BIM And Knowledge Management In Construction Industry

BIM and Knowledge Management

Discuss about the BIM and Knowledge Management.

The growth of the nation economy depends upon construction industry. The construction industry helps in increasing 105 of GDP. The construction sector is facing problems such as spiralling costs, increasing efficiency of the demand, issues related to fragmentation, lack in collaboration, and lack in coordination among team members. The initiatives are going in the field of knowledge management to increase the level of construction industry. The knowledge management strategy helps in facilitating the communication and coordination among the supply chain management program. The use of business information modelling framework helps in enhancing the knowledge repositories to develop the strong communication relationship among the team members. The knowledge intensive activities are laid down in the construction organization to manage the efficiency and effectiveness of the information. “The awareness of the knowledge management program brings change in practices, innovation, and procedures” (Kenley, 2011). The quality of the work can be improved by focusing on the knowledge management strategy to provide effective and efficient information according to the requirement of the work. The use of BIM provides the set of tools and technologies to improve the product performance by focusing on associated stakeholders and variation in processes and requirement. “The BIM is the tools which are used for designing 3 dimensional digital models” (Boston, 2012). The information can be effectively accessed by the participating units. The strong relationship can be developed between stakeholders and the process used to develop the construction projects. The contemporary technologies of BIM helps in facilitating the design and construction process which is deployed for developing the projects.

The BIM provides the model for virtual building to develop collaboration between architecture, engineering tools, and construction activities. The role played by the BIM knowledge management is to provide ease of collecting and managing information, developing relationship between various participating objects, tracking and managing of information, ensuring identification of problems, and others. The transformation of the infrastructure can be done by changing the process associated with designing, planning, analysing, and managing.

“The building knowledge model can be efficiently developed by using the BIM technology. The digital design is efficiently developed by team members to facilitate the construction activities” (Omotayo, 2015). The knowledge management maintains the flow of information to handle the complexity of supply chain management program throughout the life cycle of the project. The knowledge can be reused by effectively manage the integration between BIM and KM. The BIM make use of the web technologies to provide the visual platform to demonstrate the flow of construction activities. The following table shows the areas of knowledge management which make use of BIM:

Knowledge management Save Time On Research and Writing Hire a Pro to Write You a 100% Plagiarism-Free Paper. Get My Paper	Area	Use of BIM	Role
Gather	Capture information	BIM helps in representing the current status of the facility elements	BIM focuses on collecting the relevant information
	Quantify the information	It helps in measuring the advantage of processes which are undertaken	Quantification of processes
	Monitoring	The performance of the system can be monitored correspondent to the user  expectation	Observation and measurement of activities
	Qualify	Identification of the good quality elements	It helps in tracking and identifying the good quality activities
Generate	Prescription of activities	Helps in specifying the flow of construction activities	Specify the sequence of activities
	Arrangement	Location and placement of construction activities	Configuration of layout of construction activities
	Size	Helps in determining the magnitude of the flow of activities	Scaling the activities which are relevant to the project
Analysis	Coordination of activities	“Developing the relationship between the associated stakeholders” (Yang, 2013)	Detecting and managing the coordination of activities
	Forecasting	The forecasting of activities helps in predicting the future performance of the activities	Simulation and predicting the flow of activities
	Validation	The accuracy of the information should be logically checked	Confirmation of the activities should be taken periodically
Communication	Visualization	“The realistic representation of the activities helps in enhancing the performance of the construction activities” (Joseph, 2011)	The periodic review of the activities should be carried out
	Transformation	Modification of information helps in enhancing the performance of the process	Translation of processes
	Drawing and designing	The symbolic representation of construction activities	Development of the draft in detail
	Documentation	The information of the project activities should be recorded for future use	Schedules and reports should be prepared
Realization	Fabrication	The manufacturing of the processes can be improved	Manufacturing of activities
	Assemblage	The assembling and integration of activities can improved the quality of activities	Pre-fabrication of activities
	Controlling	The physical manipulation of activities can enhance the working capability of the processes	Manipulation of activities
	Regulation	The operation of the activities should be regulated periodically	Direct usage of activitis

BIM Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework of construction activities helps in enhancing the knowledge management system of the proposed project. “The creation and deployment of the sharing parameters helps in taking initiatives of the project” (Bouzza, 2015). The generation of knowledge can be created by focusing on the reviews, omissions, and errors. The framework of BIM depends on five major component field which are categorised as designing, construction, operation, stakeholder management, and improvement in performance. It focuses on constructing the activities related to design, construction, and engineering. The graphic information model is used for sharing of information by deploying the virtual construction system. The sharing of information and scheduling of activities depends on the virtual design of the construction project. Various knowledge management areas are used for sharing the text based illustration to enhance the affordability of illustration. The BIM based environment effectively increases the knowledge sharing process by improving the decision making capability of the project manager and top management. The BIM model requests for appropriate information to develop the scenario to resolve the issues of the existing situation.

“The performance of the project can be improved by using the technique of BIM. The BIM make use of methodology for leveraging the object oriented inheritance” (Liu, 2010). The sharing of innovative ideas and information helps in enhancing the construction process. The framework makes use of knowledge management to enhance the functionality of the construction activities. The schematic design phase can be developed with the use of shared parameters. “The strategies should be built between dissemination and knowledge generation” (Rowlinson, 2013). The construction process helps in achieving the milestone of the organization. The continuous improvement of the project depends upon the dissemination of knowledge. The database of the system helps in retrieving the information related to stakeholders, project processes, procedures, and others. The knowledge management in construction industry is used for collecting, reusing, modelling, evaluation, and maintaining knowledge information associated with the construction industry. The efforts are going in the field of knowledge management to improve the quality of work provided to enhance the construction activities. The key drivers of the knowledge management helps identifying and mitigating risks associated with the project. The BIM is the recommended technology to resolve the risks associated with the construction industries.

There are several phases in the deployment of BIM knowledge management procedures which are summarised in the table below:

Phases	Description
Creation of issues	The developer should focus on the project procedures, methods, policies, activities, and others to generate list of issues and risks associated with the development of the project to opt the mitigation methods.
Sharing of Knowledge	Different methods should be used for sharing of implicit and explicit knowledge for providing proper structure to the coordinated units.
Updating knowledge phase	The identification and editing of the knowledge associated with the project activities should be done periodically to remain proactive of the new risks which can generate with the flow of activities.

The design of the construction project can be improved with the help of BIM. The cost of the project can be reduced to the high extent. The designing of the project is done in such a way so as to complete it before the expectation of the customers. “The BIM is applied in all the three phases of the construction which are categorised as pre-construction activities, construction activities, and post construction activities” (Aziz, 2013). The efficiency of the project can be improved with the use of BIM tools and technologies. The decision making capability of the management can be improved which results in providing high quality construction work at the site. The completion of the project can be done within the specified time and cost. The clashing of activities can be resolved with the use of business information modelling. “The quality of the construction project can be improved by organising the activities in proper format during the initial stages of the project” (Lindblad, 2013). The following table shows the role of BIM in construction activities:

Phases and activities	Stage	Description
Pre-construction activities	Modelling of the existing condition	It helps in enhancing the accuracy based on existing condition
	Planning	It focuses on scheduling the sequence of activities during the initial stages of the project
	Designing phase	It helps in enhancing the communication mechanism for providing decision at faster rate. It helps in detecting and analysis of the clashing of activities. It focuses on increasing the effectiveness of the design
	Scheduling	The sequence of activities can be generated to enhance the efficiency of the construction activities. The progress of the activities can be tracked with the help of BIM tools.
	Estimation	The 3D project model gives the clear view of the project before its development
	Analysis of the site	The tracking of cost and time helps in developing the project within the allocated budget and cost
Construction activities	Construction and development phase	“The construction phase helps in maintaining the flow of traffic, materials required for the site development, and required associated machinery” (Kivitis, 2013). The controlling of cost and cash flow helps in tracking of activities “The flow of resources helps in completing the project activities before the allocated time” (Krystyna, 2011)
Post Construction activities	Management of operation and associated facilities	Keeping track of the construction site Proactive management of facilities provided Development of schedule for maintenance program

The activities such as designing, planning, budgeting, and scheduling which are associated with the construction of project can be actively developed and maintained with the use of BIM tools and technologies. The platform of BIM helps in providing evolutionary design of architect of the infrastructure. The speed of the designing process can be increased by maintaining proper communication with the stakeholders. The visualization of the 4D model helps in enhancing the construction process to solve the problems associated with the building of the assets. The quality of the design, decision, and working capability can be improved by using the BIM tools in the working curriculum of the construction activities. The cost estimation accuracy can be achieved by using the business information modelling. The coordination of the activities help in resolving the conflicting issues associated in the construction activities. The integration of the activities helps in resolving the internal conflict.

The BIM based automated code checking process is used for maintaining distribution of activities at construction site. The Business information modelling and knowledge management helps in facilitating the sharing of knowledge, solving problems, approving proposals and drawings. The relevancy in the process deployed can be achieved by sharing of knowledge. The explicit and implicit knowledge helps in managing the flow of information to enhance the working capability of the construction activities. The role played by the BIM knowledge management is to provide ease of collecting and managing information, developing relationship between various participating objects, tracking and managing of information, ensuring identification of problems, and others. The handling of problems is based on developing the matrix which can evenly identify the knowledge issues, attributes of knowledge, description and the problem area of the project, and attachment of knowledge support such as drawings, process, reports, and document. The user friendly environment is provided to the stakeholders of the project by initializing the methodology of BIM knowledge management. The BIM files helps in granting authority and authentication to the user of the project to handle the construction activities. The interface layer is provided to the end user to access the database and application. The BIM model is capable of storing and retrieving information related with the project activities, comments, knowledge, and others. The accuracy of the flow of activities at the construction site can be enhanced with the use of BIM with Knowledge management scheme to provide good quality construction site.

The construction site faces some problems such as delay of the project, construction of the dirty sites, and difficulty in managing site condition, poor work quality, cause of accidents on construction site, and many others. These problems can be evenly managed by using the ICT technology of BIM in the working curriculum of the construction industry. “The development of the virtual design helps in managing the construction site effectively” (Onyango, 2016). The quality of the work and infrastructure of the site can be improved with the help of the 3D design. The capability of the system depends on the skills associated with the employees of the organization. The potential problems which are associated with the pre-construction phase, during the construction phase, and post construction phase can be resolved by managing project planning with the use of BIM technology. The business information modelling provides the following benefits to the construction industry:

Benefit	Description
Increasing the speed and utility of the construction activities	The sharing of information can be easily carried out. The value and the reusability of the information can be enhanced by using the BIM technology
Enhancing the collaboration and coordination between construction and design phase	The analysis and the simulation of the asset proposal should be rigorously done to improve the performance and benchmarking of the innovative solutions
Improving quality of data	The flexibility can be achieved in the documentation. The automation in the activities can be exploited. The management of assets depends upon requirement, designing, operational information, and construction.
Data visualization	The BIM is capable of adding values to the 3D visualization technique. The misinterpretation of the activities can be realign the activities on the basis of the stakeholder expectation
Enhancing the finding of the faults	The modelling of the design helps in reducing the conflict associated with the construction activities. BIM is capable of resolving the internal conflict of the model.

The construction site faces some problems such as delay of the project, construction of the dirty sites, difficulty in managing site condition, poor work quality, cause of accidents on construction site, and many others. There are some negative aspects associated with the BIM activities. Some of the challenges are described below:

Disadvantages	Description
A single design detailed model	BIM does not provide any alternative design option for managing the construction activities.
Interoperability	The BIM provides the standard software to manage the requirement and change needed in the project life cycle.
Additional work for the designer	The designer has to create the model of the project on the BIM software. The drawing should provide complete portfolio of the building structure. It increases the work pressure of the designer to provide complete design of the building at first site.
BIM size and complexity	“The data sharing is the difficult task for the BIM because the heavy files have to be shared which are associated with the project” (Azhar, 2011). The real time accessing of the file requires the broad band internet access.
Security	Security is the major concern in the deployment of BIM in the working curriculum of the organization.
Implication of the trade practices	The BIM is becoming the mandatory trading option in some of the countries
Issues related with IP	“The designer developed the rich model which is equipped with IP risks” (Abanda, 2015)
Issues related with the authentication of user	The authentication of users helps in securing authenticity questions
Costs	The extra cost is spend on the deployment of new technology in the working curriculum of the organization
Socio technical issues	The implementation of new technology raises the socio technical issues because the employees are not ready to opt new working technology
Skill issues	The capability of the system depends on the skills associated with the employees of the organization

Conclusion:

The use of business information modelling framework helps in enhancing the knowledge repositories to develop the strong communication relationship among the team members. The BIM provides the model for virtual building to develop collaboration between architecture, engineering tools, and construction activities. The strong relationship can be developed between stakeholders and the process used to develop the construction projects. The Business information modelling and knowledge management helps in facilitating the sharing of knowledge, solving problems, approving proposals and drawings. The relevancy in the process deployed can be achieved by sharing of knowledge. The graphic information model is used for sharing of information by deploying the virtual construction system. The sharing of information and scheduling of activities depends on the virtual design of the construction project. The BIM make use of the web technologies to provide the visual platform to demonstrate the flow of construction activities. The BIM model is capable of storing and retrieving information related with the project activities, comments, knowledge, and others. The initiatives are going in the field of knowledge management to increase the level of construction industry.

References:

Abanda, H. (2015). A critical analysis of building information modelling system used in the construction industry. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

The author focuses on the user friendly environment provided to the stakeholders of the project by initializing the methodology of BIM knowledge management.

Azhar, S. (2011). Building information modelling: Benefits, risks, and challenges. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

The paper focuses on the use of BIM  in adding values to the 3D visualization technique. The misinterpretation of the activities can be realign the activities on the basis of the stakeholder expectation.

Aziz, Z. (2013). A case study of fostering multidisciplinary in built environment using BIM. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

The paper focuses on the framework which makes use of knowledge management and BIM to enhance the functionality of the construction activities.

Boston, S. (2012). Shaping the future of construction. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 21 Aug. 2016].

The paper highlights that the BIM based environment effectively increases the knowledge sharing process by improving the decision making capability of the project manager and top management.

Bouzza, T. (2015). The use of building information modelling in managing knowledge in construction project delivery: A conceptual model. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

The modelling of the design helps in reducing the conflict associated with the construction activities. BIM is capable of resolving the internal conflict of the model.

Joseph, H. (2011). A critical analysis of building information modelling system used in the construction projects. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

The author focuses on the critical analysis of the activities such as designing, planning, budgeting, and scheduling which are associated with the construction of project can be actively developed and maintained with the use of BIM tools and technologies.

Kenley, R. (2011). Construction project control methodologies and productivity improvement: EVM, BIM, LBM. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

In this paper the author focuses on the role played by the BIM knowledge management is to provide ease of collecting and managing information, developing relationship between various participating objects, tracking and managing of information, ensuring identification of problems, and others.

Kivitis, R. (2013). Enabling Sustainability and asset management through knowledge management. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

The BIM provides the model for virtual building to develop collaboration between architecture, engineering tools, and construction activities.

Krystyna, A. (2011). Building information modelling: An innovative way to manage risks in construction project. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

In this paper, the author focuses on the accuracy of the flow of activities at the construction site can be enhanced with the use of BIM with Knowledge management scheme to provide good quality construction site.

Lindblad, H. (2013). A study of the implementation process of BIM in construction projects. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

The author highlights the use of BIM provides the set of tools and technologies to improve the product performance by focusing on associated stakeholders and variation in processes and requirement.

Liu, Z. (2010). Feasibility analysis of BIM based information system for facility management 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

In this paper, the author focuses on the feasibility study of the BIM for facilitating the management of the construction activities.

Omotayo, O. (2015). Knowledge management as an important tool in organization management: A review of literature. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 21 Aug. 2016].

The Business information modelling and knowledge management helps in facilitating the sharing of knowledge, solving problems, approving proposals and drawings.

Onyango, A. (2016). Interaction between lean construction and BIM. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

The knowledge management and BIM strategy helps in facilitating the communication and coordination among the supply chain management program.

Rowlinson, S. (2013). BIM collaboration: A conceptual model and its characteristics. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

The author develops the conceptual framework of activities and highlights the features which are added by the BIM in the implementation of the project.

Yang, G. (2013). Application of BIM models for construction process planning. 1st ed. [ebook]. [Accessed 03 Sep. 2016].

The BIM is actively used in every phase of the project life cycle such as planning, designing, analysing, and implementation.