impact on using bim in facilities management
DESCRIPTION
Literature ReviewTRANSCRIPT
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Table of Contents:
1.0 Introduction _____________________________________________________ 1
1.1 What is BIM? ________________________________________________ 2
1.2 BIM History _________________________________________________ 7
1.3 BIM in Malaysia ______________________________________________ 8
1.4 BIM in Singapore______________________________________________ 11
i. Public Sector ________________________________________________ 11
ii. Guidelines __________________________________________________ 12
2.0 Literature Review _______________________________________________ 12
2.1 BIM Impact __________________________________________________ 12
2.2 Advantages of BIM __________________________________________ 14
2.2.1 BIM in Construction Management ____________________________ 18
2.2.2 BIM in Facility Operation ___________________________________ 19
2.3 Disadvantages of BIM ________________________________________ 19
3.0 Discussion __________________________________________________ 21
References _______________________________________________________ 25
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Different Components of a Building Information Model (Courtsey of: PCL
Construction Services, Orlando, FL) _____________________________________ 3
Figure 2: Communication, collaboration and Visualization with BIM model (NIBS,
2008) ____________________________________________________________ 6
Figure 3: BIM adoption by several countries (McGraw Hill Construction, 2008, 2010
and 2012) _________________________________________________________ 9
Figure 4: Contractors experience in using BIM by region (McGraw Hill Construction,
2013) ___________________________________________________________ 10
Figure 5: BIM and the evolution _______________________________________ 11
Table of Tables
Table 1: BIM applications for project stakeholders _________________________ 15
Table 2: BIM applications in project design phase _________________________ 17
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Impact on Using Building Information Modelling (BIM) Have in Facility Management: A Literature Review.
1.0 Introduction
Building Information Modelling (BIM) has recently attained widespread attention
in the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. BIM
represents the development and use of computer-generated n-dimensional (n-D)
models to simulate the planning, design, construction and operation of a facility. It
helps architects, engineers and constructors to visualize what is to be built in
simulated environment and to identify potential design, construction or
operational problems (Azhar, Hein, & Sketo, 2008).
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is now considered the ultimate in project
delivery within the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry
(Azhar, Hein, & Sketo, 2008), and has the potential to revolutionize the industry
(Gerrard, Alex, Zuo, Zillante, & Skitmore, 2010). It is a process involving the
generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional
characteristics of a facility. The resulting model becomes shared knowledge-
resources to support decision-making about a facility from the earliest conceptual
stages, through design, construction, operational life and eventual demolition
(alliance, 2012). Thus it is a singular central system suitable for the entire project
process. It involves the co-ordinated efforts of all consultants being combined
within one highly detailed model with all elements required for a building project
(Azhar, Hein, & Sketo, 2008). This breakthrough technology is responsible for the
complex collaboration systems now in place within many organisations who have
integrated BIM as their preferred project delivery method.
Building Information Modelling has been under considerable scrutiny over this last
decade. A number of papers have been published outlining challenges and
limitations but it seems there has been little progress over the years as the same
concerns are repeatedly mentioned. These concerns include interoperability,
irrelevant data, integrated design, and legal issues around intellectual property
and data ownership (Gray, et al., 2013).
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1.1 What is BIM?
Building information modelling (BIM) is the process of creating and managing
parametric digital models of a building (or infrastructure) during its lifecycle (Lee,
Sacks, & Eastman, 2006). In both academia and industry, BIM has been
acknowledged as a new approach that can improve productivity and quality in the
construction industry (Smith & Tardif, 2009). ) It represents the process of
development and use of a computer generated model to simulate the planning,
design, construction and operation of a facility as shown in Figure 1. The resulting
model, a Building Information Model, is a data-rich, object-oriented, intelligent and
parametric digital representation of the facility, from which views and data
appropriate to various users needs can be extracted and analyzed to generate
information that can be used to make decisions and to improve the process of
delivering the facility (America, 2005).
The principal difference between BIM and 2D CAD is that the latter describes a
building by independent 2D views such as plans, sections and elevations. Editing
one of these views requires that all other views must be checked and updated, an
error-prone process that is one of the major causes of poor documentation. In
addition, data in these 2D drawings are graphical entities only, such as lines, arcs
and circles, in contrast to the intelligent contextual semantic of BIM models, where
objects are defined in terms of building elements and systems such as spaces,
walls, beams and columns. A BIM carries all information related to the building,
including its physical and functional characteristics and project life cycle
information, in a series of smart objects. For example, an air conditioning unit
within a BIM would also contain data about its supplier, operation and
maintenance procedures, flow rates and clearance requirements (Innovation,
2007).
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Figure 1: Different Components of a Building Information Model (Courtsey of:
PCL Construction Services, Orlando, FL)
A building information model characterizes the geometry, spatial relationships,
geographic information, quantities and properties of building elements, cost
estimates, material inventories and project schedule. This model can be used to
demonstrate the entire building life cycle (Bazjanac, 2006). As a result, quantities
and shared properties of materials can be readily extracted. Scopes of work can
be easily isolated and defined. Systems, assemblies, and sequences can be
shown in a relative scale with the entire facility or group of facilities. The
construction documents such as the drawings, procurement details, submittal
processes and other specifications can be easily interrelated (Khemlani,
Papamichael, & Harfmann, 2006). There had various of definition regarding
Building Information Modeling (BIM), (Heng, 2014) stated Building Information
Modeling (BIM ) is an Addition process which can include, but not limited to:
design co-ordination; micro-environment analysis, construction process
simulation. (Succar, 2014) define Building Information Modeling is a set of
technologies, process and policies enabling multiple stakeholders to
collaboratively design, construct and operate a facility. (Tune, 2014) specific BIM
as a;
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1. Collaborative Management of the design, construction and in use phase of
buildings via integrated ICT.
2. Effective management of asset information throughout the lifecycle.
The glossary of the BIM Handbook (Eastman, Teicholz, Sacks, & Liston, 2008)
defines BIM as a verb or adjective phrase to describe tools, processes and
technologies that are facilitated by digital, machine-readable documentation
about a building, its performance, its planning, its construction and later its
operation. The result of BIM activity is a building information model. BIM
software tools are characterized by the ability to compile virtual models of
buildings using machine- readable parametric objects that exhibit behaviour
commensurate with the need to design, analyse and test a building design
(Sacks, Eastman, & Lee, 2004). As such, 3D CAD models that are not
expressed as objects that exhibit form, function and behaviour cannot be
considered building information models. However, the BIM Handbook also
states in its introduction that BIM provides the basis for new construction
capabilities and changes in the roles and relationships among a project team.
When implemented appropriately, BIM facilitates a more integrated design and
construction process that results in better quality buildings at lower cost and
reduced project duration. In this sense, BIM is expected to provide the
foundation for some of the results that lean construction is expected to deliver
(Sacks, Dave, Koskela, & Owen, 2009).
While there are few definitions available for BIM in the literature, propose a
more comprehensive and operational definition, in order to give the reader a
clear understanding behind the real agenda of BIM. Consideration is also
given to the natural environment, user environment and owner satisfaction
throughout the lifecycle within this definition. (Arayici, Egbu, & Coates, 2012)
BIM is defined as the use of ICT technologies to streamline the building
lifecycle processes to provide a safer and more productive environment for its
occupants, to assert the least possible environmental impact from its
existence, and to be more operationally efficient for its owners throughout the
building lifecycle (Arayici & Aouad, 2010)
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BIM in most simple terms is the utilization of a database infrastructure to
encapsulate built facilities with specific viewpoints of stakeholders. It is a
methodology to integrate digital descriptions of all the building objects and
their relationships to others in a precise manner, so that stakeholders can
query, simulate and estimate activities and their effects on the building process
as a lifecycle entity. Therefore, BIM can help with providing the required value
judgments for creating a more sustainable infrastructure, which satisfy their
owners and occupants (Arayici, Egbu, & Coates, 2012).
BIM as a lifecycle evaluation concept seeks to integrate processes throughout
the entire lifecycle of a construction project. The focus is to create and reuse
consistent digital information by the stakeholders throughout the lifecycle
(Figure 2). BIM incorporates a methodology based around the notion of
collaboration between stakeholders using ICT to exchange valuable
information throughout the lifecycle. Such collaboration is seen as the answer
to the fragmentation that exists within the building industry, which has caused
various inefficiencies. Although BIM is not the salvation of the construction
industry, much effort has gone into addressing those issues that have
remained unattended for far too long (Jordani, 2008).
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Figure 2: Communication, collaboration and Visualization with BIM model
(NIBS, 2008)
Taking into consideration the design process solely within construction
lifecycle process, in the majority of the construction procurement systems,
design work needs to be completed in a multidisciplinary teamwork
environment. The design process is by nature illusive and iterative within the
same discipline, and between the other Architecture, Engineering and
Construction (AEC) disciplines. During the design development, severe
problems related to data acquisition and management, in addition to multi and
inter disciplinary collaboration arise. Often, design team members including
those from the same discipline, use different software tools and work in
parallel (Arayici & Aouad, 2010). For example, a building can be divided into
three different sections amongst three different architects to design. Architects
can be using a different software tool, needing to incorporate their work at the
end (Nour, 2007). When considering the whole construction lifecycle, including
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the design process, the complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity will increase
(Arayici, Egbu, & Coates, 2012).
1.2 BIM History
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a term that has become ubiquitous in
the design and construction fields over the past 20 years, but where did it
come from? The story is rich and complex with players from the United States,
Western Europe and the Soviet Block competing to create the perfect
architectural software solution to disrupt 2-Dimensional CAD work flows. The
conceptual underpinnings of the BIM system go back to the earliest days of
computing. As early as 1962, Douglas C. Englebart gives us an uncanny
vision of the future architect in his paper Augmenting Human Intellect. The
architect next begins to enter a series of specifications and dataa six-inch
slab floor, twelve-inch concrete walls eight feet high within the excavation, and
so on. When he has finished, the revised scene appears on the screen. A
structure is taking shape. He examines it, adjusts it These lists grow into an
ever more-detailed, interlinked structure, which represents the maturing
thought behind the actual design. Englebart suggests object based design,
parametric manipulation and a relational database; dreams that would become
reality several years later. There is a long list of design researchers whose
influence is considerable including Herbert Simon, Nicholas Negroponte and
Ian McHarg who was developing a parallel track with Geographic Information
Systems (GIS). The work of Christopher Alexander would certainly have had
an impact as it influenced an early school of object oriented programming
computer scientists with Notes on the Synthesis of Form. As thoughtful and
robust as these systems were, the conceptual frameworks could not be
realized without a graphical interface through which to interact with such a
Building Model (Quirk, 2012).
From the roots of the SAGE graphical interface and Ivan Sutherlands
Sketchpad program in 1963, solid modelling programs began to appear
building on developments in the computational representation of geometry.
The two main methods of displaying and recording shape information that
began to appear in the 1970s and 1980s were constructive solid
geometry (CSG) and boundary representation (brep). The CSG system uses a
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series of primitive shapes that can be either solids or voids, so that the shapes
can combine and intersect, subtract or combine to create the appearance of
more complex shapes. This development is especially important in
representing architecture as penetrations and subtractions are common
procedures in design, (windows, and doors) (Quirk, 2012).
The process of design requires a visceral connection to the medium that the
designer is working in. This posed another challenge as architects required a
way to tell the computer what to do that was less tedious than the punch cards
that were used on early computers. The development of light pens, head-
mounted displays and various contraptions in the early days of human-
computer interaction (HCI) are well documented elsewhere. A rigorous history
of HCI from an architectural perspective can be found in Nicholas
DeMonchauxs book, Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo. The text carves a
narrative of the precursors to BIM and CAD technology as they were entwined
in the Space Race and Cold War (Quirk, 2012).
1.3 BIM in Malaysia
Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia stated that BIM
adoption throughout the years has increased massively in the several
countries. Figure 3 shows several countries that had reported adopted BIM for
their construction projects. BIM adoption in the North America increased
drastically from year 2007 to 2012 with 43% growth despite economic
downturn (2009 to 2012). National BIM Report 2012 reported that 31% of the
professionals are using BIM compared to 13% in 2010 for their construction
projects. Based from the overall BIM adoption across the globe, it can be
deduced that other regions are poised to have similar trend adopting BIM for
their future projects.
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Figure 3: BIM adoption by several countries (McGraw Hill Construction, 2008,
2010 and 2012)
Currently, BIM adoption and growth are broadly adopted across the
construction industry with architect, engineers, contractors and owners utilising
the BIM tools at different levels. It is reported that the very heavy BIM users
increased from 35% to 45% from 2008 to 2009. BIM users expected to
significantly ramp up their investment in BIM in 2009. In term of BIM users,
architects are the heaviest users of BIM compared to contractors with 43%
using it more than 60% of their projects (McGraw Hill Construction, 2008).
Ever since 2009, contractors have significantly accelerated the use of BIM
compared with other users. It is expected that 2009 will be the year of the
contractors in BIM. The rapid rise of BIM among contractors has led to high
level of maturity as shown in Figure 4.
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Figure 4: Contractors experience in using BIM by region (McGraw Hill
Construction, 2013)
In Malaysia, the progress of BIM mainly driven by private sectors since 2009
and followed by the first government project announced using BIM
methodology in 2010, which is the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Understanding the importance of BIM in construction industry, CIDB will
complement the efforts by providing a sustainable environment where BIM will
survive and thrive. Early efforts includes providing awareness programs and
workshops with the industry to gather feedback and comment aimed at
charting the way forward for a wider and wiser implementation of BIM. CIDB is
also in the midst of establishing the National BIM Committee of Building
Information Modelling in construction Industry in order to coordinate the
movement of BIM in the country (CREAM, 2014).
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Figure 5: BIM and the evolution
Government as the biggest property holder perceived BIM as an important tool
for them in managing their property in the future. Thus the government of
Malaysia had set to implement BIM for their projects by the year 2016. It is
foreseen that the industry players are required to understand and able to use
BIM. Application of BIM is essential to drive the industry towards sustainable
construction which underlines long term affordability, quality and efficiency
(CREAM, 2014).
There is increasingly awareness and keenness among the consultants and
large construction companies on deployment of BIM. However the involvement
among the small, medium enterprise contractor (SMEs) in adopting BIM seem
to face problems and require attention from the government. The path in
implementing BIM must be planned comprehensively prior implementation.
The issues and challenges faced by SMEs sector needs to be identified,
addressed and solved (CREAM, 2014).
1.4 BIM in Singapore
i. Public Sector
In Singapore, Construction and Real Estate Network (CORENET) is the main
organization involved in the development and implementation of BIM for
government projects. It is a major IT initiative that was launched in 1995 by
Singapore's Ministry of National Development. CORENET provides
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information services which includes e-Information System such as eNPQS and
e-Catalog to its clients. It also offers integrated submission system in the form
of e-Submission and Integrated Plan Checking System. IT Standards are
being adopted in the Construction Industry of Singapore which has been
followed from the guidelines of International Alliance for Interoperability (wong,
Wong, & Nadeem, 2009).
ii. Guidelines
Singapore has since 1997 been promoting and later on also requiring the use
of BIM for various kinds of approvals like building plan approvals and fire
safety certifications (Khemlani L. , 2005). The CORENET e-Plan Check
defines Singapores Automated Code Checking System and several
authorities in Singapore are participating in the e-submission system, which
requires the use of BIM and IFC. The BIM Guideline called Integrated plan
checking has now been completed (wong, Wong, & Nadeem, 2009).
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 BIM Impact
The different phases of the project life cycle include planning, design,
construction, maintenance and decommissioning. The construction phase can
be divided into pre and post construction stages. The traditional media of
communication among various phases of life cycle is two dimensional (2D)
drawings. The introduction of object oriented computer aided design (CAD)
software facilitated three-dimensional (3D) models as media of communication
between the planning and design phases and introduced the concept of
Building Information Modelling (BIM). Some of the applications of these 3D
models in the preconstruction stage include resolving constructability
problems, space conflict problems, and site utilization (Koo & Fischer, 2000);
(Chua, Anson, & Zhang, 2004).The 3D models were proven useful during the
preconstruction stage for applications such as visualization, resource
allocation and hazard analysis (Tanyer & Aoudad, 2005); (Kim, Lee, Kim, Shin,
& Cho, 2005).
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Construction and post construction phases continue to be accomplished using
2D representation. During the process of construction, project participants
exchange construction process documents such as request for information
(RFI), submittals, change orders, shop drawings, specifications, and site
photos. These are not linked to either the 2D or 3D models. Similarly during
post construction, the information such as warranties, maintenance schedules,
O&M manuals, operation guidelines, training manuals are also not linked to
the 2D or 3D models (Meadati, Irizarry, & Akhnoukh, 2011).
The principal difference between BIM and 2D CAD is that the latter describes
a building by 2D drawings such as plans, sections, and elevations. Editing one
of these views requires that all other views must be checked an updated, an
error-prone process that is one of the major causes of poor documentation
today. In addition, the data in these 2D drawings are graphical entities only
such as lines, arcs and circles, in contrast to the intelligent contextual semantic
of BIM models, elements and systems such as spaces, walls, beams and piles
(Ballesty, 2007).
The generic attributes of BIM are listed below:
a. Robust geometry: objects are described by faithful and accurate geometry
that is measurable.
b. Comprehensive and extensible object properties that expand the meaning
of the object. Objects in the model either have some predefined properties
or the IFC specification allows for the assignment of any number of user or
project specific properties are richly described with items such as a
manufacturers product code or cost or date of last service.
c. Semantic richness: the model provides for many types of relationships that
can be accessed for analysis and simulation.
d. Integrated information: the model holds all information in a single repository
ensuring consistency accuracy and accessibility of data.
e. Lifecycle support: the model definition supports data over the complete
facility lifecycle from conception to demolition, for example, client
requirements data such as room areas or environmental performance can
be compared with as designed, as built or as performing data
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The key benefits of BIM is its accurate geometrical representation of the parts
of a building in an integrated data environment are listed below (Ballesty,
2007)
a. Faster and more effective processes - information is more easily shared
can be value added and reused.
b. Better design building proposals can be rigorously analysed, simulations
can be performed quickly and performance benchmarked, enabling
improved and innovative solutions
c. Controlled whole life costs and environmental data environmental
performance is more predictable, lifecycle costs are understood.
d. Better production quality - documentation output is flexible and exploits
automation.
e. Automated assembly digital product data can be exploited in downstream
processes and manufacturing
f. Better customer service proposals are understood through accurate
visualisation
g. Lifecycle data requirements, design, construction and operational
information can be used for, for example, facilities management.
h. Integration of planning and implementation processes government,
industry, and manufacturers have a common data protocol
i. Ultimately, a more effective and competitive industry and long term
sustainable regeneration projects
Interoperability is defined as the seamless sharing of building data between
multiple applications over any or all applications (or disciplines) over any or all
lifecycle phases of a buildings development. Although BIM may be considered
as an independent concept, in practice, the business benefits of BIM are
dependent on the shared utilisation and value added creation of integrated
model data (Y.Arayici & J.Tah, 2008).
2.2 Advantages of BIM
i. BIM Benefits for Project Stakeholders
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Before discussing benefits of BIM for project owners, designers, constructors
and facility managers, it is useful to summarize BIM applications for these
stakeholders. Table 1 provides this summary. The individual benefits of BIM
for each stakeholder are discussed in the following sections.
ii. Project Owners
Owners can achieve significant benefits on projects where BIM technology and
processes are applied. (Eastman, 2011) and (Reddy, 2011) summarized the
following benefits of BIM for project owners:
1. Early design assessment to ensure project requirements are met
2. Operations simulation to evaluate building performance and maintainability
3. Low financial risk because of reliable cost estimates and reduced number
of change orders
4. Better marketing of project by making effective use of 3D renderings and
walk-though animations
5. Complete information about building and its systems in a single file. Due to
these and other tangible and intangible benefits of BIM, large project
owners in the USA (such as the General Services Administration (GSA),
the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), etc.) are increasingly requiring
designers and contractors to utilize BIM in all projects (Ku, K. and Taiebat,
2011)
Table 1: BIM applications for project stakeholders
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iii. Project Designers
The project architects and engineers can take advantage of BIM in schematic
and detailed design and construction detailing phases as summarized in Table
2. Following are some of the main benefits of BIM for project designers:
1. Better design by rigorously analyzing digital models and visual simulations
and receiving more valuable input from project owners.
2. Early incorporation of sustainability features in building design to predicts
its environmental performance
3. Better code compliance via visual and analytical checks
4. Early forensic analysis to graphically assess potential failures, leaks,
evacuation plans and so forth
5. Quick production of shop or fabrication drawings (Kymmell, 2008).
The early design and preconstruction stages of a building are the most critical
phases to make decisions on its sustainability features (Azhar,
2009).Traditional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) planning environments
typically lack the capability to perform sustainability analyses in the early
stages of design development. Building performance analyses are typically
performed after the architectural design and construction documents have
been produced. This failure to analyze sustainability continually during the
design process results in an inefficient process of retroactive modification to
the design to achieve a set of performance criteria (Schueter, A. and
Thessling, F, 2008). To assess building performance in the early design and
preconstruction phases realistically, access to a comprehensive set of data
regarding a buildings form, materials, context and systems is required. Since
BIM allows for multi-disciplinary information to be superimposed within one
model, it creates an opportunity for sustainability measures to be incorporated
throughout the design process (Autodesk, 2008). Azhar et al. (2011) found
that information for up to 17 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design, a green building rating system used in the USA) credits can be
obtained in the design phase by performing BIM-based sustainability analyses.
It means a building information model can be used as a by-product for LEED
analysis thereby saving substantial time and resources.
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Table 2: BIM applications in project design phase
iv. Project Constructors
In the United States general contractors are the early adopters of BIM among
all stakeholders (Azhar, S., Hein, M. , and Sketo, B, 2008). The contractors
and subcontractors can use BIM for the following applications (Hardin, 2009):
1. Quantity takeoff and cost estimation
2. Early identification of design errors through clash detections
3. Construction planning and constructability analysis
4. Onsite verification, guidance and tracking of construction activities
5. Offsite prefabrication and modularization
6. Site safety planning
7. Value engineering and implementation of lean construction concepts
8. Better communication with project owner, designer, subcontractors and
workers on site.
Through these applications constructors can achieve the following benefits:
1. High profitability
2. Better customer service
3. Cost and schedule compression
4. Better production quality
5. More informed decision making
6. Better safety planning and management.
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i. A report commissioned by the department for Business, Innovation and Skills
(BIS) and the Cabinet Office in 2008 suggested that a BIM approach to asset
life cycle management, if extended to all major projects, would account for
between 1-2.5 billion per annum savings in the construction phase alone.
However, BIM will potentially deliver greater value in the post construction
phase through improved ongoing management of assets not only at individual,
but at portfolio and national level allowing for the modelling of infrastructure
resilience, optimization of running costs and identification of the most effective
opportunities for improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon
emissions.(Mike Chrimes, 2012)
2.2.1 BIM in Construction Management
Participants in the building process are constantly challenged to deliver
successful projects despite tight budgets, limited manpower, accelerated
schedules, and limited or conflicting information. The significant disciplines
such as architectural, structural and MEP designs should be well coordinated,
as two things cant take place at the same place and time. Building Information
Modeling aids in collision detection at the initial stage, identifying the exact
location of discrepancies.
The BIM concept envisages virtual construction of a facility prior to its actual
physical construction, in order to reduce uncertainty, improve safety, work out
problems, and simulate and analyze potential impacts. Sub-contractors from
every trade can input critical information into the model before beginning
construction, with opportunities to pre-fabricate or pre-assemble some
systems off-site. Waste can be minimised on-site and products delivered on a
just-in-time basis rather than being stock-piled on-site (Smith, Deke, 2007).
Quantities and shared properties of materials can be extracted easily. Scopes
of work can be isolated and defined. Systems, assemblies and sequences can
be shown in a relative scale with the entire facility or group of facilities. BIM
also prevents errors by enabling conflict or 'clash detection' whereby the
computer model visually highlights to the team where parts of the building
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(e.g.: structural frame and building services pipes or ducts) may wrongly
intersect.
2.2.2 BIM in Facility Operation
BIM can bridge the information loss associated with handing a project from
design team, to construction team and to building owner/operator, by allowing
each group to add to and reference back to all information they acquire during
their period of contribution to the BIM model. This can yield benefits to the
facility owner or operator.
For example, a building owner may find evidence of a leak in his building.
Rather than exploring the physical building, he may turn to the model and see
that a watervalve is located in the suspect location. He could also have in the
model the specific valve size, manufacturer, part number, and any other
information ever researched in the past, pending adequate computing power.
Such problems were initially addressed by Leite and Akinci when developing a
vulnerability representation of facility contents and threats for supporting the
identification of vulnerabilities in building emergencies (Leite, Fernanda:
Akinci, Burcu, 2012).
Dynamic information about the building, such as sensor measurements and
control signals from the building systems, can also be incorporated within BIM
to support analysis of building operation and maintenance (Liu, Xuesong;
Akinci, Burcu, 2009).
2.3 Disadvantages of BIM
Parametric modeling as the design and construction database is a difficult one
to examine from practice and insurance-coverage perspectives. Firms will
have increasing challenges as they realize that they are moving from a
physical model and hard-copy plans and specifications to the primary
information generators for a digital database (Guidelines for Improving
Practice 2007). Some problems with BIM will be related to liability. With the
open access to the model from all aspects, (anyone involved in the
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construction project) how can engineers or architects be expected to sign a set
of drawings, placing their liability on the line? This major issue could have
potentially huge detrimental effects on productivity.
As A/E firms move from an analog system, where original construction
documents are easy to identify and monitor, through our present semi-
integrated system, to what could be called a super-integrated future, those
firms will have to deal with new business rules and possibly unknown liability
exposures. This happens because owners, CM, sub-contractors, and suppliers
are supplying information to the BIM; and has all been done in a collaborative
effort to streamline the design and construction process. Desired results are
focused on a project that takes less time, is more economical, and less costly.
The driving theory behind BIM is the elimination of change orders and RFIs
that occur because of missing information in the construction documents since
all the parties involved in creating the completed BIM will check for all possible
conflicts and problems. Problems exist, not in the coordination of the BIM, but
in the coordination of all parties involved with access to the BIM. Typically,
design elements consist of (but are not limited to): surveying, architecture, civil
engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, structural
engineering, landscape architecture, fire/alarm engineering, communications,
interior designs, owners, tenants, construction managers, commissioning, etc.
These professionals will have input to the BIM before, up until, and after,
construction begins. Once construction begins a secondary group of people
are necessary, these are (but are not limited to): general trades,
site/excavation, steel construction, mechanical construction, electrical
construction, fire sprinkler construction, concrete construction, roofing,
masonry, glazing, elevator controls, finishes, technology, and landscaping.
This is a large group of people to get together and coordinate to use a BIM
model for all construction information. Combine that with the fact that, the
relationships between the involved parties are all connected to the model and
they are also connected to each other. With such a complicated relationship,
the biggest problem will be how to control who puts what into the system, and
what kind of problems will that generate (Seaman 2006).
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3.0 Discussion
3.1 The Barriers in Implementing BIM
These variables are compiled under the four heading of barriers in BIM
implementation. These are cost, system requirements, lack of knowledge
and readiness to change.
i. Cost
The cost is main barriers for construction industries to adopt in BIM . To
realise the BIM application, there are required to invest in the following:
Providing hardware and software for BIM
Enrolled staff for training
Employ BIM capable personnel
Obtain certifications and licences
Additional overhead costs
Having invested for BIM application there is still no assurance that
the could secure for a job. The possibility of recovering ROI is uncertain
since the initial capital outlay to implement BIM is high and could affect the
project cash flows.
ii. System Requirements (IT)
The technology (hardware and software) and capability to implement
BIM in construction is a another barrier has been identified . Being a
small business and have limited resources to invest in high IT
equipments, the notion of adopting BIM in construction projects is
sceptical. The issues of compatibility of the equipment and software
has been raised that enable communication and data inter-operability
between contractors, sub-contractors and other parties. Further to that
they appealed of not having expertise to implement BIM. They
emphasised that initiatives and supports from the government are crucial.
The government of Malaysia need to be ready in terms of
infrastructure, data, guidelines and procedures prior enforcing the to
implementing BIM for government projects.
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iii. Lack of Knowledge in BIM
BIM is a new tool that many have little or no knowledge about it. They was
claimed that they have no basic knowledge on BIM. They have
experienced manager on work process and information required but lack
of IT skill particularly BIM.
There are two options of implementing BIM in their organisations. The
first option is to train the existing staff, while the second is to employ
external expertise. The earlier may require some times for the related
staff to undergo training and obtain certifications and licences.
Furthermore, the learning curve and time taken of the staff to
understand, apprehend and hands-on of BIM is of the companys
concerned. In addition, the staff behaviour of resists changing from
normal working procedure to BIM technology could be another possible
obstacle. On the other hand, by employing the external expertise could
expedite the implementation of BIM. Nevertheless, this option will incur
addition overhead to SMEs, for the fact that the scarcity of BIM expertise is
currently expensive in the market.
iv. Readiness to Change
Readiness to change from traditional to BIM requires high cost of
investment, clear consensus as how to implement and use BIM. The
resistance to change both at the managerial and operational levels
are slow. These could be due to the lack of standardise BIM
process and the absent of guidelines for its implementation.
On the other hand, the usability and complexity of the software also
contribute to the acceptance of BIM among the contractors. Another
contentious issue among the industry stakeholders, is who should
develop and operate the BIM and how should the developmental and
operational costs be distributed. Despite the productivity and economic
benefits of BIM to the industries, the in-house technical staff are not
ready to be trained, not IT savvy and SMEs organisations are facing
shortage of reliable work forces. To a certain extent, there is a
shortage of competent building information modellers in the
construction industry. The role of CIDB and other related Government
bodies such as Public Work Department (JKR) to provide valuable
support in the form of seminars, workshop and hands-on training
frequently until the industry is conversant with BIM.
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3.2 Potential solution
The potential solutions can be categories into two: the initiatives and
incentives. The majority of the respondents perceived that government
and its agencies need to play the biggest roles as the driving force in
ensuring BIM technology will be successfully implemented in industry.
i. The Initiatives
Awareness and motivation programme
Provide Training Programmes
Preparing for a BIM Standard / Guideline
Certification and Accreditation/ Licences
Setting out a BIM Technology Centre
CIDB Portal
ii. The Incentives
It is undeniable that majority of SMEs companies have limited
resources and thus, they anticipate few incentives could be given
to them by the Government to release them from financial
burden. The participants suggested that financial aids such as
tax reduction and reduce/ or exempted from CIDB levy for BIM
implementers are sought.
Other forms of incentives (i.e., recognition to companys
implemented BIM; yearly rewards; and special awards) could
motivate SMEs to be committed in adopting BIM for their projects. All
of these rewards, awards, and certifications would give merit to
SMEs contractors and will be further recognized by Government
and other professional bodies. These recognitions could help them
to secure for future projects following what has been implemented for
IBS score or GBI index.
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4.0 Conclusion
BIM adoption and implementation within a remote construction project context has
been presented and discussed. In doing so, it helped to raise an awareness of
the remote construction projects and related key challenges faced by
stakeholders situated in different locations. The study reported in the paper
adopted an action research approach for the BIM adoption process. From ours
discussion, the paper provided some evidence of how BIM can help to
mitigate some of the key challenges of remote construction projects such
as effective communication, procurement management, accurate building
scheduling and quantity take-off, and establishing shared understanding between
the stakeholders located at discrete locations but involved in the same remote
construction project.
In addition, as a result of improved understanding and learning in the
action research process of BIM implementation, knowledge management was
also considered as a complementary initiative to BIM in order to help with
streamlining the processes not only at the project level but also at the
organisational level with regards to information management in the conduct of
those five themes of architectural practice.
The BIM implementation serves as a useful alternative to addressing key
construction sector issues, and offer solutions to these in order to increase
productivity, efficiency, quality;
The government initiatives to introduce the BIM to AEC industry with
several additional programmes will accelerate the transformation and learning
curve of BIM. Encouraging construction industry towards BIM implementation is
crucial as this sector can lead the way in this transformation process. Based from
the incentive and initiatives provided by government, the contractors should take
the opportunities and accelerate their learning curves in BIM technologies as most
of the supply chain is poised of industry.
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Group Name:
Azmi Bin Che Leh (2013295536)
Mohd Firdaus Bin Paiman (2013859296)
Kamarul Effendi Kasim (2013815532)