What are the applications of BIM technology in disaster management, and why does it matter? Disasters often result in significant casualties and property damage, making it crucial to focus not only on response during disasters but also on prevention beforehand. Traditionally, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) tools have been used for design purposes. However, CAD primarily represents 2D images through geometric shapes, which limits its ability to convey complex information. In contrast, BIM (Building Information Modeling) creates models that contain extensive project data. Yet, without proper utilization, this data cannot be transformed into valuable information.
The goal is to expand the use of existing building information to deliver value-added services in building operation and maintenance, such as disaster prevention and rescue efforts.
One key application of BIM is extracting real-time information from the vast data stored within the BIM model to support disaster prevention and relief personnel. This assists them during on-site responses to fires and provides critical data for post-fire reconstruction. From a disaster prevention and relief perspective, it is essential to simplify information for responders. The 3D visualization capabilities of BIM models not only supply necessary information but also allow responders to intuitively interact with the data.
From the viewpoint of a disaster management system, integrated BIM offers three types of data: (1) facility information, (2) disaster data, and (3) disaster prevention and relief materials. Facility data should meet three key criteria: (1) it must digitally represent facility details, including engineering drawings, photos, maintenance records, and location information; (2) it should integrate data with other facilities; and (3) when displayed on a computer screen, it should show adjacent facilities along with their related textual attributes. Overall, facility data is central to disaster management systems. Current research focuses on the latter stages of disaster management, where accurate size, location, and operational and maintenance attributes of facilities are essential for effective disaster relief and recovery.
At the application level for disaster prevention and relief, the integrated BIM system can be categorized into two types based on data characteristics: static and dynamic data. Static data includes details such as the building’s address, the occupant unit, number of floors, and locations of fire-related facilities. Dynamic data encompasses real-time information like fire duration, location, and smoke conditions. During a disaster, BIM’s role is to extract static information from existing data and provide precise location details to aid disaster relief personnel. Additionally, existing data can support calculations—for example, by combining material databases with on-site fire conditions to assess how materials in different parts of the building respond to fire temperatures.
Understanding the information needs of disaster prevention and relief personnel helps in predicting building damage based on disaster types and severity levels. In the pre-BIM era, responders relied on specialized software to analyze and predict disaster outcomes, even though 3D building models were often inaccurate. Today, BIM offers more comprehensive and accurate information to support disaster prevention and relief efforts.
International research suggests that facility maintenance records maintained within BIM can significantly aid responders. This allows them not only to assess the current condition of buildings during disasters but also to predict future trends and potential risks.
In summary, what are the applications of BIM technology in disasters, and why is it important? BIM enhances disaster prevention and relief by providing detailed, real-time, and easily accessible information that supports effective decision-making and response. I hope this article helps you understand the critical role BIM plays in disaster management!
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