Bridging the life cycle: a case study on facility management infrastructures and uses of BIM

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to study conditions of BIM implementation in facility management specifically from the point of view of different groups of FM practitioners, and the facility management infrastructures already in use. Design/methodology/approach - A literature review is done of the gap between the uses BIM in design, and in facility management. The key professional groups of facility management in the Premises Centre of the City of Helsinki were interviewed on the information tools they use, and the needs and impediments of BIM implementation in the FM. Cultural historical activity theory is used as a theoretical framework. Findings - The literature discussing the BIM implementation tends to omit the analysis of the existing facility management information systems and software tools in use. The challenge in the BIM implementation is in which ways the relevant information included in BIM models could be integrated with these systems. No well---articulated problems or developmental contradictions came up that would demand the investment in the BIM implementation. Practical implications - The results call for experimenting with incremental implementation of BIM in different FM activities and in the FM information infrastructures in use. Originality/value - The paper studies empirically different facility management activities and information systems used by them. Such studies are needed for a realistic view of the potential integration of the BIM information to FM information systems.

Building information modeling for facilities management: A literature review and future research directions

“…BIM can enhance the efficacy of the work orders' execution process by providing comprehensive and accessible information [20,63]. Moreover, BIM can support other FM activities, such as market intelligence and satisfaction surveys [65], and in preparing the rental contracts [66]. Other benefits of BIM implementation in FM include: enabling efficient knowledge management throughout the facility life cycle [67], enhancing building performance and occupant value [62].…”

“…[61,70]. However, among the 25 reviewed articles under this category, some studies adopted the case study analysis approach [20,64]; [63]; [62,66,71] to investigate BIM implementation in FM in terms of BIM applications and challenges. The remaining articles adopted different approaches, including developing a conceptual framework, interviews and questionnaire surveys to investigate BIM adoption in FM.…”

Integration of facility management and building information modeling (BIM)

“…Lindkvist and Whyte (2013) interviewed 18 participants, including client representatives, delivery partners and FM professionals, to discuss challenges and opportunities of FM involvement during project handover. Miettinen et al (2018) conducted interviews of 11 FM practitioners with “a limited familiarity of BIM” to discuss key issues impeding the use of for FM. Mayo and Issa (2015) applied a four-round Delphi approach to identify important information needs (content of closeout information) and the frequency and format of FM data to be captured.…”

Social science and construction – an uneasy and underused relation

“…Practice theory is central in appreciating the informal part of routines, practices and everyday activities, for example, providing a grip on the difficult issues of knowledge (Nicolini et al 2003, Lave andWenger 1991). Activity theory gives means to studying open-ended developmental practices and contradictions while implementing and utilizing novel technologies, such as BIM or virtual reality (see Miettinen et al 2018). Discourse analysis can be used to reveal the inbuilt ideology of BIM, digitalization, control of big data and how it takes power in contemporary society (Gottlieb 2010, Laclau and Mouffe 1985, Foucault 1978, Schweber 2017).…”