Bim Review in Aec Industry and Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa: Case of Cameroon
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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 10, Issue 05, May 2019, pp. 930-942, Article ID: IJCIET_10_05_093 Available online at http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJCIET?Volume=10&Issue=5 ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316 © IAEME Publication BIM REVIEW IN AEC INDUSTRY AND LESSONS FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: CASE OF CAMEROON R. Okpwe Mbarga PhD Researcher, Department of Civil Engineering National Advanced School of Engineering, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon Mamba Mpele Research Professor, Department of Civil Engineering National Advanced School of Engineering, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon ABSTRACT All round the world, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is transforming the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Its various contributions have pushed many countries to adopt it for the realization of construction projects. In this context, this article presents a BIM review in AEC industry in order to draw lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa through the case of Cameroon. It reveals that with a BIM adoption level more than 90% in many countries, North America, Oceania and Europe are very advanced. They are followed by Asia and South America. In Sub- Saharan Africa, BIM is beginning to be known by many engineers but its potential still unexploited for the realization of construction projects. To change this situation in the sub-continent, local institutions dedicated to training and research in civil engineering should be more engaged in order to effectively support all stakeholders in the understanding, spreading and implementation of BIM. Key words: BIM, AEC industry, Sub-Saharan Africa, Cameroon. Cite this Article: R. Okpwe Mbarga and Mamba Mpele, BIM Review in AEC Industry and Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa: Case of Cameroon, International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology 10(5), 2019, pp. 930-942. http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJCIET?Volume=10&Issue=5 1. INTRODUCTION For several decades, in many developing countries, construction projects face challenges due to a strong fragmentation of activities, stakeholders and associated disciplines. In fact, this fragmentation creates weak exchange of technical information between the construction professionals. In return, the lack of information exchange causes a large multiplication of errors with moreover: extensions of deadlines, budget overruns and many non-qualities during the realization of the project (Eastman et al., 2011). http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJCIET 930 [email protected] BIM Review in AEC Industry and Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa: Case of Cameroon Numerous researches aimed at improving the interoperability of software in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry have led to BIM or “Building Information Modeling” (Underwood and Isikdag, 2010). Considered as a major digital innovation, BIM approach relies on standardized and open data formats such as the IFC (“Industry Foundation Classes”). It will become, according to (Celnik and Lebèque, 2015), one of the main standards of the construction sector. Given the deep changes involved by BIM, this article presents a BIM review in AEC industry and draw lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa through the case of Cameroon. Structured in seven (07) sections, it presents: main concepts of BIM (section 2); BIM software (section 3); contributions of BIM in construction projects (section 4); BIM practices in the world (section 5); lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa countries (section 6) and conclusion (section 7). 2. MAIN CONCEPTS OF BIM 2.1. BIM BIM is a process for intelligent generation and management of all data related to a civil engineering structures, by means of an advanced 3D digital model (Eastman et al., 2011). It allows the collaboration of the construction professionals using a digital model named “BIM model” which facilitates the sharing of information (Figure 1). Geometers Architects Drawings Acquisition and BIM manager Engineers tools evaluation CAD and PLM simulations e-catalogues of BIM SDK and products and API systems IT specialists Industry, construction Cost and Statutory products BOQ databases CAD & follow-up Viewing and of the management construction site of the facility Authorities Economists Contractors Owners, Facility managers Figure 1. BIM and interaction of construction professionals (Forgues et al., 2016) With BIM, projects are carried out according to a new approach that provides a framework for the collaborative work of major stakeholders, from the early stages to the construction phase. This collaborative framework is defined by IPD or “Integrated Project Delivery” (Celnik and Lebègue, 2015). 2.2. nD BIM models Starting from 3D digital models, BIM models can be progressively filled with additional data to become (Celnik and Lebègue, 2015): 4D BIM models, obtained by adding the “time” dimension to 3D BIM models. These models allow the simulation of different steps during the construction. http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJCIET 931 [email protected] R. Okpwe Mbarga and Mamba Mpele 5D BIM models, corresponding to the addition of the “cost” dimension to 4D BIM models. They allow automatic cost estimation at each intermediate step of the construction. 6D BIM models, obtained by adding the “life cycle analysis” dimension to 5D BIM models. They allow to analyze the overall cost of a structure or infrastructure over its life cycle, and to evaluate related environmental impacts and energy consumptions. 7D BIM models, corresponding to the addition of the “operations management and maintenance” dimension to 6D BIM models. They allow updating BIM models and facilitating operation and maintenance of structures or infrastructures. 2.3. BIM maturity level For a given construction project, “maturity level” evaluates BIM level implementation, according to used software and means of information exchanges. One can distinguish four BIM maturity levels (Porwal and Hewage, 2013): The level 0 or pre-BIM, marked by a complete absence of BIM; it characterizes design practices prior to BIM; The level 1, corresponding to 3D object-oriented modeling and marked by a one-way communications between software; The level 2, characterized by collaboration of object-oriented models using BIM software which can perform two-way exchanges; The level 3, corresponding to object-oriented integration, in which BIM model is stored in a server and accessible by terminals (computers, tablets, smartphones, ...) 3. BIM SOFTWARE Computer systems that allow users to produce, modify, and manage BIM models are called “BIM software”. It is the latest generation of object oriented computer aided design (CAD) systems, in which all intelligent objects associated with the life cycle of a structure or infrastructure coexist in a database (Underwood and Isikdag, 2010). BIM software essentially manipulates data in the IFC format, ISO 16 739 standard, developed by buildingSmart International (Celnik and Lebègue, 2015). There are three types of BIM software (Eastman et al., 2011): BIM tools (Table 1), computer systems designed to perform specific tasks in a specific area (architectural design, structural analysis, thermal performance analysis, electrical system design, etc.). BIM platforms (Table 2), a set of BIM tools offered by a particular software editor that can be used to generate data for multiple uses. They have interfaces with several BIM tools and other specialized software of the AEC industry. BIM servers, online computing applications that have a set of features allowing aggregation, management and coordination of data in a BIM model, regardless of BIM platforms. ArchiCAD BIM server and EDM Model server are some examples. http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJCIET 932 [email protected] BIM Review in AEC Industry and Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa: Case of Cameroon Table 1 Some BIM tools (Eastman et al., 2011; Celnik and Lebègue, 2015 buildingSmart, 2019) N° Tools Examples (Software editor) Tools for rebuilding BIM 1 Tripod (Measurix), Viz‟All (All Systems) models from existing FreeCAD, Rhinoceros (Robert McNeel & Associates), SketchUp 2 Tools for preliminary design (Trimble), SolidWorks Premium (Dassault Systemes) Allplan Architecture (Allplan/ Nemetschek), ArchiCAD (Graphisoft/ 3 Tools for architectural design Nemetschek), Bentley Architecture (Bentley), Revit Architecture (Autodesk), Vectorworks Architect (Vectorwork/ Nemetschek) Allplan Engineering (Allplan/ Nemetschek), CYPE 3D (Cype), Tools for structural modeling CYPECAD (Cype), Revit Structure (Autodesk), Robot Structural 4 and analysis Analysis (Autodesk), Scia Engineer (Scia/ Nemetschek), STAAD-Pro (Bentley), Tekla structure (Tekla/ Trimble) Tools for mechanical, electrical Bentley Hevacomp Mechanical Designer (Bentley), CYPETHERM 5 and plumbing (MEP) (Cype), Revit MEP (Autodesk), DDS-CAD MEP (Nemetschek) Tools for model review and Bentley view (Bentley), Naviswork (Autodesk), Solibri Model 6 coordination Checker (Nemetschek), Tekla BIMsight (Trimble) WinQUANT Q4 (Attic+), Glodon Takeoff for Architecture and 7 Tools for cost estimation Structure (Glodon Software Company Limited), CostOS Estimating (Nomitech) ArchiWIZARD (Graitec), Bentley Hevacomp Mechanical Designer 8 Tools for thermal analysis (Bentley), ClimaWin (BBS Slama) Tools for environmental impact Elody-eveBIM (CSTB), IDA ICE (EQUA Simulation AB), Energy 9 analysis Plus ACTIVe3D Facility Server (Sopra Steria), Allfa Web (Allplan), 10 Tools for facility management ArchiFM (Graphisoft) Table 2 Some BIM platforms (Eastman et al., 2011; Celnik and Lebègue,