Single Shared Model Approach for Building Information Modelling

Abstract

The current practice for information sharing with building information modelling (BIM) is distributed data sharing based on conversions. Conversions are problematic due to data loss, redundancy, and conflicting information. The hypotheses of this research were that i) a conversion-free data exchange is a feasible approach for BIM, ii) benefits can be achieved with a conversion-free information sharing, and iii) no impediment in principle exists for wider industrial use. The use of a single data schema by all applications is a requisite for a conversion-free data collaboration. For enabling the free evolution of the data content, a version free data schema is necessary. A model arrangement implementing partial models is needed for the growing size of models. A single shared model approach eliminates data conflicts and duplicates. For the best availability, the location for the shared model should be on a cloud service. Accessing the cloud model only through a web service, which encapsulates all model handling functionality, will ensure data integration and validity. The validity of IT solutions can only be confirmed with real software. For testing the conversion-free BIM method, a software development kit (SDK) with required functionality was programmed. Three applications and a cloud service for handling the shared model were developed with the help of SDK. In the experiments, Leonardo application was used for modelling walls, 3DTrussme for trusses, and Viewer for viewing the model. All applications were using the same shared model on the cloud. In the experimental test, the information exchange occurred without conversions, and all the data were saved only once on the cloud database. Without conversions, less conflicts and redundancies occurred, which lead to better data integrity and integration. Using SDK, there was no technical barrier for applications to join the single shared model ecosystem, but a drawback was that existing BIM programs are not compatible without remarkable changes. The performance was acceptable in the test run, but in real use, the size of the model and the number of applications and users will be much larger. However, a conversion-free single shared model approach can be a possible trend to the next generation BIM as well as a potential alternative for current data sharing methods using distributed files, conversions, and linked data.

A cloud-based collaborative ecosystem for the automation of BIM execution plan (BEP)

“…The importance of standardized naming convention for objects of the building information modelling (BIM) was realized very early by researchers and practitioners (Barbosa et al, 2016;Ruokamo and Heikkilä, 2020). As BIM objects are at the core of the whole process (from design to delivery) which represents the physical and functional characteristics of a building, the building blocks of the BIM are these objects.…”