The construction industry today widely incorporates information technologies such as BIM, RFID, and IoT. Among these, BIM technology stands out as the most extensively utilized. This is because BIM links processes and data across all stages of a project’s lifecycle, providing a comprehensive digital representation of the construction project itself. Participants in the project commonly use BIM to enhance both the efficiency and accuracy of decision-making.
BIM is founded on 3D digital technology and integrates various types of construction-related information throughout the building cycle. This integration enables a detailed digital depiction of the physical features and characteristics of engineering projects.
Current research and application of BIM, both domestically and internationally, primarily focus on integrated management of construction information and process control based on BIM, yielding promising results. BIM facilitates information exchange and sharing throughout the entire lifecycle of a construction project—including planning, design, construction, and operation—offering robust support for decision-making at every stage.
During the design phase, BIM provides designers with an overview of project planning and resource allocation, as well as deployment details across construction sites, allowing designs that better reflect real-world conditions. In the construction phase, BIM enables dynamic simulation of construction progress, helping to anticipate and mitigate potential issues that could delay the schedule. It also integrates various internal and external factors to comprehensively manage costs, timelines, safety, environmental impact, and other critical aspects throughout the construction process.
In the operation and maintenance phase, BIM models consolidate comprehensive information about building components—including types, spatial locations, and interrelationships—as well as essential details about equipment, pipelines, and other installations. This information supports routine maintenance and troubleshooting efforts effectively.
Despite these advances, current BIM research largely concentrates on the integration and sharing of static information within application platforms. BIM often functions merely as a centralized repository for construction data, lacking dynamic information processing capabilities. Building construction is inherently a dynamic process that requires real-time tracking, collection, and analysis of site data. Moreover, it demands predictive capabilities to anticipate upcoming construction steps, enabling informed planning and decision-making.
Therefore, future BIM research is expected to emphasize the collection and processing of real-time information generated on construction sites. Additionally, BIM applications currently rely heavily on software from both domestic and international vendors, primarily for modeling and clash detection across disciplines such as civil engineering, steel structure, electromechanical systems, HVAC, and fire protection. While these tools improve design accuracy, they often increase project costs and reduce BIM’s value during the construction phase.
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