a study on application of BIM to pre-design in construction project

A Study on Application of BIM(Building Information Modeling)

to Pre-design in Construction Project

Nam-Hyuk Ham1,a, Kyung-Min Min2,b, Ju-Hyung Kim3,c, Yoon-Sun Lee4,d , Jae-Jun Kim5,e 1,2 Master Course, Dept. of Sustainable Architectural Enginr., Hanyang Univ., Seoul, Korea

3 Professor, College of Architecture, Tongmyong Univ., Busan, Korea

4 Research Prof., Dept. of Sustainable Architectural Enginr., Hanyang Univ., Seoul,

5 Professor, Dept. of Sustainable Architectural Enginr., Hanyang Univ., Seoul, Korea

a sunkist7@https://www.wendangku.net/doc/dc18714015.html,,

b wheninneedmin@https://www.wendangku.net/doc/dc18714015.html,,

c jkim@tu.ac.kr,

d yoonnsunlee@https://www.wendangku.net/doc/dc18714015.html,,

e jjkim0205@https://www.wendangku.net/doc/dc18714015.html,

Abstract

Construction project pre-design phase is highly influential in setting the directions for the whole business and project to proceed. Thus, it is essential to collect and analyze enormous amount of data related to construction project. So far, the pre-design phase in a project was depending on experts’ experience and intuition. However, as construction projects become larger and more complex, the amount of related information and analyzed data increases. Therefore, the necessity arises for a plan that could directly support the pre-design phase. In this paper, BIM was suggested as a tool that will support the pre-design phase, and so the concept and role of pre-design BIM is defined. The framework of pre-design BIM simulation is composed using the international standard model IFC and how the pre-design BIM simulation system can support the process is illustrated.

1. Introduction

1.1. Background and Aim of the Study

Each phase of jobs directly affect the life-cycle of construction project, that is planning, design, construction, maintenance and the quantity of information generated from this is huge. As the construction projects at present day is getting bigger, complex thus the quantity of information increases exponentially and efficient management and use of this information is required. Currently, there are many studies to increase the efficiency of projects by managing this information and reusing useful information in construction project design and construction fields. However, studies on these project information is insufficient in planning and maintenance fields and planning phase is especially where major decisions on the project in general are made but making new decisions by related participants are insufficient by reusing and referring to information gathered, processed, saved on the project. This is because major planning relied on experiences and intuitions of few experts despite of many participants in planning phase with broad job scope and unclear. Therefore, there requires study on ways to support making major decisions by the participants, contractor and constructor, in planning phase.

The concept of BIM (Building Information Modeling) is becoming important from the point of integrated management on information generated during the lifecycle of the building in advanced AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) industries in the US, Finland.

Therefore, this study aims to expand the concept of BIM as a tool supporting information to support planning and maintenance phase by expanding studies on BIM limited only in AEC and to present application plans.

1.2. Methods and Procedures of Study

The study was conducted in the following ways to present plans for supporting architectural planning using BIM.

First, the study presented the changes in construction environments and the necessity of BIM application in architectural planning phase and methods of study.

Second, the concept of BIM was defined presented as a tool to define architectural planning and analyze the trends of related studies and to support architectural planning from theoretical examination.

Third, obtained the concept and roles of planning BIM by analyzing the concept of planning process and lifecycle BIM.

Fourth, defined 3D unit space model based on the international standard IFC space model to support architectural planning using BIM and constructed

Third 2008 International Conference on Convergence and Hybrid Information Technology

simulation system that implements the roles of planning BIM based on the model. Finally, conclusion presented summaries on this study and future directions.

2. Theoretical Examination

2.1. Definition of Architectural Planning

Architectural Planning is planned frequently in each project but it’s not systematized due to lack of interests on planning duties. As the construction projects are getting bigger and complex the importance of architectural planning is in increase recently. The definition on architectural planning varies according to the aim of the studies and it is shown on Table 1.

Dong Jae Wook and 2 others (2006) divided the planning phase of construction project into solving problems and information flow system, many decisions are made and explained by external environments in the planning phase as a problem solving and it is included as definite action expressed by knowledge system or methodology. Also, the planning phase as information flow has the information structure to convert information required by participants on many problems on the projects and information related with projects into new building information.

Park Il Woo and 1 other (2001) said that the concept of domestic architectural planning matches with the concept of architectural planning in Japan that emphasize feasibility study and project operation plan and analyzed that “Architectural Programming” concept, “Pre-design” concept regarding planning as planning at pre-design phase in lifecycle that are being used in the US as rational and systematic design methodology.

The definition on planning by Cherry (1999), the concept of construction framing is strong, defined problems that can be solved with design as studying and decision making procedures to prepare rational standard for selecting the most appropriate types of buildings by architects in pre-design phase and to obtain solutions on the range of projects and design standards through programming procedures.

Park Han Gyu (1998) advised to prepare all information and data required for constructor to start designing through his study to apply practically architecture methodology.

As the following table shows, the definitions on architectural planning are diverse and architectural planning can be summarized as a role of gathering necessary information in advance to perform construction projects and setting up the direction of project and as a pre-design phase for reflecting related information from contractor through collection and analyzing information into design from the viewpoint of project lifecycle.

Table 1. Definition of Architectural Planning Researcher Contents

Dong Jae

Wook

and 2 others

(2006)

Aim

Study to use as a tool assisting knowledge model

to solve problems in architectural planning using

GIS

Def

Defined as a function presenting direction and

guide of design through collection and analysis

of information required in design as well as

feasibility and economy of the project

Jang Sung

Jun

(2002)

Aim

Study to systemize by clearly dividing duties of

each phase of building lifecycle

Def

Defined planning phase ranges from the

beginning of project to preparing guide for

design phase from the viewpoint of project

lifecycle and prepared job results through the

participation of experts in various fields related

with planning

Park Il Woo

and 1 other

(2001)

Aim

Study to clarify the concept of architectural

planning

Def

Defined the concept of feasibility study and

economic feasibility focusing on project

operation plans and a phase presenting the

direction of design and setting up design

conditions focusing on the concept of improving

physical ability of buildings

Robert. G.

Hershberger

(1999)

Aim

Presented the concept of planning as a

methodological approach of architecture

Def

Regarded planning as the first stage of

architecture and defined phases of setting goals

of project, collecting information, extracting

building requirements by reflecting the values of

contractor, user and social value

Edith Cherry

(1999)

Aim

Presented the concept of planning as

methodological approach of architecture

Def

Defined problems that can be solved with design

as research and decision making phase and it is

defined as extracting solutions on design

standard and clarifying the scope of project by

constructor

Park Han

Gyu

(1998)

Aim

Basic study for matching architecture

methodology with actual jobs

Def

Defined as preparing information and data

needed for starting designing and completing it

by constructor

A Architectural planning, from project life cycle viewpoint, is finding out the needs of construction participants related with project and finding out information on pre-design phase and it should be converted into useful information at design phase and provide tools for making decisions for contractor and architects. There needs to know about the scope and duties of planning to support making decisions as architectural planning phase, and supplementary means to control those information should be studied for using information at each phase of project well in lifecycle.

Table 2 shows advanced studies on architectural planning and broadly divided into study to present architectural planning for clarifying the processes of planning phase and study on construction of knowledge structure on architectural planning and decision making system assisting planning.

As shown previously, architectural planning can be defined diversely and the scope and contents of duties are diverse as well. There arises duplication of duties due to unclear planning duties and lacks cooperation between experts. A study by S Architecture Office on planning process for systematizing architectural planning stated that feasibility study is conducted before signing contract with the contractor and performed architectural planning after signing the contract but in reality, it was not able to present comprehensive planning model because feasibility study and construction is progressing at the same time thus it was difficult to apply in various situations. Gang Mi Sun (1997) considered the economical and social gains on contractor and architectural planning aspects in feasibility study with comprehensive viewpoints. However, it is limited by limiting planning in feasibility study side only. According to Architectural Planning Theory by Japanese Architect Academy (1992), planning process is composed of project proposal, planning condition analysis, planning from organization/administration/spatial/technology aspect, evaluation of plans and preparation but the procedures of planning duties on each phase are unclear and has difficult in controlling architectural planning in terms of construction project lifecycle.

Kim Jin Woo (1996( and H Kim (2007) constructed knowledge structure of architectural planning for studies on construction of knowledge structure of architectural planning. Kim Jin Wook studies ways to extract essential knowledge in developing knowledge base meeting the characteristics of construction fields as a base step to develop knowledge base system in construction design field, H. Kim defined the relationship between object and object of buildings to support initial design phase, and constructed those concepts with ontology and presented knowledge based methodology. Many cases for supporting decision making by participants by using those technologies and drawing control and site control are being discovered in the fields of architect and construction due to development of information technology but there are not many studies applying those information technologies at planning phase yet. Kim Chang Guk (1991) researched progresses of finding out problems arising at the beginning of design process and conceptualizing and presented basic methodology on modeling to execute those processes with computer, You Sang Wook and 1 other (1994) studies concepts on architectural processes to develop object oriented construction programming professional system and selected construction programming model and established theoretical conceptual model to construction system based on object oriented development methods. Dong Jae Wook and 2 others (2006) along with recent NGIS Project performed studies by dividing into information analysis phase through analysis on societies and natural environments and GIS analysis and feasibility analysis phase such as facility programming, feasibility study and business forecasting, and decision making phase based on comprehensive business plan and planned design.

As seen so far, the duties of planning phase is unclear compared to design and construction fields and broad and there are many participants since it is the beginning phase of project lifecycle thus it is difficult to establish process and prepare plans for supporting planning duties. This study intends to use BIM (Building Information Modeling) concept which is becoming popular in AEC(Architecture, Engineering, Construction) industry as a supporting tool for comprehensively managing information generated during the lifecycle of buildings and for duties before designing phase.

Table 2. Advance study on architectural planning Class Researcher Contents

Presenting

Architectural

Planning

Process

Gibsond and

3 others

(2006)

Learn lessons through project analysis

related with initial planning processes

and proved positive relationship

between initial planning and

improvements in project results

S Architect

Office

(1998)

Performed feasibility study before

signing contract with contractor and

performed planning design in

architectural aspects after signing the

contract

Gang Mi

Sun

(1997)

Presented feasibility study models in

economic, social, architectural aspects

Gibson and 2 others (1997)Discussed about concepts and definitions at initial planning phase and presented process model analyzing functions of planning phase

Japanese Architect Academy (1992)Composed of project proposal, planning condition analysis, planning in aspects of

organization/administration/spatial/ technology, evaluation and preparation of plans

Construction

of Architectural planning Knowledge Structure H.Kim and 1

other

(2007)

Construct space with building ontology

for supporting initial design

Kim Jin

Wook

(1996)

Construct knowledge base

development phase for developing

knowledge base system in construction

field and examined ways to extract

knowledge essential in developing

knowledge base

Decision Making System supporting Planning

Dong Jae

Wook and 2

others

(2006)

Performed studies by dividing into

information analysis phase through

analysis on societies and natural

environments and GIS analysis and

feasibility analysis phase such as

facility programming, feasibility study

and business forecasting, and decision

making phase based on comprehensive

business plan and planned design

You Sang

Wook and 1

other

(1994)

Defined the concepts on design

processes for developing object

oriented APES (Architectural

Programming Expert System), selected

construction programming model and

set theoretical conceptual model to

construct APES by integrating

structure expert system based on

object-oriented development methods

Kim Chang

Guk

(1991)

Presented basic methods in modeling

from problems arising in the beginning

to conceptual modeling and till

execution in computer based on themes

on design problems, design models,

problem search and problem solving

2.3. BIM(Building Information Modeling)

A According to (2006), there were many discussions on BIM at a conference held in 2005 and Eastman & Laiserin argued that BIM should be regarded as the entire process exchanging, reusing and controlling project information being generated during the lifecycle of buildings and not just simple Information model. The BIM concept defined from the aspect of integrated control of information generated during the lifecycle of building has stronger meaning as integrated control of processes through parametric modeling advancing from the concepts of existing 2D CAD, Object CAD model and the definitions of BIM are shown on Table 3.

Table 3. Definition of BIM Organization,

Scholar

Definition

NIBS

(2007)

Provide parametric based model to reflect

insertion, extraction, updating or altering physical,

functional characteristics of building at each steps

as needed throughout the processes to support

cooperation among related parties

Gang Hyun

Cheol and 1

other

(2007)

Comprehensively manage and use information on

all steps from planning to expiry through

exchanging and sharing information according to

projects, processes focusing on interoperation of

information through the entire lifecycle of

construction

GSA

(2006)

Refers to the entire processes of exchanging,

reusing, controlling information generated during

the lifecycle of building through object oriented

artificial intelligent information model

Lee Gang

(2006)

Comprehensively control all information and

organization, duties and processes needed from the

stage of planning for construction to its cycle of

design, construction, maintenance and demolition

As seen from the above, the concept of BIM has developed from the points of integrated management of information thought the lifecycle of a building and its concept is being firmly established with the development of CAD. Picture 2 compares efforts and effects required to form BIM based on existing CAD system, object-oriented CAD system, parametric based CAD system. As shown in the picture, parametric based CAD system is most effective in forming BIM.

Figure 1. BIM composition and CAD technology

One building model is used through each participant and program per field to manage project information on the lifecycle of building and STEP, IFC, XML are being developed to interoperability of data in ISO(International Organization for Standardization) and IAI(International Alliance for Interoperability) to solve the problem of data compatibility. Especially, IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) of IAI integrates all objects of industry throughout the lifecycle of

AEC/FM project thus compatibility between BIM exclusive program can be solved.

3. Concept and Role of Plan BIM

3.1. Concept of Plan BIM

‘Tasks and Outlooks on constructing Korean BIM’ forecasted that interoperability and the importance of information exchanges between firms will increase as the steps of development increase as BIM development steps of BIM based on the results of researching European BIM market evolve into unit function BIM, job unit BIM, A/E step BIM, A/E/C step BIM, lifecycle BIM and presented that it should become lifecycle BIM integrating planning, designing, constructing, maintaining building. BIM refers to process comprehensively managing information being generated throughout the processes and not just simple information model. For planning phase, it is a phase where the first information is generated for integrated management along with the start of the project and generates basic information on design phase.

Figure 2. Concept of lifecycle BIM Trelligence Affinity, US firm developing a system supporting initial design phase, called the tools containing those information as Program Model and these model include data at initial phase, requirements related with project (land, contractor), initial space plan which is the basic information at design phase and stated that this model evolves into Building Model gradually by going through conceptual design and execution design, construction and maintenance phases.

As shown from the above, BIM supporting planning use Program Model containing information on general project and create initial BIM to manage project through acquiring, generating, reusing information throughout the lifecycle. The concept of Plan BIM is as follows.

Figure 3. Planning Supporting BIM

3.2 Roles of Plan BIM

Job processes at planning phase can be defined according to the characteristic of projects. Planning duty is a process of extracting optimum Plan by comprehensively finding out information related with project and the role of Plan BIM should be defined on this line of thoughts.

As defined previously, Plan Supporting BIM should be reflected initial data related with plans and requirements related with projects at initial space and Plan BIM with strong characteristics of initial project program as shown is developed into Building Model by going through design, construction, maintenance. Major roles and detailed duties of Plan BIM are shown on Table 4. Major roles of Plan BIM is supporting processes of collecting and analyzing data, process extracting optimum space plans reflected with requirements from contractor and project.

Table 4. Role of Planning BIM Characteristics Roles Detailed Duties

Program

Model

Data

collection/

Analysis

-Feasibility Study

-Research and Analysis on surround

environments (social/nature)

-Land analysis

-Review legal validity

(purpose, floor space, building space,

height control)

-Project costs analysis

-Research/compare similar buildings

Managing

Requirements

-Maximum costs for contractor

-Due Date management

-Requirements on the size of space

-Space composition on building,

purpose

-Selection of finishing materials

Space Plan

-Examine feature of building unit

space

-Set physical size of building

-Extend/reduce building (complex)

-Layout of building

-Review costs on space plan

-Review regulations on space plan

-Review space on contractor

requirements

architectural plan using BIM

4.1. Define unit building space model for supporting planning

There requires a tool to contain architectural planning information to use on construction lifecycle usefully by collecting/analyzing information at planning phase, BIM required for supporting planning at initial project phase is space model containing initial data on project and contractor requirements thus it should contain attributes on definitions and usage, costs on unit space to be developed into Design BIM Model. This study constructed 3D Unit Space Model based on space model of IFC, international standard model.

IFC Model being developed as standard BIM model in construction industries has broad range of expressing information and open-structure in expressing information thus has excellent advantage in expansion and application of BIM model. Unit space model for supporting architectural planning support is as follows.

Figure 4. 3D Unit Space Model

4.1.1. Unit Space

Unit space, conceptual object, is defined as attribute contained commonly by all space objects.

Table 5. VC_UnitSpace Object Definition

Attribute description

VC

_UnitSpace

Global_ID Object identifier

Name Object name

Type Object type Placement Object location information Representation Object shape information

4.1.2. Site

Site inherits all attributes as Sub Object of unit space and has Address information as additional attribute.

Table 6. VC_Site Object Definition

attribute description

VC

_Site

Global_ID Object identifier

Name Object name

Type Object type

Placement Object location information

Representation Object shape information

Address Address information

4.1.3. Building

Building inherits all attributes as Sub object of unit space and has ground level and address information as additional attributes.

Table 7. VC_Building Object Definition

attribute description

VC

_Building

Global_ID Object identifier

Name Object name

Type Object type

Placement Object location information

Representation Object shape information

GL Building height information

Address Address information

4.1.4. Storey

Storey inherits all attributes as Sub Object of unit space and has elevation value as an additional attribute.

Table 8. VC_Storey Object Definition

attribute description

VC

_Storey

Global_ID Object identifier

Name Object name

Type Object type

Placement Object location information

Representation Object shape information

Elevation Elevation information

4.1.

5. Space

Space inherits all attributes as Sub Object of unit space and has interior/exterior identifier and elevation height as additional attributes.

Table 9. VC_Space Object Definition

Attribute description

VC _Space

Global_ID Object identifier

Name Object name

Type Object type

Placement Object location information Representation Object shape information

Interior_Exterior

Identifying internal and

external space Elevation_from

_floor

Height of space (based on

level)

4.2. Planning Simulation using BIM

This chapter presented prototype system showing how the system supports architect through planning simulation system platform through unit space created based on IFC.

4.2.1. Generation of Project

Figure 5. Generation of Project Picture 6 is the initial step of a project and this is where the types of project is decided and information related with projects such as location of land, contractor requirements is generated for the first time. When a location of land is decided than regulations on land will be automatically generated and user can define laws and regulations to consider and items related with regions, zones according to the characteristics of projects. For land, an attribute on address will be added on the previously constructed unit space model attributes.

4.2.2. Generation of Unit Space Model for planning space

Architect classifies spaces according to purposes through researching and comparing existing similar buildings and calculates appropriate size according to project desired by contractor.

Space for planning space plan inherits attributes of unit space and basically includes Global_ID an attribute to identify objects, Name an attribute displaying object name, Type displaying the types of object, Placement displaying location of object, Representation displaying the shape of object and additionally defines Interior_Exterior an attribute to identify additionally required interior and exterior and Elevation_from_floor displaying the height of elevation. Rough space planning can be planned through generated unit space.

Figure 6. Generation of Unit Space Model

for planning space

4.2.3. Reviewing Space Plan

Space tree will be generated on navigation on the screen according to the types of project through unit space model and architect can set up space plan through those unit spaces. At this time, basic mass is generated according to land and regulations for reviewing unit planning and basic mass is generated by inheriting attributes of land. Architect needs to check the size of space and the relationship between spaces through unit space and can adjust appropriate size according to space. Also, space planning outside of basic mass can be derived through moving and expansion/reduction, alteration of spaces.

Figure 7. Reviewing Space Plan

4.2.4. Cost Review

Planning phase requires economical review as well and space information for designing. Costs per each space can be calculated when unit space model and costs are linked. Also, it is possible to calculate costs per storey, purpose according to the classification of unit space and space plan can be adjusted based on the total costs presented by the contractor.

Figure 8. Cost Review

5. Conclusion

This study aimed to present the concept of Plan BIM and its applications to support decision makings by participants of planning phase.

It established the concept and role of Planning BIM efficiently supporting decision makings at planning phase through defining architectural planning and analyzing advanced studies, defining BIM, and studied the role of planning supporting BIM according to each situation by creating simulation screen to check how planning duties can be supported based on unit space model by establishing 3D unit space model based on space model based on IFC model by taking into account expendability and compatibility from the point of view from project lifecycle. Finally, there required studies to define the relationships between unit space models according to space formation and purposes, contractor requirements and it is believed that there needs studies on expansion of planning supporting BIM when we think that construction project planning will expand from building to complex, region, city units.

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