With the advancement of technology, the construction industry has entered a new phase, facing challenges such as a shortage of skilled personnel and slow information flow. Prefabricated buildings combined with BIM technology offer significant advantages in effectively addressing these issues.
Overview of BIM Technology Applications in Prefabricated Buildings
1. Standardized Design of Prefabricated Components
BIM technology enables in-depth development and sharing of design data. Designers can upload design schemes to a cloud server, integrating size and style information to create a comprehensive family library of prefabricated components. As the library grows, designers can optimize and compare components, gradually establishing standard shapes and modular sizes. This process helps develop universal design plans and standards for prefabricated buildings, maximizing the use of standardized component libraries. Additionally, designers can accumulate diverse prefabricated layouts, which enriches design specifications and better meets residents’ varied living needs.
2. Optimizing Construction Schedules and Planning
BIM allows for objective comparison between design plans and actual construction progress, helping to optimize project tasks and operations. For example, BIM can realistically simulate construction site environments and scientifically plan crane positions and methods. This ensures precise worker scheduling and may directly improve the accuracy of equipment installation during construction.
3. Collaborative Task Management and Problem Detection
The core value of BIM lies in its ability to manage construction operations through information integration and system management. It provides 3D planning data to all stakeholders, facilitating the exchange and merging of different professional models on a unified platform. This increases collaboration opportunities among various teams and participants. By importing BIM models into problem-checking software, teams can simulate construction processes, identify issues, analyze and comment on them, and systematically address problem points. This proactive approach helps minimize unnecessary design changes and rework before construction begins, significantly improving project planning.
4. Enhancing Inventory Management and On-site Handling of Prefabricated Components
Once the construction plan is finalized, relevant details such as lifting orientation and timing are stored in the BIM model. Construction inspections are then conducted based on the 3D model, supporting visual and paperless management of lifting operations. Before lifting, updated daily plans require handheld devices to scan components on-site, verifying their information and recording lifting activities. After installation, inspectors review the components’ scope and details, scanning them again to confirm completion and record the timestamp. This process documents assembly steps, device orientation, and construction timing, making future reference easy. Most importantly, it reduces errors and boosts overall efficiency.
During component production, earlier-finished products can be directly dispatched to the construction site. BIM technology enables seamless transport of prefabricated components from the yard to the project site, supported by integrated information control systems that connect multiple departments to ensure data sharing. Construction site teams use the BIM platform to communicate components to be installed to the relevant control systems of the prefabricated component company. Project managers then prepare and update inventory records within the system, ensuring timely dispatch, stacking, and delivery.
Source: Residential and Real Estate, Issue 24, 2021
Article by Zhang Bo, Jilin Installation Group Co., Ltd.
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