Shenzhen Binhai Building is a super high-rise complex developed by a Shenzhen-based group with an investment exceeding 6 billion yuan. Situated at No. X Road in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, the project covers 23,000 square meters with a total construction area of 340,000 square meters. The building rises 69 floors above ground and includes 4 underground levels, providing parking for 2,000 vehicles. Upon completion, the Binhai Building will primarily serve as an office and hotel complex. Specifically, floors 2 through 45 will be designated for office use, floors 46 to 67 for hotel accommodations, and the 68th and 69th floors will feature public dining and observation decks, as illustrated below.
Application of BIM Technology in the Construction Management of Binhai Building
Overall Goals and Strategies
BIM components share consistent digital data characteristics. Essentially, building information models represent digital 3D geometric models of structures. Beyond geometry, each building component contains detailed engineering and construction data. This data foundation enables software systems to analyze and utilize component information to automatically generate precise details requested by users. These details may include floor plans, elevations, sections, detailed drawings, 3D and perspective views, material lists, and calculations such as natural lighting for each room, ventilation volumes, and HVAC energy consumption for different seasons. BIM can visually represent various building systems and components.
Beyond design, BIM’s core function is to facilitate collaboration among different professional teams by sharing a unified building information model. Traditionally, teams work sequentially, receiving drawings and information from previous departments and using their expertise independently. However, complex projects involve multiple teams, requiring integrated communication and coordination. Without such integration, teams face challenges managing document exchanges and communication, resulting in inefficiencies.
Developing a BIM-Based Project Management System
The BIM-based project management system for Binhai Building involves several key aspects:
(1) Construction is a critical phase in the project lifecycle, blending virtual planning with real-time, physical operations. To realistically simulate complex construction processes in virtual space, the BIM model integrates actual engineering timelines, structural sequences, and component assembly orders from a 3D modeling perspective. The model reflects the current construction site status and supports planning of operations, including spatial allocation of personnel, machinery, and equipment. BIM technology enables detailed planning for temporary facilities, material logistics at various construction stages, and identification of potential spatial and temporal conflicts. This allows for selecting feasible construction methods to address challenges.
(2) The BIM execution team employs 3D design software to model and analyze complex building systems such as formwork, curtain walls, and fixed installations. This enhances construction plan quality, improves operational efficiency, increases productivity, and promotes safety awareness. BIM 3D control and planning simulate building components to organize spatial configurations during construction phases. Construction drawings are created by importing 2D graphics into the BIM model, linking relevant information to 3D components, and providing integrated 2D/3D construction documentation for on-site supervisors.
(3) The BIM team also uses 3D model data combined with automated manufacturing technologies to prefabricate building components. This digital assembly process parallels traditional CAD/CAM methods but is now referred to as BIM/CAM. The 3D model is segmented into parts for automated production, improving precision and efficiency. Although BIM software tools have been widely adopted, achieving their full potential requires effective integration and engineering information management. Nevertheless, existing BIM functionalities—such as parameter settings, 3D visualization, and automatic clash detection—have proven valuable in enhancing coordination meetings and project outcomes.
Integrating asset management controls with BIM models further increases project returns. For new BIM implementations, prioritizing 3D coordinated operations is essential. The BIM team uses automatic clash detection software to identify and resolve conflicts among 3D model components during coordination meetings, an essential step for successful project design and management.
BIM Application in Progress Management
Progress management in construction involves coordinating the delivery and use of materials and machinery efficiently, while adhering to project budgets and contract requirements to ensure quality and safety. BIM supports simulation, quantity measurement, material handling, pipeline visualization, contract management, and quality and safety controls. It also facilitates pre-construction preparation by creating dynamic, simulated project schedules.
Effective communication of construction progress among different teams reduces rework and repairs in later stages. BIM enables accurate forecasting of materials needed for upcoming phases, supporting comprehensive procurement planning and controlling materials and budgets.
(1) Establishing a BIM information management platform allows visual tracking of overall construction progress with realistic simulations. This platform clarifies responsibilities before each construction stage, ensuring that progress follows the schedule in an organized manner. The platform’s dynamic visualization reflects continuous changes in construction space, enabling stakeholders to observe site conditions, machinery locations, and evaluate workspace safety and availability throughout the project. It also helps construction teams monitor resource utilization and coordinate on-site activities, enhancing predictability and communication while enabling timely evaluation and resolution of construction issues.
(2) Advances in technology have introduced new tools into construction scheduling using BIM, such as replicating and modifying building components, reviewing reinforced concrete progress, and applying energy-efficient materials. Survey tools like total stations aid pre-construction measurements and coordinate verification. Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive visualization experiences. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), integrated with BIM, streamlines material management, progress tracking, and operations and maintenance. Aerial photography supports early-stage surveying. These technologies help design buildings with accurate forms and functionality from early stages, minimizing clashes and redesigns during construction. BIM also supports collision detection by simulating 3D construction environments to identify and eliminate conflicts in advance.
In the Binhai Building project, applying BIM technology during construction scheduling and on-site progress management reduced the original schedule by 8% for floors 25 to 35 of the North Tower.
Source: Excerpt from Research on Construction Management Mode and Application of Super High-rise Engineering Based on BIM Technology
Author: Guo Min (Harbin Institute of Technology)
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