IFC-Based 4D Construction Management Information Model of Prefabricated Buildings and Its Application in Graph Database

Abstract

Effective data interoperability and schedule analysis play a significant role in improving the management of prefabricated buildings. However, there is a lack of efficient strategies and comprehensive approaches for data interoperability and data-based automated schedule analysis. This paper intends to promote prefabricated buildings’ management by solving these two problems via developing an IFC-based framework consisting of three parts. Firstly, this framework proposed a mechanism to establish an IFC-based 4D construction management information model of prefabricated buildings. Furthermore, a non-relational database—graph database—is introduced to twin this model into a task-centered network to realize the interoperation of construction information among different participants. Finally, graph database-based strategies to update data, automatically analyze construction schedules and visualize the 4D construction management information model are described. The proposed framework is validated in a prefabricated engineering case. In this case, an IFC-based and graph database-based 4D construction management information model is established through IFC standard’s extension. The graph database-based analysis of the model automatically recognizes the engineering case’s critical path information, delay analysis information, and schedule network analysis information. It is illustrated that this framework can successfully establish a unified IFC-based information model of prefabricated buildings’ construction management to prompt effective data interoperability. In addition, the application of this IFC-based information model in graph database can automatically analyze the construction schedules to prevent possible delays in advance. In short, the significance of this paper is to innovatively propose an IFC-based and graph data-based information model to solve the difficulties of ineffective data interoperation and unautomated schedule analysis in prefabricated buildings’ construction management. This study can be the digital foundation of further IFC-based digital twin.

Digitaler Zwilling Baustelle – Baustellenüberwachung zur automatisierten Zeit‐ und Kostenkontrolle

“…Somit lassen sich stark verknüpfte Datensätze effizient abspeichern und abfragen. Darüber hinaus erlauben Graphdatenbanken die flexible Anpassung des zugrunde liegenden Schemas [12]. Zwar können Graphdatenbanken auch ohne Schema verwendet werden, jedoch sehen die Autoren große Vorteile in der zielgerichteten Abfrage von klar strukturierten Graphen [13, 14].…”

Big Data in Construction: Current Applications and Future Opportunities

“…This model works well for property-graph-based huge datasets in relationship traversal. It has been used for the 4D construction management information model of prefabricated buildings [81] and the development of a BIM-enabled software tool for facility management [82].…”

Semantic IFC Data Model for Automatic Safety Risk Identification in Deep Excavation Projects

“…Thus, the IFC standard should be extended to meet specific project targets to ensure that the required engineering information is captured adequately and completely from certain system applications [16,17]. Based on the engineering characteristics of certain projects, efforts of IFC extension have been implemented in various fields (e.g., bridge [13,18], tunnel [19,20]), mainly focusing on construction management [21,22], cost estimation [23,24], seismic components [25], and design change management [26].…”