With the growing domestic demand for BIM Technology, its application has steadily expanded beyond the design and construction phases to encompass operation and maintenance, showing strong potential for future growth. However, since practical experience with BIM in operation and maintenance remains limited, several challenges have emerged. Today, I would like to share my personal insights on key issues that must be addressed when integrating operation and maintenance management with BIM.
1. Parameters
Preserving data during the design and planning stages is essential for effective operation and maintenance later on. Maintaining detailed information from the construction phase helps ensure accountability and discourages shortcuts by construction personnel. That said, the sheer volume of data generated during construction is considerable, and relying solely on model data from a single BIM software often falls short of meeting all requirements. Therefore, it is crucial for property management teams to integrate BIM data with an external database system.
Property managers can customize and add necessary parameters based on existing BIM models tailored to user needs. Within the parameter type menu, appropriate parameter types can be chosen, and project parameters configured accordingly. Once established, data can be input and edited to facilitate efficient access to relevant information.
2. 3D Spatial Map Presentation
Traditionally, operation and maintenance teams have used floor plans to locate and repair facilities and equipment. However, accurately identifying the precise location of facilities during construction or maintenance was often challenging.
To overcome this, 3D drawings are now employed to visualize the spatial relationships among building facilities, machinery, and pipelines, greatly improving maintenance efficiency. Property management can leverage BIM software’s 3D visualization capabilities alongside the building lifecycle concept. The 3D drawings created during the planning and design phases can be carried forward into operation and maintenance.
This spatial approach clearly shows the relative positions and details of facilities. For example, even when walls or ceilings are hidden, indoor compartments remain visible. By clicking on building components within the drawing, users can access detailed information in an information panel. Developing a system that links these 3D drawings to a “Building Facilities Management System” enables users to quickly retrieve necessary data during future maintenance tasks.
3. Understanding Building Facilities – Air Conditioning Systems
Managing building facilities requires a broad range of expertise, including knowledge of pipeline configurations and hands-on experience. For instance, BIM software can be utilized to model air conditioning systems, which involves various components such as heat exchangers (cooling and dehumidification coils, evaporators, condensers, and heat dissipation materials) and the connecting channels (air ducts, water pipes, refrigerant pipes).
The 3D visualization models created with BIM significantly enhance property management personnel’s understanding and recognition of these complex systems, leading to improved management and repair efficiency.
These points represent my views on the challenges that must be tackled when combining operation and maintenance management with BIM. Given the limited number of cases analyzed, these observations reflect my personal analysis of common issues encountered in China’s BIM operation and maintenance management. I hope this discussion fosters further exchange of ideas and insights.
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