Subway stations operate in a fast-paced environment, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology can efficiently identify different components within this rapid transit network. Typically, a fast transit network consists of multiple lines, each varying in importance. The priority for maintaining subway stations during operation depends on several key factors.
For instance, the number of passengers on a specific line determines its priority level, while the service areas covered by the line also play a crucial role in defining its significance. These factors similarly help assess the importance of individual subway stations. Leveraging BIM systems, detailed models of subway stations can be created, including their internal components. The importance of each component is based on its service level and overall impact. For example, structural elements ensure station stability, and ventilation systems maintain comfort—both are vital to station design. In contrast, decorative features are less critical. Funding allocations should reflect the physical importance and priority established within the BIM framework.
Currently, specialized ranking algorithms exist for subway station maintenance, supported by professional software tools. These algorithms can be integrated into BIM systems to assist asset managers in linking network attributes and identifying the most and least critical assets within stations. Attributes are listed according to user requirements, allowing the system to automatically analyze and rank each component’s importance. Occasionally, multiple components may share equal priority and are assigned identical values. Most BIM management systems categorize internal station assets into four levels, calculating weighted importance for subway lines, stations, and components accordingly.
When applying BIM technology to management, it is essential to evaluate the importance weight of each station by considering the significance of other stations along the same line, resulting in a local weight value. These local weights can then be used to assess the station’s importance within the entire subway network, as well as the relevance of other related parts. Both local and global weights are vital for effective station management and have broad practical applications. For example, local weights guide fund distribution along subway lines, while overall weights inform fund allocation across the entire subway system.
Using BIM systems, asset managers can establish a priority index for subway station components based on multiple factors and the unique characteristics of each station. Research shows that three main factors influence the importance of subway lines: the average lifespan of the line, the station’s service location, and the average passenger volume. Key attributes affecting station importance include daily passenger flow, construction period, date of the last major repair, types of vehicles operating above or below ground, and whether the station serves as a transfer point. Additionally, the average construction duration from the line’s initial build to final completion plays a role in assessing station importance.
Therefore, asset managers should first prioritize the attributes of subway lines and stations, then calculate the importance weights for each attribute. Using these weights along with attribute values, they can compute a priority index for each subway line and station. According to BIM methodology, attribute values are converted into percentages to normalize calculations, ensuring the priority index accurately reflects real-world conditions without overemphasizing any single factor.
Source: Science and Technology Innovation and Application, Issue 35, 2021
Author: Guo Jie (China Railway Fifth Survey and Design Institute Group Co., Ltd.)
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