{"id":25629,"date":"2024-04-30T13:58:47","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T20:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/bim-fm-integration-a-primer-on-virtual-facilities-management\/"},"modified":"2024-04-30T13:58:49","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T20:58:49","slug":"bim-fm-integration-a-primer-on-virtual-facilities-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/bim-fm-integration-a-primer-on-virtual-facilities-management\/","title":{"rendered":"BIM-FM Integration: A Primer on Virtual Facilities Management"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Minding the FM Gap \u2013 Setting the Stage for a Successful BIM-FM<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A building is only as good as it operates; the most sophisticated creation made with the most cutting-edge digital tools remains a fantasy if it cannot be operated within the means of the owner\/operator in the real world. Today\u2019s facilities are demanding complex and intelligent Facilities Management (FM) workflows and systems that are able to address a diverse set of functions: asset management, operation, maintenance, just to name a few. This requires an intense amount of data. However, the low-tech nature of traditional Facilities Information Management (FIM) creates an analog bottleneck between the digital processes of building design, construction, and operation. It is therefore no surprise that FM has faced numerous information management challenges and considerable financial losses as a result of industry silos and insufficient data interoperability. These challenges are driving the industry to search for platforms that facilitate more integrated, sustainable, and automated workflows throughout the lifecycle of a capital project.<\/p>\n

FM Yesterday<\/h2>\n

From an information management point of
\nview, FM requires access to credible, timely data on a large number of
\ncomponents that comprise the facility. Traditional FM starts with searching for
\ninformation in piles of paper documents that are handed over to operations at
\nthe end of construction and later manually entered into FM systems.<\/p>\n

FM heavily relies on the information that
\nis gradually created in earlier phases of the lifecycle of a capital project,
\nin which FM stakeholders typically don\u2019t get involved during this time.
\nTherefore, FM needs are neglected and design and construction deliverables do
\nnot match the needs of the Owner\/Operator. In such a fragmented and low-tech
\ntransition of data, a number of risks and inefficient practices emerge:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Facility and asset data that is not
    \naccessible or usable<\/li>\n
  • Data that lacks a standard data structure<\/li>\n
  • Receipt of incomplete, irrelevant,
    \ninaccurate, and ambiguous data<\/li>\n
  • Mapping, retrieving, and validation of
    \ndata is a time-consuming and error-prone process<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    FM could benefit from a workflow that
    \nestablishes a common understanding of the Owner\u2019s needs among design and
    \nconstruction teams. Upfront identification of required asset data, the
    \nappropriate format, and structure according to FM task and system needs allows
    \ngradual creation of data starting in design phase and construction, and
    \nsustainable exchange and reuse in operation.<\/p>\n

    At the turnover of a capital project,
    \noperations commence and facilities and assets begin to age. The amount of FM
    \ndata becomes even more intensive, resulting in further complications in
    \nmanaging it. This overwhelms FM workflows and results in significant challenges
    \nfor the Owner\/Operator. Therefore, Owners are interested more than ever in
    \nfinding data-driven processes and technologies that align with their FM and
    \noperation goals and objectives.<\/p>\n

    Enters BIM!<\/h2>\n

    In today\u2019s AEC industry, Building Information Models (BIMs) are standard practice as Architects, Engineers, and Contractors have become more adept at technology-driven workflows. The momentum that BIM has gained in the AEC industry raises the possibility of extending the life-cycle of these models into post-construction workflows; however, it alters the conventional methods of data exchange, documentation, and analysis. With a clear direction of the Owner\/Operator\u2019s needs and requirements for FM, the BIM has the ability to provide a repository for both geometric and semantic information, allowing it to supply data-rich FM deliverables in the form of interactive record models.<\/p>\n

    \"-\"
    BIM as a consolidated repository of facility data on the Bowie State University Project. Photo: VIATechnik<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Establishing clear model development and implementation protocols can facilitate automated data retrieval from a BIM and generate FM deliverables in the Owner\u2019s\/Operator\u2019s desired format.<\/p>\n

    \"-\"\"-\"
    Automated data retrieval from BIM for FM (Dynamo and Revit). Photo: VIATechnik<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    But that\u2019s only the start! BIM is
    \ntransitioning from a simple information database to a platform capable of
    \nperforming different types of analysis based on raw data. Examples of FM tasks
    \nthat may utilize BIM include move management, emergency planning, space
    \nmanagement, asset management, energy analysis, and maintenance work
    \norders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    BIMs can also integrate with other FM
    \ntechnologies like Internet of Things (IOT) sensors to provide a virtual
    \nenvironment to manage real-time data. BIM can provide various streams of
    \ninformation such as space temperature for heat mapping, energy consumption,
    \nequipment operational metrics, and lighting in a 3D environment. This
    \ncloud-based integration of real-time data from IOT sensors and the FM-BIM:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Facilitates access to and the organization
      \nof sophisticated building data<\/li>\n
    • Empowers more targeted building operation
      \nin support\u00a0 of occupant\u2019s needs<\/li>\n
    • Creates a continuously updated \u201cdigital
      \ntwin\u201d of the physical building and assets<\/li>\n
    • Helps build a library of data to predict
      \nfuture operational needs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Setting the stage<\/h2>\n

      Today, more owners are becoming interested in the
      \nintegration of BIM within the context of FM.\u00a0
      \nSetting the stage for improved modeling and information documentation
      \nefforts is therefore critical to facilitate sustainable, automated workflows in
      \nproject closeout and operation phases. The key to the successful
      \nintegration of BIM-FM is upfront clarification of the owner\u2019s task and system
      \nneeds. Early considerations for FM needs and requirements can help determine
      \nstrategies for the successful implementation of BIMs for FM. Further, early
      \ninvolvement of FM stakeholders, and considerations for FM needs\/requirements
      \ncan help determine strategies for the successful implementation of utilizing
      \nBIMs for FM.<\/p>\n

      From a technical standpoint, limitations of commercially available solutions are a driving factor. But more complicated problems at the semantic level of interoperability are related to the varied modeling conventions of different AEC firms. In other words, to leverage the value of BIM for FM and streamline automated workflows, the Owner\u2019s\/Operator\u2019s task and system needs should drive the model content, format, and structure. Such items must be documented in a BIM Execution Plan and organizational BIM standards. This establishes a shared foundation for BIM-FM integration and a set of prioritized values that keeps all stakeholders on the same page. Buy-in at this level ensures that designed values come through in the daily operation of the facility, and that the transition from digital model to real building performance will be more streamlined.<\/p>\n

      \"-\"\"-\"
      Setting the stage to mind the FM gap. Photo: VIATechnik<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Marjan Sadeghi,<\/strong> VDC Engineer, VIATechnik<\/em><\/p>\n

      <\/div>\n