Life-cycle Information Flow Management System

Transcription

1 Life-cycle Information Flow Management System 1 Qingpeng MAN, 2 Yaowu WANG, 3 Heng LI, 4 Yuan CHANG, 5 Skitmore MARTIN 1 School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology; Harbin, China; manqp@126.com 2 School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology; Harbin, China; ywwanghit@vip.163.com 3 Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Hong Kong 4 School of Building Construction, University of Florida; Florida, USA. 5 School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology Abstract The information flow involved in each phase of a construction project s life-cycle needs to be effectively managed. This study differentiates the delivery and inheritance of information in each phase, summarizes its attributes from the viewpoint of Building Life-Cycle Management (BLM) and examines the implications of BLM-based information management for construction projects. Given that construction projects are typically delivered in stages and have multiple participants, the client/owner perspective is used as the main focus for information flow management modeling. A BIM-based information flow management platform is developed and employed in the analysis of information flow management system requirements. The results demonstrate the approach s potential for cross-phase and multi-participant information integration for smoothly transferring and sharing information, and effectively solving the problems of information communication. 1. Introduction Keywords: BIM, construction project, life-cycle, information flow management Building industries world-wide are confronted with the problems of low efficiency and lack of control in reaching performance targets, massive waste and proliferation of disputes. The manufacturing industry, on the other hand, despite being of a similar scale, has a production efficiency that significantly exceeds the building industry. In terms of efficiency of invested capital, the value increment of the manufacturing industry in the USA, for example, is estimated to be 62% with a generated waste of 26%, while the equivalent for the building industry is 10% and 57% respectively [1]. To a large extent, this is caused by the different application of information technology in the two industries [2]. With the advance of the information age, the manufacturing industry, by immediately adopting the life cycle concept and applying information modeling technology [3], has shaped its traditional production procedures into one that is information-modeling-based. It also embraces precise control of the production process, reduction of unnecessary manual operations and significant enhancements in productivity. Absorbing the successful experience of the manufacturing industry, the building industry has recently begun to integrate life-cycle management [4] and information modeling into the construction process considered by many to be one of the most effective approaches for changing traditional construction processes and enhancing production efficiency. Construction project life-cycle information can be categorized as either working or as-built information. The former refers to the total product information requirements from design to operation phase, while the latter is concerned with the information needs of the construction process itself. The amount of information throughout the life-cycle of a construction project is also very large. For a single building, the amount of information or files can be at the 10 4 level [5] - a figure that can increase dramatically with changes in design or construction conditions. During the course of delivering projects, information is continuously created, exchanged, transferred and stored, flowing among each of the project-related participants. Information loss is inevitable in the transference process among the different participants involved in each phase of the project. Thus, a major issue is to effectively and fluently integrate information like design drawings, construction documents, operations files and records, etc. throughout the entire building life-span, maintain the completeness of the information and manage the its flow efficiently. International Journal of Digital Content Technology and its Applications(JDCTA) Volume7,Number8,April 2013 doi: /jdcta.vol7.issue

2 2. Settings and Methodology Much of the research on BIM has focused on the process of design, construction, operation and maintenance [6]. The success of a project relies heavily on the effectively identify, analyze, and disseminate information though the whole project life-cycle. There are distinct organization interface between the different processes and it blocks the information flow. BIM has the unparalleled technical advantages in information integration in the project life-cycle. How to break the organization barriers is one of the key issues in the information flow management [7][8]. NSPI-NL maintains that the integration of life-cycle data involves two major aspects: internal data readiness and external data readiness [9]. Most information management of construction projects is concerned with internal data readiness. Given that the organization interface and stage interface are sensitive to information flow interruptions, the basis and prerequisite for construction project information flow management is to guarantee the completeness and accuracy of cross-phase or cross-participant information transfer. In this sense, one leading participant or project information conductor, capable of coordinating information communication and sharing among different participants, must exist for the successful management of information flow. According to the research of CIFE [10], for each life phase of a construction project using Building Information Modeling (BIM), the client/owner benefits the most in aspects of building product, process, organizing and management. In addition, as the main investor in the project, the client/owner s management activities cross the project s complete life-span. Thus, it is feasible for the client/owner to provide the necessary function of project information conductor. Project management is a complex system engineering with numerous participates in a long period [11]. Different participates in the different phases has the different information demands. System analysis is suitable for such a complex information management situation. System analysis considers the problem to be solved as a system and makes a comprehensive analysis on the elements of this system, through this way the feasible way to solve the problem could be find. This study defines the project information flow management as complex system engineering, takes participates of the project, phases of the project life-cycle and objects of project management as the object of the research. The characteristics and requirements of information flow management are made a systematic analysis, the implications of project information flow management and implementation method of BIM technology in project information flow management are explored, the construction project information flow management model and project management and control system based on BIM are established. 3. Information flow management analysis for construction projects In the field of management science, information is defined as data that has been processed or waiting to be processed to a certain form, which is capable of promoting human understanding of objects and is therefore of value to information-receivers in supporting their future actions or decision-making. Construction project information flow concerns the information relevant to construction projects, so any research on information flow necessarily starts with an analysis of the relevant information involved Information features of the construction project life-cycle The construction project life-cycle comprises the phases from planning to demolition, including planning, design, construction and operation. From a construction project life-cycle perspective, the information requirements are different for each phase. In the planning phase, information is needed to define the project clearly and support control for the following phase. In the design phase, information such as accurate design drawings, material and equipment is provided for planning, construction and operation phases. In the construction phase, the information controls the project objectives, guiding the construction process and avoiding unnecessary waste due to wrong information. In the operation phase, the information guides maintenance and operation management. These are explained further below Planning phase Life-cycle Information Flow Management System The planning phase comprises the process of defining the project, with the aim of transferring the 858

3 client/owner s operational objectives into strategy objectives. This phase mainly assesses and evaluates the various plans for construction projects so as to optimize project costs and functions. Information at this stage is either qualitative or quantitative. Generally, non-geometric information is used to depict the project, by means of a main controlling index and a function description such as the project scale, function distribution, plot ratio, building area, etc.-generated for specific buildings. Information generated in the planning phase directly affects the design and the subsequent phases of the project in which the qualitative information becomes more detailed Design phase The purpose of the design phase is to interpret the project definition into detailed information. The main work of this phase is to develop a technical solution and embody the requirements of the project function with practically feasible plans for application in the construction phase. The core of the information in the design phase lies in the data concerning the building body and structure, which is expressed in both the traditional two-dimensions, and more visual-friendly three-dimensions. In addition, explaining and reporting non-graphical data completely and systematically is also important. Design phase information comprises the delivery and inheritance of information generated in the planning phase Construction phase The construction phase involves the process of converting project information into the actual building and fulfillment of its functions. Compared to the other life-cycle phases, the construction phase involves the most participants and requires the creation of the greatest amount of information. The main source of construction phase information is the design phase outcome. However, this is not the direct output of design information, but rather that of construction planning and control, including construction techniques and approaches. Implementation of construction planning and control involves carrying out the information generated in the design phase. Meanwhile, more detailed information is created (such as construction equipment and machinery, material procuring, resources distribution, etc.), which feedback to project design and give rise to design changes and consequent new information. After the completion of project construction, the specifications of the project s physical features and characters will be transferred to the next phase Operation phase Life-cycle Information Flow Management System After the completion of construction, the project enters into the operation phase to fulfill its utility and functions. Generally, a property management company is responsible for the building property and operation management. The level of property management determines the maintenance and enhancement of the building s value, which depends heavily on the information (such as building structure, specifications, and performance) inherited from the design and construction phase. For example, information concerning equipment operating parameters, piping layout and material properties is needed. New information - such as maintenance plans for equipment and materials, maintenance records, etc. - however, are generated in building maintenance. Similarly, the building property management creates new information relating to building space utilization and furniture, facility distribution, etc Formation and management of project information flows From Section 2.1, it can be seen that most of the information generated in the planning phase are parameters and attribute descriptions that significantly affect the project design. From an information management viewpoint, however, the planning and design phases can be grouped together into a construction project information entity. As a result, the life-cycle of a construction project can be divided into three phases - the initial phase, the construction phase and the operation phase. Also, large amounts of information are generated in the construction project s life phases of planning, design, construction and operation. [12], [13] and [14] have summarized the types involved. This can be categorized into two types: phase-based information and life-cycle-based information. 859

4 Phase-based information is functional only in a certain phase of the life-cycle, while life-cycle-based information is delivered across phases and can be specialized further by multiple working content. Due to its inheritance characteristics, information of this kind is typical of cross-phase flow. From a life-cycle perspective, the information generated in one phase can always be used and changed in the next phase. Therefore, the information flow for planning, execution and control throughout a project s entire life-span begins in the initial phase and continues through the construction and operation phases where information is generated, transferred, applied, stored and re-used. 4. Modeling construction project information flow management through Building Life-Cycle Management BIM, in conjunction with Building Life-Cycle Management (BLM), can be the carrier of construction project information and provide the platform on which project information flow management is conducted. A construction project information flow management model based on BIM is shown in Figure 1. Information Flow: Generated, transferred, applied and re-used Initial Phase Construction Phase Operation Phase Life Cycle of Construction Project Figure 1. Life-cycle information flow model for construction projects With this conception, the entire information flow management platform (a central database based on BIM through a unified data exchange standard) manages the information flow of each phase in the project life-cycle and provides the coordination of different phases and participants. With the aid of a unified data exchanging standard (e.g. IFC standard), collecting information from different project participants with various requirements and storing them in the BIM-based database presents and maps the complete information of the project and subsequent implementation of information flow management Information flow management of the initial phase In the initial phase, the construction project information comprises mainly planning information, cost information, implementing information, contract information, contractor information and resource information. Information sharing participants comprise the client/owner, governmental authority, consulting institute (planning and design) and financial institute, whose similar needs are based on management requirements or contractual relationships. The BIM-based central database covers information relating to design requirements, design specifications, contract documents, approval documents, design changes and confirmation, etc. For the information flow management platform, there are no temporal or spatial constraints on exchange and sharing. Each project participant conveniently retrieves and extracts the information needed. Also, information for the client/owner, designer and governmental authority is effectively collected, classified, organized, transferred, stored and indexed-digitalized by the unified data exchanging standard. This enables immediate adaption in project design and avoids unnecessary construction waste Information flow management of the initial phase 860

5 Construction, the life-cycle phase with the most intensive capital investment, embodies the project from planning to building. Its information management focuses on planning information, cost information, design information, implementing information, contract information, participant information (contractor, material supplier and equipment supplier), and resource information. The participants in the construction phase are the client/owner, government authority, consultants, material suppliers and equipment suppliers. This is the phase with the most participants whose similar information needs are based on the contracts involved. Abiding by the requirement of their contracts, participants work collaboratively to achieve the project objectives by exchanging and sharing information. Types of information stored in the BIM-based central database are image files, non-image files, drawing information, scheduling information, cost information, quality information, contract information, alteration information, equipment information, etc. Stored in the nominated location, each piece of information correlates with the others and achieves information integration. Furthermore, with the aid of a unified data exchange standard and BIM-based central database, information concerning the building structure, specifications and price of equipment and materials strongly connects participants in the construction process in their information sharing. Since the same information is accessed by each participant, over-time and over-pay problems caused by ineffective communication are dramatically reduced Information flow management of operation phase The operation phase follows the completion of construction. In this phase the performance of the investment involved is tested and demonstrated. Compared to the other life-cycle phases, the operation phase is the period to maximize resource utilization. Information management of this phase includes maintenance plan, implementing management, contract management, material maintenance management, equipment maintenance management and operation site information management. The information-related participants are the client/owner, government authority, consultants, services suppliers and customers. The project information conductor for the operation phase is the client/owner or owner-authorized property Management Company. The basis of a smooth building operation is a high-quality human resource and building product, advanced equipment, and a well-rounded maintenance and scientific operation system. Thus, information flow management for the operation phase should cover the above requirements with the principal axis of implementing management. The BIM-based central database is a complete and integrated data collection for the construction project, which presents the real nature and performance of the building. By using the database, the performance of the building can be tracked and assessed, and information of the building s utilization, function, operation state and maintenance also accessed. Thus, the approach building improves the building s operation and maintenance processes and strengthens the cost management capacities of related parties by reducing costs and time spent on building operation and maintenance. 5. BIM-based information flow management system 5.1. System function and control oriented structure Life-cycle information flow management of construction project is a systematic activity, which requires the backup of an appropriate approach to implementation and tools to guarantee satisfactory management outcomes. The information flow management system (IFMS) is the foundation of this work. Developing a suitable system structure involves modeling that reflects the various components and their relationship with construction project information flow. From the analysis in 2.2, it can be seen that since project information is complex and highly correlated, the construction project IFMS must be capable of providing channels for information sharing and providing a unified data exchange interface for the management of each section in order to fulfill the information integration requirements of both the construction process and multiple participants. On the other hand, given that a construction project is typically discretely staged and with multiple participants, its IFMS is required to support information integration for its different life-cycle 861

6 phases, types of work and participants. The BIM-based IFMS contains three levels: the function framework level, service function level and technical support level. The exterior (function framework) level is composed of initial phase management, construction management, operation management, cash flow management and general project control management. Serving as components of the project strategy, these five parts form a mutual-connecting and mutual-supporting entirety, linked with double-headed arrows to reflect a two-way information transfer. Initial phase management, construction management and operation management require management and control throughout the entire project s life-span. Cash flow management, on the other hand, involves the management, operation and optimization of the project s value flow, while general project management involves the coordination needed for multiple participants to guarantee the smooth progress of the project. The medium (service function) level consists of construction management, design management, operation management, human resource management and financial management, and forms the core function of construction project information flow management. Construction and design management include the sub-systems of scheduling, investment, contract and quality control. Operation management includes contract management, facility management, equipment operation management and building maintenance management. Human resource management includes cost management and personnel management, while financial management includes financial analysis and payment management. The interior (technical support) level refers to information resource management and public data management supported by the BIM-based central database, computer network and communication technology. A specific function mapping relationship exists between the exterior and medium levels. For example, the function of initial phase management in the exterior level maps the sub-systems of design management, financial management and general project management, while the function of operation management maps the sub-systems of operation management and financial analysis. The interior level provides technical support for information storing, transferring and sharing to the system function and control of the medium and exterior levels Information integration oriented hierarchy structure The BIM-based information flow management system is a hierarchical integrated control system comprising subsystems of construction control, operation control, human resource control, finance control and general project control. A BIM-based central database system, computer network system and communication system constitute the supporting environment for the various application software systems. There are two-way information transfers between the application system and supporting environment as well as between the subsystems of the application system. Figure 2 shows the hierarchy of the BIM-based IFMS. The implementation of BIM-based IFMS depends on the specialization of the BIM-based information integration technology used. BIM-based information integration technology involves general technologies such as network communication technology, workflow technology, standardized technology, and visualization technology. In combining the CIC concept with features of the construction project, a key issue of BIM-based IFMS is the means by which the unit technologies are integrated. Software bus technology, intelligent technology, concurrent engineering technology and middleware technology are the core technologies needed for integration. 862

7 Finance control Human resource control Operation contorl Life-cycle Information Flow Management System General project control Business control Construction process control Design constrol Construction control Public service BIM-based central database and Computer communication Computer software platform Computer hardware platform Figure 2. Hierarchy of the BIM-based IFMS Considering the discrete production characteristics of construction projects and their management requirements involves taking the life-cycle of a project as a management object in the construction and operation of a project. The BIM-based IFMS should be a net-based comprehensive information processing platform which supports information integration along with construction business, construction phases and construction participants, supports management data exchange for the independent construction business and provides an active decision support service. The most outstanding attribute of the BIM-based construction project IFMS is that it provides information integration within and between project participants throughout the entire project life-cycle, establishes a network-based open information processing platform, and supports network-based coordination among participants, as well as introducing an information flow management platform that enables heterogeneous data exchanges and integration. 7. Conclusion A series of problems relating to information communication and exchange exist in the life-cycle management of construction projects. This paper addresses these problems through improved information flow management and the application of BIM - the current foremost digital expression of project information - as the core technology for BLM. Through the IFMS established in this study, smooth information transfer and thorough information sharing are obtained both vertically (cross-phase) and horizontally (multi-participant), with significant concomitant reduction in project cost and time. Acknowledgements The work described in this paper was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundations of China (No and No ). References [1] Edgar, W10: Introduction to BIM: people, processes and tools, National BIM Conference, 863

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