The early versions of 4D building management systems primarily focused on simulating and visualizing construction progress. However, these systems often failed to integrate or link with other relevant planning data. As a result, the potential benefits of 4D building management were limited, and their applications remained narrow. To make 4D building management systems practical throughout the various stages of a construction project’s lifecycle, it is essential to enhance information integration and querying capabilities. Since the emergence of BIM Technology, the 4D management system has taken on new significance. Today, we will explore the integration and query features of BIM 4D models.
Regarding integration, Barrett suggested in a 2000 paper that the 4D model should be considered part of the overall project model. He emphasized that the dimensions included in an engineering project extend beyond 3D models and time. Building on this, the nD model concept introduced by Salford University in 2002 represents an integrated system encompassing various project dimensions, including data related to costs, environment, maintenance, and more. Furthermore, the Building Information Modeling (BIM) concept, proposed by Howell and Batcheler in the 2005 Laiserin Letter, aims to combine graphical and non-graphical information into a unified data model for building engineering. This model is applicable not only during design and construction but also throughout the entire building lifecycle.
To comprehensively describe data related to engineering projects, several relevant data model standards have been developed. One notable example is the IFC (Industry Foundation Class) standard, designed to represent information about building products with a focus on the entire construction industry. Unlike the longstanding universal product information exchange standard STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data), IFC addresses many commercial considerations and is updated frequently, with new versions released almost every year.
Due to the faster development pace of IFC compared to STEP, much recent research has shifted toward IFC-based studies. These studies primarily use IFC data models to describe the underlying graphical and textual data structures of BIM 4D building management systems. In early 2005, Tanyer successfully migrated a BIM 4D building management system to a single IFC-based database, integrating planning data such as 3D models, schedules, and costs.
Other related research includes parsing 3D graphic files from contract projects involving various subcontractors, then using object-oriented technology to assign relevant engineering information to calculate required work hours, resource types, and quantities. This approach enables the integration of multidimensional engineering data within a database. Additionally, a BIM 4D building management system called Construction Director has been introduced. Beyond basic BIM 4D project management functions, this system incorporates engineering cost information and employs actual value analysis to support project performance management.
Moreover, a Project Information Integration Management Framework (PIIM Framework) was proposed to address information interface and data integration challenges faced by engineering supervision units. To validate this concept, a Visual Project Management System (VisPMIS) was developed, offering features such as engineering project information integration, dynamic visualization, multi-dimensional information querying, performance evaluation, statistical analysis, and data exchange and sharing.
These developments indicate that the design focus of BIM 4D building management systems has gradually shifted from simple simulation and display toward comprehensive information integration.
A Brief Discussion on the Integration and Query Characteristics of BIM 4D Models. That concludes today’s discussion. As BIM models continue to cover increasingly rich information, their scalability and research scope expand accordingly. We believe that, in the near future, China’s construction industry will fully harness BIM 4D models to unlock their maximum potential.
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