Dynamic Data Feeding into BIM for Facility Management: A Prototype Application to a University Building

Abstract

Building information modelling (BIM) has demonstrated its potential as a solution providing support to a series of operations related to facility management (FM) through building data retrieval, analysis, and processing. However, some challenges to the effective adoption of BIM-centred FM information systems occur in their design and implementation, causing obstacles to usability. Among these challenges are the customization of the information structure for each application case, the dynamic character of data supporting building maintenance, and the range of FM specialities involved, frequently including persons who are not BIM experts. This paper presents a BIM–FM prototype to support operations and access updated environmental data for a university building. The two contributions of the developed prototype are its ability to register two types of dynamic data, namely, the regularly acquired environmental sensor information and the sporadic building intervention records, and the automation of the data feeding, updating, and retrieval processes, allowing a user-friendly environment for both BIM experts and non-BIM users. Exploring the BIM interoperability and the integration of plug-ins, the proposed solution enables the comprehensive registration of dynamic FM-related data in an updated model while being accessible to all the specialities involved in the building management operations, enhancing its usability as an integrated solution for data maintenance and retrieval.