THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND REAL ESTATE The Interoperability of Building Information Models and Document Models in the Hong Kong Construction Industry A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy TSE, Tao-chiu August 2009 Abstract ABSTRACT Graphics and written documents are two major categorises of information in the construction industry. Although computer software packages have been widely adopted, the interoperability of geometrical and written information between different software packages is restricted by inconsistence of proprietary information standards. This problem exists even if the same software packages are used by one or more organisations owing to the non-standardised information structures. However, the advent of Building Information Modelling (BIM) is making a revolutionary change to the creation, storage, exchange and reuse of geometrical and written information. The Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs) and eXtensible Markup Language (XML) further add the opportunity to facilitate the interoperability of BIM and document models over the internet. The main objectives of this PhD study are (i) to identify the enabling technologies for the interoperability of geometrical and written building information, (ii) to formulate a web-enabled Integrated BIM-Document Model (IBDM), (iii) to validate IBDM and (iv) to investigate the ways to increase the uptake of BIM and hence IBDM. The realisation of IBDM is based on a Constructive Interface approach, taking into account the process and workflow context of BIM implementation. IBDM was tested in a small scale project. The validation shows that the successful integration of BIM and document models is bounded by the capability of existing internet browsers in handling XML documents. The key problem lies with the fact that the iii Abstract file size expansion by a factor of 10 during the conversion of native BIM files into ifcXML files. Real project dynamics such as design changes and acceleration of works are other factors affecting the use of BIM and IBDM. The key findings of the questionnaire survey show that client’s encouragement would be influential in the uptake of BIM. In the same vein, the involvement of other project team members in creating and utilising the models is crucial to the overall value of BIM and hence IBDM implementation. In addition to IFC, BIM software vendors are recommended to enable direct export of ifcXML to facilitate further research in the context of ifcXML-based interoperability. Data integrity during the conversion processes should also be enhanced. To speed up the move from 2D CAD to BIM, the Government could take a lead in adopting BIM and establishing the necessary BIM standards, work procedures and contract clauses. Priority should be given to equipping the practitioners and students with BIM skills. It is also recommended that the fee structures and services provided by different consultants need to be reviewed to suit the upfront resources requirements of the use of BIM and IBDM. iv Publications Arising from the Thesis PUBLICATIONS ARISING FROM THE THESIS Refereed Journal Papers Tse, T.C., Wong, K.D and Wong K.W. (2008) "Integrating Building Information Models and Document Models with Industry Foundation Classes and Extensible Markup Language", Automation in Construction (Submitted in January 2008 and being reviewed) Tse, T.C., Wong, K.D and Wong K.W. (2005) "The Utilisation of Building Information Models in nD Modelling: A Study of Data Interfacing and Adoption Barriers", Journal of Information Technology in Construction, vol. 10, pp. 85-110. Available at http://www.itcon.org/. Tse, T.C. and Wong, K.D. (2004) "A Case Study of the ISO 13567 CAD Layering Standard for Automated Quantity Measurement in Hong Kong", Journal of Information Technology in Construction, vol. 9, pp. 1-20. Available at http://www.itcon.org/. Refereed Conference Papers Tse, T.C., Wong, K.D. and Wong, K.W. (2007) "Interoperability of Building Information Models and Document Models". Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Integrated Practices for the 21st Century: Collaborative Working Environments, CollABD’ 07 Conference. Rome, Italy, pp. 217-225, 13-15 December 2007. Tse, T.C., Wong, K.D. and Wong, K.W. (2007) "Design Visualisation and Documentation with Building Information Modelling - A Case Study". Proceedings of the Computer Aided Architecture Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA) Conference 2007. Southeast University, Nanjing, pp. 241-248, 25-27 April 2007. Tse, T.C., Wong, K.D., Wong, K.W., Leung Y.M. and Riese M. (2006) "Building Information Modelling - A Case Study in One Island East, Hong Kong". Proceedings of the Australasian Universities Building Educators Association (AUBEA) Conference. University of Technology Sydney, Australia, 11-14 July 2006. Tse, T.C., Wong, K.D. and Wong, K.W. (2006) "Application of XML in E- Tendering in the Hong Kong Construction Industry". Proceedings of the International Conference on Building Education and Research (BEAR). CIB W089 and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, pp. 92, 10-13 April 2006. Tse, T.C., Wong, K.D. and Wong, K.W. (2005) "Interoperability of Project Information on Construction Procurement". Proceedings of International Symposium on Procurement Systems - The Impact of Cultural Differences and v Publications Arising from the Thesis Systems on Construction Performance. CIB W092/TG23/W107 and Arizona State University, Nevada, USA, 7-10 January 2005. Tse, T.C., Wong, K.D. and Wong, K.W. (2004) "Standardising and Separating Pipelines with CAD Programming". Proceedings of the CIB World Building Congress 2004. National Research Council Canada, Institute for Research in Construction, Toronto, Canada, 1-7 May 2004. Tse, T.C., Wong, K.D. and Wong, K.W. (2003) "e-Project for Public Works in Hong Kong". Proceedings of OASIS Open Standards Conference. Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, Sydney, Australia, 1-3 October 2003. Tse, T.C., Wong, K.D. and Wong, K.W. (2003) "Works Project Information Standards for the Hong Kong Construction Industry". Construction IT Bridging the Distance - Proceedings of the CIB W78's 20th International Conference on Information Technology for Construction. CIB W78 and University of Auckland, New Zealand, 23-25 April 2003, pp. 393-402, ISBN 0-908689-71-3. vi Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY.................................................................... II ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................... III PUBLICATIONS ARISING FROM THE THESIS ............................................ V TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................... VII LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................. XII LIST OF TABLES ..............................................................................................XIV LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................. XV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................. XVII CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION.......................................................................... 1 1.1 RESEARCH BACKGROUND ........................................................................... 2 1.2 OBJECTIVES................................................................................................. 4 1.3 OUTLINE OF THE THESIS.............................................................................. 5 CHAPTER 2 - PRODUCT/BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING........ 7 2.1 OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER .......................................................................... 8 2.2 INTRODUCTION TO PRODUCT MODELLING .................................................. 8 2.3 TRADITIONAL 2D CAD DRAWINGS ............................................................ 9 2.3.1 2D CAD Drawings Explained.................................................................................... 10 2.3.2 Limitations of 2D Presentation .................................................................................. 12 2.4 THE EMERGING BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM).................. 13 2.4.1 Transition from 2D CAD to BIM................................................................................ 13 2.4.2 Definition of Building Information Modelling (BIM)................................................. 16 2.4.3 Benefits of BIM over 2D CAD Drafting ..................................................................... 18 2.4.4 Popularity of BIM ...................................................................................................... 19 2.5 MAJOR BIM SOLUTIONS ........................................................................... 21 2.5.1 Autodesk Revit............................................................................................................ 21 2.5.2 Autodesk Architecture Desktop .................................................................................. 23 2.5.3 Bentley Architecture/TriForma.................................................................................. 25 vii Table of Contents 2.5.4 Gehry Technologies’ Digital Project ......................................................................... 27 2.5.5 Graphisoft ArchiCAD................................................................................................