A Mobile Application Framework of the BIM-Based Facility Management System Under the Cross-Platform Structure
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Computer Aided Drafting, Design and Manufacturing Volume 26, Number 1, March 2016, Page 58 CADDM A mobile application framework of the BIM-based facility management system under the cross-platform structure Xiao Yaqi1, Hu Zhenzhong1, Wang Wei 2, Chen Xiangxiang3 1. Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; 2. Guangzhou Metro Corporation, Guangzhou, 510000, China; 3. Shenzhen BStar Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, 518055, China. Abstract: The building information model/modeling (BIM) technology is currently applied in a broad range of applications and research for facility management, while the BIM-based mobile FM is difficult owing to various factors and environments. For example, the mobile applications usually require frequent cross-equipment compatibility. This paper proposes a reasonable BIM-based FM cross-platform framework and develops a mobile application on the basis of an existing BIM-based FM system. The developed mobile application is applied in a case study of a metro station project in Guangzhou to verify its effectiveness in FM practice. It helps maintenance staff in viewing BIMs, accessing related information, and updating maintenance records in a unique platform. The test results demonstrate that the proposed BIM-based cross-platform framework meet the FM application requirements and supports the extension of FM functions. Key words: facility management; building information model/modeling; mobile application; cross-platform; hybrid application during a building life cycle. The BIM concept derives 1 Introduction from the penetration of the IT revolution in the Facility management (FM) is always an important construction industry. By applying BIM to the task within the construction life cycle process because construction field, a highly effective integrated of its long time span and huge related information. information platform can be provided to solve the [2] Previous research [1] indicated that, the cost associated interdependence of multiple subjects . The with O&M could take up to 60% of the total cost of a BIM-based application can generate and manage project. Currently, inefficient and sometimes building data during a building life cycle at the FM [3] error-prone manual works are the common practice in stage , which is the last step in the construction FM. Therefore, an effective FM tool can improve the industry and is an indispensable part. The use of BIM management process and save both time and cost. technology to the FM in construction promotes Furthermore, when proceeding the operation and information sharing within building lifecycle. It also maintenance activities, the staff usually has to search increases the accuracy of information, thereby information such as specifications, checklists, providing maintenance staff a convenient management maintenance reports, and maintenance records in a platform. Moreover, it facilitates the centralized large amount of as-built documents. These documents management of the geometry information of including paper files and drawings are too fragmentary, components and equipment, attribute information, and resulting in the unsatisfactory for the overall FM and monitoring information and improves the efficiency of [4] high professionalism for every maintenance staff. management in FM . The building information model/modeling (BIM) The BIM technology enhances the cooperation, technology has provided a new solution to share information integration and visualized expression to project design information. BIM can be regarded as fundamentally solve the problem of low efficiency in the process of generating and managing building data the traditional construction industry caused by Project item: Supported by the National High-tech Research and Development Program of China (2013AA041307), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51478249) and the Tsinghua University-Glodon Joint Research Centre for Building Information Model. Corresponding author: Hu Zhenzhong, Male, Ph.D., Associate professor, E-mail: [email protected]. Xiao Yaqi et al., A mobile application framework of the BIM-based facility management system under the… 59 fragmentary information. However, the development frameworks, including safety and structure monitoring, of BIM technology still faces various problems, one of facility management, and simulated optimization of which is the urgent need to solve the limit of BIM airports, and others, which have been applied to platform application onsite because current BIM bridges or other infrastructure[9]. Another research has systems under broad research and applications are utilized BIM technology to integrate safety mainly deployed at the PC terminal. Technical information on the construction life cycle and studied personnel on the construction and maintenance sites the safety management framework at the BIM-based can hardly obtain and upload data and information maintenance management[10]. These studies have using these BIM systems. Therefore, the extended contributed to the promotion and application of BIM. application of BIM system to mobile terminals is Combining BIM technology with various new imperative. However, the problem faced by the technologies can extend the scope of application of development of mobile application programs is the BIM technology and perfect the use functions of the requirement for more frequent cross-equipment BIM system. Combining BIM technology with compatibility. On the other hand, short cycle, low cost, construction automation technology to complete the and easy maintenance of apps have attracted more integration of monitoring information across various attention from development teams, which in turn subsystems and therefore realize the management of benefit the rapid development of cross-platform the life cycle of intelligent construction is a research technologies in the last few years. direction with high potential[11]. Currently, RFID This study first studied and compared several (Radio Frequency Identification) and 2D barcode cross-platform development technologies to mobile technology are broadly applied to data acquisition, development in the BIM-based FM system, then a such as component identification, positioning of structural design of the cross-platform development of personnel indoors, and so on. Krukowski and mobile applications based on an existing BIM-based Arsenijevic[12] have discussed man and machine FM system was proposed. A prototype was developed positioning technology based on RFID. Lin et al.[13] based on the cross-platform structure to achieve combined BIM technology with 2D barcode relevant functions in a case study. technology and used mobile equipment to scan 2D barcodes to obtain the BIM model and relevant 2 Summary of relevant research attribute information. This has increased the efficiency of FM and has been successfully applied in an office The problems that beset the traditional FM in the building construction project. In addition, the construction industry consist of low efficiency and combination of BIM technology with Geographic waste of resources, the major cause of which is gap in Information System (GIS), Internet of Things (IoT), data capture and entry. The advantage of applying and cloud technology is also a current research hotspot. BIM technology in FM is its capacity to integrate data Chen and Ding[14]studied the design of operation and and information on the design and construction stages maintenance control platforms of city lifelines based and effective promotion of teamwork among all the on IoT and BIM. participants. It also makes the maintenance management of facilities more scientific, reasonable, and orderly[5]. Becerik-Gerber proposed a 3 Exploration of cross-platform development pyramid-shaped data structure and emphasized the technology [6] responsibility of all the participants to provide data . 3.1 Comparative analysis of the cross-platform However, the effect of applying the current BIM solution technology at the FM is too fragmentary, and the realization of information integration and full Currently, most applications that operate at the management for BIM-based FM still need to be mobile terminal are native applications, and the strengthened[7]. Although a few cases of BIM programming language used in operating systems on application realization exist in the life cycle of the mobile computation platforms is determined by construction at this stage, research shows that the operating systems. To most operating systems, it long-term consideration of the scope of BIM provides a native development language (e.g., iOS application in a construction project is likely to result system supporting Objective-C, Android supporting in more benefits[8]. To explore the application of the Java language, and Windows Phone system supporting BIM life cycle in projects, some scholars have studied C# language), and it is considered the most suitable the entire framework of BIM application. For for the development work on this platform. Although instance, Terreno S. proposed three typical research another language can possibly be used, some 60 Computer Aided Drafting, Design and Manufacturing (CADDM), Vol.26, No.1, Mar. 2016 weaknesses and restrictions still exist. In addition to direct interaction with the system native UI through the difference in languages, the SDK and cases for communication with the bottom API of the system. It developing application programs differ according to also guarantees the high performance and UI platforms.