There are numerous challenges in the application of BIM within our country, affecting every stage of the process. BIM Architecture Training Network has identified the following three main issues:
1. BIM Legal Issues
The ownership of BIM models primarily falls on the design team for creation, while the construction team is responsible for utilizing, expanding, and maintaining them. Currently, there is no established cost standard for BIM model development. Typically, the design team builds the model, but the owner benefits from it. This creates a lack of motivation for the design team to develop the model. On the other hand, if the construction team builds it, full lifecycle utilization cannot be achieved, and the owner does not obtain ownership of the BIM model. Further controversies arise regarding later operation and management. There are two possible solutions to address the ownership of BIM models:
1. The owner holds ownership of the model and is responsible for its accuracy. This approach offers clear and straightforward ownership, minimizing disputes among project participants. However, it increases the owner’s initial costs and places sole responsibility for any model errors on them.
2. Ownership belongs to the model creator. In this scenario, various specialized modeling vendors own their respective BIM models and are accountable for their accuracy. The advantage is that the modeler retains ownership, while the owner pays a licensing fee to use the model, reducing costs. The downside is the complexity in determining and calculating usage rights during project applications, and modelers might hesitate to share the complete model due to liability concerns.
2. BIM Technical Issues
Construction projects involve multiple specialized designs, leading to a diversity of BIM modeling platforms. Each platform has different data structures and formats, resulting in challenges related to cross-platform data exchange standards and compatibility.
Solution: A single BIM model can encompass all information related to architecture, structure, mechanical, and electrical systems, allowing for either separate or collaborative modeling. This approach simplifies archive management and model updates, enables quick responses to design changes, and eliminates format compatibility issues. However, it also results in larger file sizes and reduced system execution efficiency.
3. BIM Management Issues
The BIM model contains comprehensive information covering the entire lifecycle of a construction project, involving vast amounts of data and significant system processing demands. The data format of BIM models differs from traditional CAD and text files, and cross-platform data exchange standards are not yet fully unified. Consequently, challenges arise in data classification, naming conventions, and archive management.
Traditional engineering coding systems generally fall into two categories. The first is the MasterFormat system, which is based on project execution outcomes rather than equipment or product classification, making it unsuitable for handling early-stage object coding in BIM projects. This system is more appropriate for project WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) decomposition but not for BIM coding. The second is the Uniformat system, which classifies project elements and effectively addresses BIM coding needs during the early phases of a project.
In summary, the challenges facing BIM implementation in China remain significant. However, with strong national support for BIM, these issues are expected to be resolved efficiently over time.
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