Although BIM was adopted relatively late in China, it has experienced rapid growth in recent years. BIM is now widely used across various projects, ranging from landmark buildings and commercial residential complexes to infrastructure and municipal engineering. Its application is gradually expanding beyond design to include construction and operation phases. In particular, recently, many large operation and maintenance enterprises have focused on leveraging BIM during the operation and maintenance stages. In this article, I will discuss how BIM is applied in these stages.
Application 1: Interactive Scene Simulation
Interactive scene simulation involves integrating spatial and scene information into the BIM model after project completion. By combining BIM with emerging technologies like VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality), homeowners, customers, or tenants can explore the BIM model from different locations, enjoying a virtual, immersive experience. Because the model stores detailed building component information, users can virtually enter various spaces such as shops, lobbies, elevators, and restrooms to better understand the facilities available in each area.
Application 2: Optimizing Rental and Sales Plans
Traditionally, tenants only see the actual shop layout after project completion, making changes difficult and often time-consuming if the space does not meet their needs. However, BIM-based operation and maintenance models allow tenants to review key details—such as size, orientation, lighting, style, electrical load, and air conditioning capacity—before construction is finished. This enables customers to communicate their specific requirements to property owners. Owners, in turn, can use the BIM model to accurately assess the site conditions and develop optimal adjustment plans based on customer feedback.
Application 3: System Maintenance
In traditional system maintenance, operation teams rely on completion drawings and Excel spreadsheets to understand building systems and equipment, which often lacks timeliness and clarity. With BIM models, maintenance staff can quickly familiarize themselves with system equipment data, pipeline layouts, and other internal building information. This allows them to swiftly locate damaged equipment or faulty pipelines and perform timely repairs. For example, if a leak is detected, maintenance personnel can use the BIM system to identify valves and equipment near the suspected area, access detailed specifications, manufacturer information, and part numbers, and efficiently address the issue without inspecting the entire building on-site.
Application 4: Emergency Response
Using BIM-based demonstration functions, third-party operation and maintenance teams can simulate emergency scenarios to conduct drills and develop response plans. This training is especially valuable for situations that cannot be easily replicated in reality, such as fire drills, personnel evacuations, or power outages. Through these simulations, management personnel learn how to respond effectively and efficiently. The resulting emergency procedures can be documented, printed, and distributed to relevant stakeholders, including community residents and tenants, thereby improving safety awareness and expanding the scope of safety management.
In summary, the application of BIM during the operation and maintenance phase offers significant benefits. As BIM continues to evolve and be researched extensively in China, its value throughout a building’s lifecycle is increasingly recognized. By implementing BIM in operation and maintenance, traditional challenges such as cost inefficiencies and lack of data support can be mitigated, maximizing BIM’s sustainable impact on the construction industry.
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