success factors makes it possible to determine the specifications for a Maturity Model (MM) that is adapted to the renovation sector and to the actors within it. A BIM Maturity Model For Renovation (BiM2FR) purposes has been established as a result. The origins of, and the content contained within it, are detailed in this article. The results are validated through three case studies of businesses that are engaged in BIM processes.

Discriminant model of BIM acceptance readiness in a construction organization

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a general term for technology that links project information to 3D object-based models that manage, exchange, and share data between project participants throughout the life cycle of a project. In line with this, an emphasis on BIM in the international construction market is expected to become even greater, focusing on advanced countries in construction such as the United States and Europe. The Korean domestic market is also faced with the introduction of BIM due to an influx of investment and an increased interest in introducing BIM and mandatory application of BIM. In the Korean domestic market, the rate of BIM introduction is high, while BIM user proficiency is low. Further, the ratio of users who abandon BIM utilization is rather high. This is mainly due to the introduction of BIM in a situation wherein the organizations are not ready for the various elements required to utilize BIM. This pattern creates limitations in obtaining the expected effects of BIM and results in reduced continued use due a decrease in BIM credibility. Therefore, this research aims to develop a Discriminant Model of BIM Acceptance Readiness in a Construction Organization to evaluate readiness for elements required to utilize BIM. To empirically verify the proposed model, we retrieved 164 completed questionnaires by construction organizations (such as contractors, architects, construction managers and engineers). Using SPSS 17.0, we conducted discriminant analysis. The validated model will increase awareness on the need to evaluate BIM acceptance readiness and predict BIM acceptance readiness.

建設会社の組織形態がBIMの導入に与える影響に関する研究

Building information modeling (BIM) is an important technology in the design and construction of buildings. BIM is also used in the construction of building equipment. In recent years, construction companies have been promoting the introduction of BIM. Typically, the technologies of building construction are introduced for each department. However, BIM has been promoting technology introduction beyond departments and companies. Therefore, we analyzed the process of introducing BIM in construction companies. We also analyzed the proportion of companies that introduced BIM, process of technology introduction, and the organizational form of the construction companies. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey of construction companies about BIM. Based on the questionnaire results, we performed an analysis of corporate organization as follows. 1. Analyze the relationship between the respondents of a department and technician experts by cross tabulation. 2. Classify respondents by factor analysis. 3. Discuss the motivation behind introducing BIM by covariance structure analysis. The percentage of companies that have used BIM in their construction projects was approximately 32%. Moreover, 40% of the survey respondents collect BIM information. More than 50% of the respondents think that construction work using BIM is more efficient than the traditional construction work. These results mean that BIM entered a stage of popularity. On the other hand, the percentage of engineers that manipulate 3D-CAD or BIM is only approximately 23%. The occupation of the highest percentage of 3D-CAD users is construction engineers of building equipment. Architects are also a high percentage of 3D-CAD users. Then, we created a contingency table (Table 4) for the relationship between the current department and the specialized field of survey respondents. All personnel who belong to the building construction department are part of the specialized field of building construction. On the other hand, 22% of the personnel who belong to the architectural design department are part of a different specialized field of architectural design. Next, we performed an exploratory factor analysis on the questionnaire results. Maximum likelihood estimation with a promax rotation of 32 Likert scale questions was conducted on data gathered from 212 participants. The results of the promax rotation of the solution are listed in Table 8. When loadings less than 0.35 were excluded, the analysis yielded a seven-factor solution. The seven factors were labeled as follows: "Expectations of BIM (Factor 1)", "The degree of information gathering about BIM (Factor 2)", "The need for the introduction of front-loading (Factor 3)", "IT skill levels of the respondents (Factor 4)", “Adequacy of information equipment in the belonging company (Factor 5)”, “Growth potential of the construction industry (Factor 6)”, and “Dissatisfaction with the current construction technology (Factor 7).” Moreover, we performed a hierarchical cluster analysis by selecting three factors—Factor 2, Factor 4, and Factor 6. As a result, we classified four respondent groups. In addition, we analyzed of the motivation behind the introduction of BIM by structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of SEM analysis are shown in Fig. 12. SEM supposes that motivations behind introducing BIM are to improve productivity of the construction work.

Sociotechnical Systems Approach to BIM Implementation in a Multidisciplinary Construction Context

AbstractThe implementation of rapidly evolving building information modeling (BIM) technology is widely seen to increase the level of integration within the construction sector. However, even with the plethora of research and investment in the development and deployment of BIM, its use is not mainstream construction practice and the practicality of the implementation process is not well understood. The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of BIM through a sociotechnical systems (STS) perspective, with particular focus on multidisciplinary intraorganizational construction organization. The paper uses a case study approach to analyze the introduction of BIM in a multidisciplinary construction organization that has recently undergone a transition in its BIM implementation process. The STS approach demonstrates how technological implementation and its effects cannot be understood separately from the context of the implementing organization. The analysis shows that, due to the nature of the c...

Integrating Rapid 3D Data Collection Techniques to Support BIM Design Decision Making

In recent years, there have been rapid developments in techniques available to capture three dimensional data with regards to the existing built environment. Such technologies support the collection of both large scale landscape and streetscape data, as well as information pertaining to building details such as sculpture and decorative features. During the past five years, there has also been a similar development in the software technologies available to support building information modelling (BIM). Whilst the emphasis in terms of initial introduction of BIM has been predominantly within the construction phase of new developments, there is clear potential to incorporate 3D data pertaining to the existing environment, with apparent value in terms of both the conceptual design phase and during detailed consideration of spatial layout and environmental analysis. This paper describes the processes involved in incorporating on-site collected 3D data within BIM, including modelling and analysis processes.