Exploring BIM data throughout the Building Life Cycle

The Knowledge Exchange Associate’s role was investigating transition of BIM data between phases of the building life cycle.  It looked at specific data mapping and the basic FM areas of work. The project aimed to create a notional persistent flow of data that links and would be generated and used by different disciplines such as designers, architects, construction and project managers and facility managers.

BIM data that is created and maintained at various stages of a building life cycle can be leveraged in spatial analysis and related to the occupants’ flow of movement, building components, time and cost data.  The work had four streams:

1.  BIM and FM; Looked into minimum FM data requirements in BIM platform and scoping /prioritizing

FM related COBie drops. The objective was to enabling the functionality in Autodesk related software to use BIM in FM on daily basis.

2. Supporting COBie Data Drops in Navisworks/Glue and BIM 360 Field: User Requirements

3. BIM and GIS/Spatial Analysis; Looked into the possibility of users volume, flow and spatial accessibility be a data attribute in BIM and how?

4. Smarter Buildings; Looked into BIM data connecting to real-time data. Space Syntax could be used to determine where to put the sensors in order to achieve real-time tracking using mobile technology and devices.

People

PI: Ljiljana Marjanovic-Halburd

PI: Simon Bee 

R:  Homeira Shayesteh 

Output

In general the work achieved its objectives in the area of building performance management by researching how to:

• Improve on Real-time floorplan dashboards.
• Extend R&D effort from corporate research team.
• Leverage BIM data
• Tie into building sensors
• Visualise building performance throughout building lifecycle.

The project was beneficial for Autodesk as it analysed BIM data usability in various stages of building cycle and also the feasibility of adding another layer of information about occupants and creating a possible interface for it.  The proposal formed a specification and prioritisation for upcoming Navisworks/Glue functionality. It looked into FM areas of work and user requirements in relation to technology. The outcomes from the project not only informed Autodesk but also served as a pilot project for a wider research project within UK architectural practices regarding their BIM preparedness and occupants’ movement.  Publications:

Shayesteh H, Marjanovic-Halburd L, Marmot A (2014) BIM Road map, where are the potholes?  (under review for IFM 2014, Austria). 

Impact

The impact of this work can be summarised below:

• The outcomes of this project has informed other research activities across Bartlett.
• The KEA presented Space Syntax and Spatial Analysis to the Autodesk senior leadership in the US and UK to exchange the knowledge and developments in the area of occupants flow beyond UCL.
• The Autodesk advisor gave a lecture about BIM at the Bartlett which covered this project and Autodesk’s wider activities. 

Links

For further information please contact: Ljiljana Marjanovic-Halburd and Homeira Shayesteh