The front square project of a high-speed railway station in a certain city is a key development in the area. The total construction area exceeds 300,000 square meters and includes two high-rise commercial buildings facing the station, a central square platform, a bus hub system within the station area, and over 200,000 square meters of underground construction. Given the critical location, massive scale, complex internal structure, and tight timeline, the project owner decided to implement advanced BIM technology to manage and control the entire project. This approach aims to enhance decision-making efficiency, reduce resource waste, and ensure the project is completed on schedule.
Application of BIM-Based Schedule Planning and Control for Large-Scale Construction
Considering the project’s unique characteristics, the primary strategy involved using BIM technology to conduct virtual construction before actual work began. Initially, infrastructure BIM software was used to create a virtual model of the infrastructure. Then, based on the schedule, construction simulation BIM software simulated the entire construction timeline. Key pipeline sections underwent 4D construction simulation, and animated walkthroughs were created for critical construction phases.
Professional rendering software generated visual project representations from the BIM models, enabling 4D simulations of construction progress by discipline. These simulations were compiled into video clips to guide the construction process effectively.
This approach allowed design teams, project managers, supervisors, and general contractors to generate standardized, unified digital construction data. This data served as a foundation for further visualization, 4D schedule simulation, and analysis of building parameters such as sunlight exposure and costs.
During on-site construction, plans, schedules, site layouts, and material supply strategies developed through BIM simulation software ensured thorough preparation and practical guidance. Construction teams reviewed plans via video playback, with detailed explanations of specific tasks incorporated into weekly schedules. On-site examples demonstrate that BIM is an invaluable tool for optimizing space usage and operations. For instance, modeling simulations facilitated the installation and dismantling of tower cranes and the placement of materials, enabling construction teams to efficiently manage large components and ensuring every step was pre-planned for better dynamic control of the construction process.
Upon project completion, quantities were calculated, and a final BIM model was created. By integrating material value parameters, detailed sub-item quantities could be rapidly calculated, and comprehensive material lists exported, enabling dynamic control over project investment.
Summary of BIM Advantages in Schedule and Project Control
In schedule management, BIM addresses frequent design changes typical in traditional projects by reducing modifications during construction. This minimizes rework and helps keep the project on track. The 4D construction simulation creates animated sequences reflecting the actual construction schedule, providing visual guidance for civil engineering, installations, and other disciplines at the station square. This visualization helps anticipate and resolve potential process conflicts, optimizing progress and shortening the timeline. Reducing design changes during scheduling alone can save at least 40 days of construction time.
Regarding investment management, the BIM model encompasses all structural and equipment details, enabling accurate and rapid calculation of material quantities. Investment managers can generate phased quantity reports based on the BIM data, facilitating scientific project budgeting and timely investment tracking. The integrated building, structural, and pipeline models also identify potential design clashes early, significantly reducing changes during construction and minimizing waste. This proactive approach saved approximately 4.881 million yuan in project costs.
Beyond these aspects, BIM’s capabilities in design, visualization, and construction simulation empower the entire project team to review and analyze early design options, conduct interactive reviews among stakeholders, optimize designs collaboratively, and institutionalize continuous improvement. This comprehensive approach enhances schedule management research, accelerates project delivery, reduces costs, minimizes environmental impact, and improves construction quality, offering valuable practical guidance for large, complex projects.
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