BIM technology offers significant value in managing building spaces, maintaining structural components and decorative materials, and overseeing the operation and maintenance of various facilities. These include water supply and drainage, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), electrical, intelligent systems, fire-fighting equipment, as well as environmental hygiene and landscaping within power engineering projects. One key application involves importing the Building Information Model (BIM) into intelligent inspection systems for substation equipment via data interfaces.
The released BIM information model can be seamlessly integrated with the intelligent inspection system through data interfaces, enabling automated substation inspections. This system comprises an inspection management system, a handheld terminal, and RFID electronic tags. The inspection management system stores inspection routes, templates, and task data. The handheld terminal includes a microprocessor, memory, input device, display, and an RFID read-write module. The microprocessor interfaces with the memory and display, while inputs connect to the input device. The RFID module facilitates communication with electronic tags attached to substation equipment, which store comprehensive lifecycle information of power assets such as materials, equipment, and fixed asset identifiers. The handheld terminal’s microprocessor can also connect and communicate with the inspection management system, ensuring efficient data exchange.
BIM technology has been widely adopted both domestically and internationally in architecture. At its core, it utilizes a database formed by computer-generated 3D models that accurately represent the complex three-dimensional shapes of real-world spaces. Virtual reality technology enhances this by enabling virtual tours through buildings, showcasing their development processes. This approach facilitates information sharing and management throughout design, construction, operation, and maintenance phases, improving project quality and reducing costs.
The operation and maintenance phase is the longest, most complex, and most costly stage in the lifecycle of power engineering projects. It involves multiple departments, specialized personnel, and vast amounts of information, making it a critical link in the project lifecycle. Applying BIM technology during this phase aims to enhance management efficiency, standardize information resources, optimize production planning, and reduce costs. It supports sustainable solutions for evaluating equipment and facility conditions, managing staff safety, and harmonizing with the surrounding environment.
The use of BIM in operation and maintenance is based on the comprehensive lifecycle management of power engineering projects. It leverages the as-built and handover BIM models to establish an intelligent management platform that addresses various operation and maintenance needs through clear, modular functions. This process typically involves six key steps: planning the operation and maintenance management plan, building the management system, constructing the operation and maintenance model, automating data integration, and maintaining the system. The main functional modules include asset management, equipment and facility operation and maintenance, power system operation management, personnel management, and comprehensive management.
BIM technology also enhances the safe operation of power systems. Utilizing a big data platform for BIM-based operation and maintenance, specialized software evaluates operating conditions, triggers alarms for issues such as overcurrent, overvoltage, harmonic distortion, insulation aging, and equipment failures, schedules fault repairs, plans maintenance tasks, and maintains comprehensive records.
Employee remote training and corporate knowledge accumulation are also facilitated through BIM. Visualized 3D digital models allow users to learn about the structure, spatial layout, and operating principles of power engineering systems without geographical or time constraints. This flexible training format boosts engagement and accelerates the development of skilled power grid personnel. By integrating process data and historical changes, the 3D digital system reduces reliance on individual knowledge transfer. New employees can easily access historical data and quickly learn from past experiences and methods, improving maintenance efficiency and knowledge retention.
The implementation of BIM-based operation and maintenance functions requires a detailed management plan tailored to the specific needs of each power engineering project. This plan should be developed during project planning to ensure the adoption of consistent data models, unified power grid asset coding, and standardized interfaces throughout design, planning, and digital handover. This approach minimizes costs associated with later data delivery and integration with operation and maintenance platforms.
The operation and maintenance plan is typically led by the owner’s management department, working alongside professional consulting service providers and software suppliers. It involves thorough requirement research and analysis, functional evaluation, and feasibility studies. Stakeholders include supervisors, management personnel, and departments responsible for information collection such as marketing and development. Based on this research, functional modules are defined for different applications, including cable operation and maintenance systems, power quality monitoring, grounding network monitoring, equipment status tracking, lightning protection for transmission lines, and power operation data storage. Supporting non-functional modules, such as user roles and management permissions, are also established.
Feasibility analysis addresses prerequisites for successful implementation, such as the stability of online monitoring devices, reliability of data acquisition modules, communication pathways, and interface openness for integrating intelligent systems or embedded devices. Detailed research before deployment is crucial, including cost investment and risk assessments. The operation and maintenance plan report typically covers overall goals, implementation content, model standards, system construction, technical pathways, and maintenance strategies.
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