This project is the Humanities and Social Sciences Experimental Training Center at a university, primarily designed for teaching and experiments in humanities and social sciences. It also provides spaces for faculty to work and relax. Situated in the southwest corner of the main campus, the site borders Building 12 to the east and faces Building 14 to the north. The location benefits from convenient transportation and unobstructed roads. The terrain is flat with no significant geological hazards nearby, and no underground cultural relics are present. According to drilling data from nearby campus buildings, there are no adverse geological conditions affecting stability on the site, and the overall foundation conditions are favorable.
The project covers approximately 10,448.4 square meters of land, with a total construction area of 27,981 square meters. This includes 27,231.5 square meters above ground and 749.5 square meters in the basement. The building rises 11 floors above ground, with a ground floor height of 4.5 meters and floors two through eleven at 3.6 meters each. The elevation difference between the indoor and outdoor levels is 0.3 meters, and the total building height reaches 40.8 meters. Classified as Class 3, Class II high-rise public buildings, it has a fire resistance rating of Class II, and the basement is rated Class I. The seismic fortification intensity is set at 6 degrees.
The building’s structure consists of a reinforced concrete frame. Except for the reinforced concrete columns, the exterior walls and interior partitions are constructed with 200 mm thick B06 grade aerated concrete blocks, with some areas using 100 mm thickness. Basement exterior walls are made of 300 mm thick reinforced concrete, and interior partitions are also 200 mm thick B06 grade aerated concrete blocks.
This project is completed, and the author employs BIM technology for risk management, comparing actual costs, construction timelines, and other outcomes with planned data to identify areas for optimization. Due to limited verified data from similar BIM engineering databases, the analysis primarily focuses on the design, construction, and operation phases.
Investment Decision-Making Stage
Economic risks are most likely to arise during the investment decision-making stage, where incomplete data collection and analysis can lead to poor decisions. For this project, having a comprehensive BIM engineering information database would allow for feasibility studies by referencing similar projects, enabling effective investment calculations and ensuring profitability. From a legal and policy standpoint, national and local governments increasingly promote BIM technology. Utilizing BIM to execute projects aligns with these policies and can maximize benefits for the project.
Design Phase
1. Technical Risk Mitigation. A major challenge during design is insufficient coordination among specialties. Although modeling was based on original professional construction drawings, numerous detailed errors were found during the process. Separate designs for each discipline caused serious mistakes, omissions, clashes, and deficiencies in the drawings. Limited by the two-dimensional nature of the drawings and their complexity, it is difficult to detect these issues from a flat perspective. As a result, many problems only become apparent during construction, leading to significant rework and losses for both the owner and contractors.
This project includes more than thirty construction drawings across structural, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, and other specialties, with a large volume of information. The abundance of drawings makes integration challenging, causing inevitable conflicts between disciplines. Collision checks greatly reduce these conflicts.
Collision detection identified over 1,430 conflict points, with estimated additional costs around 500,000 yuan. By refining the model and resolving these issues, pipelines and structures can be coordinated to optimize design, avoiding costly changes and rework during construction and mitigating economic risks.
Construction Phase
The construction phase faces technical, economic, and organizational management risks. Key issues include chaotic on-site management, inefficient resource allocation, incomplete safety systems, insufficient detail in special construction plans, uncoordinated capital flow, and non-standard acceptance procedures.
1. On-site Management Challenges. Effective site management requires planning temporary buildings, material storage yards, and access roads, and coordinating connections between permanent buildings and facilities during construction. Traditional layout plans are two-dimensional, showing only dimensions and locations of structures, which limits their usefulness for dynamic site management.
Because the project is located on a campus with restricted space, the north side features a green area, and a narrow campus road runs through the middle. During construction, students may pass nearby, necessitating clear warning signs. The limited construction site area means temporary buildings, machinery, and material storage need careful planning. BIM’s 3D models provide a realistic simulation of the site, helping managers plan more effectively before construction begins, improving efficiency in temporary building setup and material handling, and enabling better site management.
2. Resource Allocation. Construction schedule managers must allocate funds, materials, labor, and equipment wisely. However, many still rely on generic templates downloaded online with minimal adaptation, which often do not reflect the actual project conditions.
BIM technology enhances resource allocation management by enabling detailed analysis of construction schedules. Managers can visualize planned resource distribution and adjust in real-time based on actual site conditions. BIM optimizes the construction timeline by linking 3D models with time and cost data, allowing managers to monitor progress and expenditures at any moment and make necessary adjustments promptly. This ensures resource investments align with project plans while maintaining construction efficiency.
3. Incomplete Safety Systems. Simulating the construction process allows early identification of potential problems and safety hazards. Virtual training helps workers familiarize themselves with the project overview and their specific responsibilities. Unlike traditional 2D plans, 3D simulations vividly demonstrate component details and construction techniques, enhancing workers’ spatial understanding and improving their awareness of safety and quality. Virtual walkthroughs of the construction site provide real-time monitoring capabilities, reducing accidents caused by lack of situational awareness.
4. Insufficient Detailing in Special Construction Plans. Compared to traditional textual scaffolding plans, 3D simulations offer a clearer and more intuitive understanding of specialized construction procedures. Traditionally, technicians rely on written documents, which can be inefficient and hard to interpret, especially for complex components. Without detailed plans, workers may depend on personal experience, risking structural quality. BIM helps refine and correct these plans, particularly for complex node connections, reducing risks related to quality, schedule, and cost.
Liu Shasha (Changjiang University)
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