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Section A: A brief introduction to BIM technology and the extent of which BIM has been implemented in the construction industry locally and globally.

1.0 Introduction to Building Information Modelling (BIM) Technology.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the recently emerging technologies. BIM

applies in the design, construction and facility management in which a digital

representation of the building is being made to facilitate the exchange and

interoperability of information in digital format. It is a modelling technology and

associated set of process to produce, communicate and analyse digital information

model for construction life cycle. The principal communicating implements in the

construction process such as structured approaches have been utilized in most

advanced countries to ascertain that their industry players systematically adopt the

utilization of BIM. In terms of cost, quality and performance (time) the projects that are

planned, designed and constructed utilizing BIM have proven to fully the client’s

requirement.

Figure 1.1: The connections of BIM

BIM concept has been introduced since 1970 by Professor Charles M. Eastman. In

mid-year of 2000, Architecture, Engineering and Construction industries have

commenced to execute BIM in construction projects. The United States of America

(USA) is the first country to implement BIM. Nowadays, BIM has been implemented

Building Services-Facility Management

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in many countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Hong Kong,

Denmark, Norway, Finland and Singapore. In Malaysia, the concept to execute BIM

was introduced by the Director of Public Works Department (PWD) in 2007. This step

was a result of the government’s awareness of the potential of BIM to reduce

construction cost and avoid design problems in planning phase. Moreover, BIM also

has been seen as a concerted action to ensure collaboration between construction

players such as architects, engineers, project managers and contractors.

PWD committee was established by the government on 27 August 2007 to choose

the right BIM platform. The purpose of establishing the committee was to identify

construction project processes that involved BIM implementation. Moreover, the

committee also prepared a BIM standard manual documentation for PWD as a

guideline for construction team reference. The committee also provides BIM training

and advisory assistance to project teams in using BIM tools. The first project in

Malaysia that involved the implementation of BIM is Multipurpose Hall of Universiti

Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) in the Southern region of Malaysia. Other BIM

projects in Malaysia are National Cancer Institute of Malaysia, which is expected to

be completed on 31 August 2013, Educity Sports Complex in Nusajaya, Johor and

Ancasa Hotel in Pekan, Pahang (Fathi, 2013)

Revit building design software is categorically built for BIM, empowering design and

construction professionals to bring conceptions from concept to construction with a

coordinated and consistent model-predicated approach. Revit is a single application

that includes features for architectural design, MEP and structural engineering, and

construction.

In Malaysia, BIM’s adoption is progressing well, driven primarily by the private

sectors that have already realised the significant benefits to be derived from

intelligent adoption of BIM although the country is still progression is at the Pre-BIM

stage. Pre-BIM is more focus at Stage 1 that is developing the competency of object

based modelling. At this stage, the operation is authoring 3D model, extracting and

setting up the template of the drawings and entering the data relevant to the building.

On its part, CIDB will complement the efforts of the private sector by sustaining

environments where BIM will survive and thrive. Several efforts have been taken by

CIDB including awareness programs, industry workshops and also creating some

regulations using BIM within the construction industry.


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According to research, 48% of organisations in the construction industry are now

seeing a requirement to deliver projects using Building Information Modelling (BIM).

BIM model with the Government Construction Strategy bringing BIM into even

sharper focus for contractors there is increasing recognition of the need to better

understand the benefits of BIM and how to efficiently take advantage of it in a wide

range of projects. Successful BIM delivery in construction sector is not about

software, it is about processes and understanding.

Figure 1.2: BIM tools software

Our latest BIM SmartMarket Report, "The Business Value of BIM for Construction in

Global Markets," focuses specifically on BIM usage by construction companies in nine

major global markets. Findings from the report, released last month, include the

following:

The percentage of their project work that involves BIM, both current and forecast

Return on investment (ROI) on their BIM program

Benefits they are receiving from BIM in three categories: internal, project and

process

Which investments they are planning to make to grow their BIM programs

What business processes and policies they are adopting to support BIM (Jones

2014)


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Although different organisations and projects will see different benefits from BIM, but the

different return on investment (37% reported over 25% ROI) is majority having a postive

feeback, particularly over time. However, the key benefits include:

Improved initial design data

Better communication/collaboration

Increased productivity

Reduced rework

Reduced cycle time in many workflows

Improved service to client

Reduced risk

More accurate and earlier cost certainty

Reduced waste

Improved design and construction sequence understanding

Other than that, not only in Malaysia implies Building Information Modelling (BIM) but

other countries as well. Other countries including Finland, Singapore, Denmark and

Norway have also adopted BIM (Wong et al, 2009).

In Australia, most of the universities are exposing to the education of BIM through the

syllabus in classes. It can provide the students with knowledges of Building

Information Modeling from the basic input and realizing the importance of this new

development in the construction industry. Three universities (University of South

Australia, University of Newcastle and University of Technology, Sydney) are

currently involved in a project supported by the Australian Government Office for

Learning and Teaching (OLT) called CodeBIM (Collaborative Building Design

Education using BIM) (Rooney 2014).

Moreover, in Canada they also practice the education system exactly like the

Australian while in construction industr, Canada has been using BIM software for

some time althoough the drafting is still in 2D CAD. The country also has the

production of its own graduates from the universities and colleges which can

operates BIM more proficient. The results of the 2013 BIM Survey show that 96% of

respondents were aware of BIM and 64% are currently using BIM (Rooney 2014).


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Section B: Benefits of BIM to Clients and Contractors

2.0 Benefits of BIM to Clients

As we all know Building Information Modelling (BIM) gives benefits to many parties

such as the contractors, architects, engineers, suppliers and also the clients. This is

because through BIM, it will ease the work of the engineers to explain to the clients

anything regarding to the building as it contains many information like the spaces and

geometry, costs, specifications, programming and other information types. By using

BIM, the clients could confirm the properties of structure that presence in that

particular building. Otherwise, if there are some changes to the structure of the

building, the engineers could change the structures at any time and other matters such

as the pricing cost, scheduling at that particular period and other relevant issue will

also be changed consequently with the presence of new information of collaborations

from the other parties in that construction project.

Other than that, BIM is also the alternative to avoid small complication matters happen

before the actual construction starts. This can be determined through the clash

detection software that present in BIM which can detect if there are any complications

to the constructions works. So, at the end, the project can be completed without

problems and can satisfy the clients’ wish to operate the building at the exact time

being promised to finish. Building Information Modelling also responsible provide the

estimated price for the whole project other than the cost of construction can be saved.

It should enable clients to be clearer on what will actually be built into their facility at

the earliest stage (Lorimer, n.d.)1. Moreover, clients do not have to worry about the

quality of the building. This is because the 3D building in BIM is already compile with

the durability level which after the engineers have entered the value of information

needed, the data will be interpreted and produce the result on level of its durability.

The BIM can trace the optimal performance and comfort of the building also by the 3D

drawings at any particular sections from the building. Thus, the use of BIM can avoid

the misunderstanding between the clients and other parties in the construction project.


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3.0 Benefits of BIM to Contractor

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is just not develops the technology itself but it is

transforms the process of design and build. BIM has long utilized by architects and

engineers to design buildings virtually. It is an incorporated process that consent

professionals in our industry to discover project’s key physical and functional features

digitally before it is built. Apart from being a powerful data application, BIM technology

has the possibility to empower fundamental changes in project delivery, encouraging

more incorporated and efficient process. As highly collaborative, data-rich background,

BIM has the integral ability to condense cost and promote efficiencies in the manners.

3.1 Time and Cost Consuming

By utilizing BIM can preserve the time consuming and cost of the design and

assist from earlier access of construction market and also assist eliminate

costly downtime and material reorganizes in the field. Approaches of BIM

helps contractors meet tight deadlines and avoid extension of time in the

construction process. General contractors are as well able to retrieve BIM

information quickly to determine issues that arise with other contractors at the

project site.

Figure 3.1: Allplan & iTWO Software


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3.2 Improve productivity and efficiency

As for contractor around the world, BIM avail them to amend work

productivity, quality, safety and efficiency. The technology is turning up in

construction site trailers where contractors has commenced utilizing it for

work schedule and material orders. General contractors and sub-consultants

use BIM to manage plumbing and mechanical of building that under

construction. There are many types of software contribute to BIM that

contractor can use.

Figure 3.2: Example of Bentley AECOsim Building Designer

3.3 Information sharing

General contractors can put their construction works into the model to visually

perceive a project's progress and make modifications, if needed. This

functionality helps the general contractor phase a project by defining more

accurately when to, for instance, open a section of a remodelled building or

close a corridor to allow work to proceed. And by having the virtual

presentation of a project in a device, the contractors can share the

information with clients and make necessary alterations on the spot.


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3.4 Ability to enhance collaboration

Contractors with well-established BIM are visually perceiving a positive return

on their investment in BIM from project benefits like reduced errors and

omissions, to process developments like the ability to boost collaboration, and

internal business benefits such as enhancing their company’s image.

(McGraw Hill Press, January 8, 2014).

3.5 Profit on BIM investment

Over few years, contractors expect the percentage of their work that connects

to BIM will increase. Given the fact that contractors which more engaged with

BIM accomplish more benefits and realize a stronger profit on their BIM

investments than those less engaged, these results position of BIM for great

development in all these markets in the next few years.

3.6 Avoidance of clash

Capability to view all of a building’s combined components assists eliminate

clashes, reduce amendment of orders and retain the project within the

assigned budget. Throughout the construction procedure, it is not unusual for

wall and ceiling contractors to be asked to eliminate or relocate partitions

because of client or architect started design changes or to accommodate

unexpected interruptions by other trades. Nevertheless, through the usage of

BIM and component-specific attachments, building professionals can virtually

detect clashes and design the required changes before the contractor sets

labor on the job.


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Section C: BIM in Building Services-Facility Management

4.0 BIM Relating Facility Management

Facility management in BIM includes building systems analysis which is measuring

how a building's actual performance compares to design model predictions. The

analysis usually focuses on mechanical systems and building energy use, but it can

also include, lighting analysis.

Tracking performance data from the building systems and comparing these values to

design model predictions enables facility managers to ensure that the building is

operating to specified design and sustainable standards. It also identifies the

opportunities to modify operations other than to improve system performance.

Building designers can also use this data to validate and refine their prediction

models and evaluate the impact of proposed materials and system changes to

improve performance.

87u76

Figure 4.1: Revit model of GSA space


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Figure 4.2: Autodesk FMDesktop reads DWF files published from the Revit application

4.1 Acceptance of BIM for Building Services - Facilities Management

With the increase of BIM for design, the owner/operator’s use of that building

information for facilities management is becoming more commonplace and

more anticipated. Consider these examples:

Government agencies such as the U.S. GSA now require the delivery of

spatial program information from building information models for major

projects that are receiving design funding in Fiscal Year 2007 and beyond

(http://www.gsa.gov/bim).

To facilitate life-cycle building process integration and sharing digital

datasets, the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) formed a

committee in early 2006 to create a National Building Information Model

Standard to provide a common model for describing facility information

(http://www.nibs.org/newsstory1.html#).

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is considering how to modify

their contract documents to codify the transfer of a building information

model (http://www.aia.org/nwsltr_tap.cfm?pagename=tap_a_documents);

putting in place an agreement structure whereby the building information

model and the intellectual property it represents can flow naturally from

the architect to the owner/operator, who can then get better data to


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manage a building from the most appropriate source of that data: the

architect who designed the building.

4.2 BIM Solutions to Building Services - Facilities Management

Further than being documentation and drawing tools, BIM offers a platform for

improved interdisciplinary collaboration the capability to manage conversion

and the capability to extend information support throughout the building life-

cycle. The utilization of BIM begins at the conceptual stage of a facility. It is

then used over all the phases of design and construction impeccably. It has

made the job of planned decision making much smoother and more

systematic, both at the conception and the execution phases. Furthermore,

BIM has the authentic potential to take it a step further, and play an important

role in the maintenance and keep of a facility over its entire life cycle, till its

final demolition. These developments involve significant implications for the

facilities management industry. Building projects regularly undertake various

changes during the construction stage as project teams respond to required

changes and unforeseen conditions.

Thus, BIM models must be up to dated continuously throughout the

construction stage to integrate and capture changes introduced through

RFI’s, as-built conditions, etc. Upon substantial completion, the design team

should integrate an as-built BIM for handoff to the facility owners and

operators as part of the commissioning process. The benefits of using BIM

during building design have been well-publicized and are fueling its adoption

rate among architects worldwide - transforming their drawing-based

processes to model-based processes. The benefits of using information from

a building model for facilities management are likewise compelling - fueling

the discussion surrounding building lifecycle management and nudging

facilities management towards model-based processes. Facility managers

using Autodesk FMDesktop can now take advantage of the reliable building

information being created by Revit Architecture - immediately realizing

several significant benefits. Using room data from the Revit design model

dramatically reduces costs associated with the manual creation of polylines.

DWF technology minimizes the frustration of cobbling together disparate

building data from multiple design sources. But most importantly, facility


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managers can rest easy - confident in their use of the coordinated, consistent,

reliable data being delivered from the building information model.

Building services are the operations of what the building facilitates to the

occupants that presence in the building. They include the heating and air

conditioning, escalators and lifts, ventilations and refrigeration, fire detection

and protection and others. All services provide one main objective that is to

provide the comfort such as the good lighting, comfortable space

temperature, humidity and air quality, sufficient power and others. But, when it

relates to the facility management in building services through Building

Information Modelling (BIM), it tells that the maintenance corresponding to the

operations of the building along the lifespan of the building. This is because

the facility management only happens when the project is completed. In BIM,

facility management software is programmed to document the modeling,

model maintenance and coordinate the model for the buildings’ maintenance

scheduling. One of the applications involving Building Information Modelling is

that it could inform and track the lifecycle of building structures. This

maintenance can be accomplished in the preventative maintenance

scheduling. Preventive maintenance scheduling enables facility managers to

organize the maintenance activities proactively and appropriately for the

suitable staff, as well as reducing maintenance problems and emergency

maintenance repairs (Autodesk BIM Curriculum 2013).

4.3 BIM in Building Services - Facility Management

Facility Managers(FM) will faced the challenge of improving and standardizing

the quality of the information they have at their proposal because Facility

Managers need to use many type of applications to fit the purpose. But, by

using an emerging technology, Building Information Modelling, it is just a

simple tasks to be done before obtaining an impressive outputs.Asset and

facilities management have primarily relied on data-centric applications for

their information support tasks. Graphic capabilities in CAFM and IWMS

applications for their information have primarily focued on space

management. Rework is often required to make CAD file delivered from

project contruction documents useful for facilities management. Not being

inherently graphic, FM application are often not seamless in managing

changes, requiring tedious synchronization when building configurations anf


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affiliated data attributes change.BIM provides digital repository of all building

component, and as a full 3D model, it is capable of displaying view with a

clarity that are typically eludes not schooled in intrepreting standard 2D

building drawings. The application’s capability to attach an infinite range of

data to components of the model, either within the application or in an

external database such Oracle, creates a potential data repository that is

useful beyong construction documentation. For example BIM space

components can be supplemented to track information such as room

numbers, area calculations, and occupant censuses.


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