The construction industry’s traditional resistance to incorporate change has prevented benefits from technological advancements to accrue. One area in which technology shows potential to benefit the industry is in addressing the existing communication gaps between the designer, builder, and owner. This gap is more evident in the operation and maintenance of a building. At project completion, an owner also receives information of the building. This information is comprised of as-built drawings, operation and maintenance manuals, warranties, and other documents. However, there is additional and valuable information for the owner generated throughout the design and construction process that goes unrecorded or is not passed unto the owner at project completion.
The Building Information Model (BIM) is a digital collection of well coordinated information about the design and construction of a building in the form of an integrated database, where information is generated as the digital model is produced. The intent of the research is to explore how the BIM could be used to provide continuity in the flow of information in a coordinated and comprehensive manner from the design and construction of the building to its occupation and operation by the owner. Through literature review, a case study, and interviews with facilities management personnel of four Worcester area universities, it was found that use of the BIM is perceived of modest value because of their current preference for paper submittals, resistance to learning new software, and accessibility by people of all levels in the organization.
The Internet is considered to be a tool that could greatly contribute to overcome the resistance of using information generated and coordinated through BIM. Therefore, a prototype website was developed using information about the design and construction of the recently completed WPI Bartlett Center. This information was partially generated by BIM and it also contains digitized information about other aspects of the building. The website contains a BIM-generated 3D model and samples of the operation and maintenance manuals, warranties, and submittals. The implementation of a website was found to be promising because of increased access to information, high usability, and variety of content.
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