White paper

Building information modeling and

intelligent green buildings

Dr. T. C. Tan, DMTS, CommScope Labs

B.Sc (Eng), DIC, PhD, CEng, FIET
 Contents
Introduction 3

Building information modeling (BIM) 3

Clash detection 4

BIM models 5

BIM and space management 6

BIM and asset information management 6

BIM and facility management and building analytics 6

BIM standards and COBie 6

U.S. national BIM standard (NBIMS-US) 6
U.K. PAS/BS 1192 series 6
COBie 7

BIM adoption 7

BIM and CommScope 8

Conclusions 8

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Introduction
In May 2011, the U.K. government started a four-year government construction strategy by looking at implementing building information
modeling (BIM). The U.K. government is now committed to introducing Level 2 BIM on all its construction contracts awarded from 2016 and
intends to introduce Level 3 BIM by 2025. Its main aim is to maximize efficiency in the construction industry through legislation and best
practices aimed at lowering costs, speeding delivery, lowering emissions and increasing exports. This will encourage collaborative behaviors
that will unlock new, more efficient ways of working at all stages of a project lifecyclefrom earliest concept through operation. The key
objective is to reduce capital cost and the carbon burden from the construction and operation of the built environment by 20 percent.1

According to McGraw-Hill Construction, BIM usage is accelerating powerfully, driven by BIM mandates from the U.S., U.K. and other
government entities.2

So what is BIM? How will it fit into the drive for intelligent green buildings?

Building information modeling (BIM)

BIM is a business process for generating, leveraging and managing BIM has already given the industry measurable positives:
building data to design, construct and operate the building during
its lifecycle. It covers geometry, spatial relationships, light analysis, Increased understanding and predictabilityoffering greater
geographic information, quantities and properties of building certainty and reduced risk
components, project management and post-construction facilities
management. Improved efficiency

Improved integration and coordinationmeaning fewer problems

BIM uses 3D, real-time, dynamic building modeling software to
onsite
increase productivity in building design and construction. The data
can be used to illustrate the entire building lifecycle from cradle Less waste
to cradlefrom inception and design to demolition and materials
reuseincluding quantities and properties of materials (which can Better value and quality
be easily extracted from the model) and scope of work (including
management of project targets and facilities management throughout Better buildings throughout their lifecycle
the buildings life). Furthermore, systems, components, assemblies
According to the U.K. government, early BIM demonstration projects
and sequences can be shown in relative scale to each other and, in
have already achieved savings of around 20 percent during the
turn, relative to the entire project. construction phase, with some on course to achieve 33 percent
savings over the life of the building.
Managing a construction project and building lifecycle using BIM can
result in substantial savings in both time and moneyfrom design BIM is far more than 3D CAD modeling. It requires changes to the
and construction through to ongoing maintenance. definition of traditional architectural phases, more data sharing than
the construction industry is used to, and a willingness to embrace
partnering in an approach that collects all project-related
The model saves time and waste onsite, and renders extra
information digitally. BIM is able to achieve this by modeling
coordination checks largely unnecessary; the information generated
representations, specifications, and the critical paths of actual parts
from the model leads to fewer errors onsite caused by inaccurate and
and components used in the construction process. This represents a
uncoordinated information. When all members of the construction
major shift from traditional computer-aided design.
team work on the same modelfrom early design through to
completionintroduced changes are automatically coordinated
through BIM, across the whole project, and information generated is
therefore of high quality.

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There are four levels of BIM sophistication3:
Clash detection
Level 0: This basic level involves separate sources of information in
paper documents. Clash detection is the process of finding where the BIM models
clash. Clash detection puts a value on the savings made from
Level 1: This level involves separate sources of information in
eliminating problems found during a review. Clash detection can be
semi-structured electronic documents, often involving 2D/3D
broken into three types:
CAD.

Level 2: This level involves file-based electronic information with Hard clash
some automated connectivity. It will include post-construction
information such as operation and maintenance of assets and the Soft clash/clearance clash
management activity for the life of the asset.
4D/workflow clash
Level 3: This level involves integrated electronic information with
A hard clash is simply when two objects occupy the same space
full automated connectivity. Level 3 BIM is a fully integrated and
(e.g., a pipe going through a wall where there is no opening).
collaborative process that includes project lifecycle and facility
management information enabled by web services.
Soft clashes refer to allowable tolerances or space; for example,
Another terminology commonly used is BIM dimensions. Currently, buffer zones between components left to provide space for future
these are defined as follows: maintenance.

3D BIM: This provides a visualization tool enabling designers and

4D/workflow clashes refer to clashes in scheduling work crews,
contractors to work together to identify and resolve problems with
equipment/material fabrication delivery clashes, and other timeline
the help of the model.
issues.
4D BIM: This is 3D BIM plus the construction workflow planning,
scheduling and management. As the design is changed, advanced
BIM models automatically identifies those changes that will affect
the critical path and indicate what the corresponding impact will be
on the overall delivery of the project.

5D BIM: This is 4D BIM plus the projects construction cost and

requirements. With BIM, the model includes information that
allows a contractor to accurately and rapidly generate an array of
essential estimating information, such as materials quantities and
costs, size and area estimates, and productivity projections. As
changes are made, estimating information automatically adjusts,
allowing greater contractor productivity.

The industry is already discussing 6D BIM, which is 5D BIM plus

facility management.4 The author believes that, extending this further,
7D BIM could be 6D BIM plus building analytics.

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BIM models
At the moment, BIM models cover the following areas:

Architectural

Structural

Mechanical

Electrical

Plumbing

Each discipline creates a BIM model, and all models are integrated into a composite master model. As more and more business and building
applications (such as voice, data, video, wireless and building control services) operate over one network infrastructure, the network
infrastructure should be covered under the BIM models. After all, this network infrastructure is the superhighway for these applications and is
commonly referred to as the fourth utility (water, power and HVAC are the other three utilities). This will enable better coordination between
the M&E and the network design teams. Figure 1 shows some examples of BIM models.

Figure 1: Examples of BIM models (courtesy of Jacobs Global Buildings)

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BIM and space management BIM standards and COBie
Using a BIM model for space management enables the facility team U.S. national BIM standard (NBIMS-US)
to allocate, manage, and track spaces and related resources within a
facility. BIM permits the team to analyze the existing use of space, In the U.S., the national BIM standard (NBIMS-US) was published
evaluate proposed changes, and effectively plan for future needs. by the buildingSMART alliance (a council of the U.S. National
Having accurate and detailed space information is especially useful Institute of Building Sciences) at the end of 2007. Since then, it
for planning renovation projects, where some building segments will has undergone several revisions. The finalized NBIMS-US V3 was
remain occupied and change during the construction phase. Existing released in July 2015. NBIMS-US is supported by many software
workspace management systems should be integrated into BIM. vendors and several big design firms and construction companies.
This standard is based on Industry Foundation Class (IFC or ifcXML),
which is an ISO standard (IS 16739) for sharing data information,
BIM and asset information management and PDF/E (IS 24517) for geometry (including 3D). It also includes
embedding IFCs in the PDF. The IFC openBIM format was originally
Data from a BIM record model can be linked to a database of
developed by the buildingSMART alliance to facilitate interoperability
building assets to assist in maintaining and operating a facility more
in the architecture, engineering and construction industries and is an
efficiently. These assets often include the building elements, systems,
object-based file format tied to a specific data model.
and equipment that must be maintained and operated efficiently to
satisfy the facility users requirements in a cost-effective way.
U.K. PAS/BS 1192 series

Asset management systems are used to support financial decision

making, short-term and long-term planning, and maintenance In 2007, the U.K. published the BS 1192 standardCollaborative
scheduling. Using information in a BIM record model, facility Production of Architectural, Engineering and Construction
managers can: Information. This standard forms the basis for achieving Level 1
BIM. Recently, the U.K. BIM Task Groupin collaboration with the
Construction Industry Councilpublished three additional BIM
Evaluate the cost implications of changing or upgrading building
standards:
assets

Track the use, performance, and maintenance of a buildings assets PAS 1192-2:2013Specification for information management for
for the owner, maintenance team, and financial department the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building
information modeling
Produce accurate quantity takeoffs of current company assets for
financial reporting and estimating the future costs of upgrades or PAS 1192-3:2014Specification for information management
replacements for the operational phase of assets using building information
modeling
BIM and facility management and building BS 1192-4:2014Collaborative production of informationPart
analytics 4: Fulfilling employers information exchange requirements using
COBieCode of practice
BIM can be used to track, update, and maintain facilities management
information to support better planning, operations, and maintenance PAS 1192:2 specified an information management process to
decision making throughout a buildings lifecycle. Tracking support BIM Level 2 in the capital/delivery phase of projects
performance data from the building systems and comparing these setting out a framework for collaborative working on BIM-enabled
values to design model predictions enables facility managers to projects and providing specific guidance for information management
ensure the building is operating to specified design and sustainable requirements associated with projects delivered using BIM.
standards and identify opportunities to modify operations to improve
system performance. Building designers can also use this data to PAS 1192:3 acts as a partner to PAS 1192:2 and supports the
validate and refine their prediction models and evaluate the impact Level 2 BIM objective by setting out a framework for information
of proposed materials and system changes to improve performance. management for the whole lifecycle of asset management. It offers
Existing facility management systems should be integrated into BIM. guidance on the use and maintenance of the asset information model
This is where 6D BIM potentially fits. to support the planned preventative maintenance program and the
portfolio management activity for the life of the asset. It addresses
Building analytics often focus on building energy use. However, the operational phase of assets irrespective of whether these were
sensor networks are becoming key ingredients of smart buildings commissioned through major works, acquired through transfer of
and they provide insight into systems operation, building usage ownership, or already existed in an asset portfolio.
and location of occupants. When combined with building analytics,
the data can be converted into business intelligence and allow for BS 1192-4 defines a methodology for the exchange of information
informed decisions on energy optimization, operational efficiency and throughout the lifecycle of a facility. It defines expectations for the
space utilization. This is where 7D BIM potentially fits. design and construction project phases prior to handover and the

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subsequent in-use phase. This code of practice helps the portfolio BIM adoption
managers, asset managers and facility managers specify their
expectations while helping information providersincluding the According to McGraw-Hill Construction2, BIM usage is accelerating
lead designers and contractorsprepare concise, unambiguous and powerfully, driven by BIM mandates from the U.S., U.K. and other
accessible information. The use of COBie ensures that information government entities.
can be prepared and used without the need for knowledge of the
sending and receiving applications or databases. It ensures that the
In the U.S., the General Services Administration (GSA)an agency
information exchange can be reviewed and validated for compliance,
that manages all federal buildingshas been requiring BIM since
continuity and completeness.
2003.

Since BIM is a collaborative approach based on shared information

In Europe, BIM adoption is as follows:
modelsand enabled by web servicesthere is a need to address
cyber security in the implementation of the collaborative processes
and systems. The British Standards Institute and the U.K. industry5 U.K.: Level 2 BIM mandatory for all government projects by 2016.
are currently developing a BIM security standard that will eventually Intent to implement Level 3 BIM by 2025.
be published as BS 1192-5.
Norway: Statsbygg (civil state client) mandated BIM use for the
lifecycle of their buildings.
COBie
Finland: Senate Properties (state property services agency) has
COBie stands for Construction Operations Building Information required the use of BIM for its projects since 2007.
Exchange and was a specification developed by the U.S. Army in
Denmark and Sweden: Many public and government projects
2007. It specifies how information may be captured during design
require the use of BIM.
and construction and provided to facility operators. It is a data
schema for holding and transmitting information around handover Germany: BIM is used mainly in projects driven by a few private,
to support the clients ownership and operation of a facility (both institutional clients. The State of Bavaria is piloting BIM.
new and existing). Thus, COBie has two main purposes: as a data
exchange format and as a checking tool in the design process. The Netherlands: The Government Buildings Agency (RGD)
mandated the use of BIM by 2011.
The original document was revised by the U.K. government in 2012
France: BIM is used mainly in projects driven by a few private,
to include energy and CO2 impact on building constructions. The
institutional clients.
process for importing data from BIM models has been extended to
four data drops during the delivery stage of the project to manage In the Asia/Pacific (APAC) region, BIM adoption is as follows:
cost and carbon1:
Singapore: The Building and Construction Authority mandated the
Data drop 1: This deals with models that represent requirements use of BIM for projects of more than 20,000 square meters after
and constraints 2013.

Data drop 2: This deals with models that represent outline Malaysia: BIM is mainly a private initiative driven by the larger
solutions property developers and contractors.

Data drop 3: This deals with models that represent construction South Korea: The South Korean government has been gradually
information increasing the scope of BIM-mandated projects since 2010.

Data drop 4: This deals with models that represent operation and China: BIM is used mainly in projects driven by a few private,
maintenance information institutional clients. Legal requirements in the construction industry
work against collaboration. RFP for design and construction are
The revised document is the COBie-UK-2012. The objective of this required to be separate. However, according to Beijing Tsinghua
document is to explain the organization of the COBie worksheet and University, the Chinese government is strongly supporting BIM and
identify who provides what information within the requirement as BIM will be the future IT solution in China.
the project proceeds from planning, to design, to commissioning, to
occupancy, to handover. India: Large construction companies in sectors such as hotels and
airports are starting to implement BIM.

COBie is simply a subset of the integrated BIM focused on the Australia/New Zealand: BIM is used mainly for commercial and
owner. COBie can be exported to BIM and vice versa. government building projects.

Japan: BIM is used mainly for commercial building projects.

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BIM and CommScope Conclusion
So what is CommScope doing regarding BIM? The first step taken There is no doubt that the future of architecture and the construction
by CommScope was to link our eCatalog products to the Autodesk industry is digitaland BIM is the future of design and long-term
desktop tool using their AUTODESK SEEK interface. The first phase facility management and building analytics. It is government led
has been completed. See the link below. and technology driven and it is implementing change across all
industries. However, there is still much confusion on how it should be
http://seek.autodesk.com/search/manufacturer:CommScope?source= utilized and implemented. BIM is a digital model that helps everyone
SearchBox&locale=en-us understand the building. However, it is a new technology introduced
into an industry typically slow to adopt change. Nevertheless, BIM
will grow to play a crucial role in building design and documentation.
The CommScope imVision solution provides the capability to
discover end devices connected to the network and to identify their
location within a building. This real-time data could greatly improve BIM reduces errors in transfer of information and helps build better
BIM asset information management. value constructions. By identifying clash detection, BIM prevents
errors creeping in at the various stages of development and
construction.

In addition, BIM offers a detailed computer visualization of each part

and assembly in relation to the total building. As hardware, software
and cloud applications herald a greater capability to handle increasing
amounts of data and information, the use of BIM will become even
more pronounced than it is in current projects.

Finally, BIM will be a key driver for the building sustainability and
support for green initiatives.

1
UK BIM Task Group: www.bimtaskgroup.org
2
McGraw-Hill Construction, SmartMarket Report 2014The Business Value of BIM for Construction
in Major Global Markets: How Contractors Around the World Are Driving Innovation With Building
Information Modelling
3
UK HM Government: Digital Built BritainLevel 3 Building Information ModellingStrategic Plan
4
www.vicosoftware.com/6d-bim-models
5
The Institution of Engineering and Technology: Accelerating the Adoption of Building Information
Modelling (BIM) in the Built Environment

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