ITcon Vol. 16, pg. 445-466, http://www.itcon.org/2011/26

On the use of open bim and 4d visualisation in a predictive life cycle management system for construction works

published:February 2011
editor(s):Turk Z.
authors:Daniel Hallberg, Dr.Eng. KTH
Research School, Centre for Built Environment, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden
email: daniel.hallberg@hig.se

Väino Tarandi, Dr.Eng.
Eurostep AB, Stockholm, Sweden
email: vaino.tarandi@eurostep.com
summary:Construction works are in periodical need of performance upgrade such as maintenance, repair and rehabilitation (MR&R). Facility managers are responsible to fulfil this need during the whole life cycle of the construction works in a manner that maximises the economical profit, minimises the environmental impact and keeps the risk of failure at a low level. A prerequisite for efficient facility management (FM) is long-term planning of MR&R actions. This requires management of a large amount of information, a process that includes gathering, storing, processing and presentation of data. With the development of open Building Information Models (open BIM) and standardisation of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) new possibilities of efficient management of FM information have emerged. Due to its parametric and object-oriented approach, the open BIM-concept rationalises the information management and makes it more cost effective. This paper discusses how open BIM, with the aid of IFC, and Product Life Cycle Support (PLCS) may facilitate the implementation of a predictive Life cycle Management System (LMS) and by that improve the feasibility for adopting long-term and dynamic maintenance strategy in the FM process. A case study on the use of a commercial BIM-based design tool as information repository and media to present life cycle information within the context of the LMS concept on a hospital building is also presented. The case study shows that the build-up of the information becomes simpler, more clear and efficient compared to a traditional database solution, as it is done with parametric objects. However, the basic BIM can not serve for all LMS functions. There is still need for development of a BIM integrated LMS solution that may support prediction of life cycle performance and maintenance needs. Such a solution needs to be communicative to any open BIM software and thus has to be built upon open standards for exchange of building information, e.g. the IFC standard, and life cycle oriented standards like PLCS. Additional focus is put on 4D simulation and visualisation. Simulation and visualisation of long-term performance of buildings is of crucial importance when improving the feasibility for adopting a long-term and dynamic maintenance strategy in the FM process.
keywords:Building information model, Life cycle Management System, long-term performance, 4D visualisation
full text: (PDF file, 0.874 MB)
citation:Daniel Hallberg, Väino Tarandi (2011). On the use of open bim and 4d visualisation in a predictive life cycle management system for construction works, ITcon Vol. 16, pg. 445-466, https://www.itcon.org/2011/26