An integrated building information modeling (BIM) framework for multi-story modular buildings

Despite the relative simplicity of design and construction of modular single-family dwellings, the same cannot be stated for multi-story modular buildings, especially in relation to structural modeling and design of these buildings. There is potential for tackling complexity of these projects by leveraging a successful technology and process that is being widely adopted in other sectors of construction industry, and that is Building Information Modeling (BIM). Structural analytical modeling is one of the areas that can benefit from BIM to enhance the design quality; reduce time and cost of the design; and mitigate the complex design activities. Because of lack of interoperability between tools, BIM users cannot take advantage of this BIM use properly, especially in modular building projects that their special needs are not addressed in the currently available information exchange standards. The primary goal of the proposed research is to develop an information framework and its supporting infrastructure to encourage design and construction of midand high-rise buildings using factory-built modular units. Achieving this would provide the industry with an option for economical, energy efficient, sustainable, and more affordable construction. In this research, product-related information that may be generated or used at different stages of projects is studied. In addition, process-related information flow throughout project phases is investigated. Moreover, interpretation of structural design/analysis model of these buildings from their architectural building information model is researched. This research has been carried out through accomplishing several objectives. First the Product Architecture Model (PAM) for multi-story modular buildings was developed. The PAM is a structured breakdown of building elements and their related attributes and properties. The next objective was information exchange standardization in these projects focusing mainly on structural aspects. To achieve this, an Information Delivery Manual (IDM) and Model View Definitions (MVDs) were developed based on the characteristic and workflow of modular building projects. To achieve the first two objectives, a comprehensive literature review was carried out, and a series of site visits and interviews with industry experts were conducted. The final objective was to facilitate the structural design of complicated structures of modular buildings by developing a mechanism and a supporting platform to interpret structural design/analysis model of modular buildings directly from the architectural BIM. Although the developed PAM, IDM and MVD are focused on structural and general architectural aspects of modular buildings, they could be expanded and/or modified to supports other BIM application areas in these projects. The methodology proposed in this research for development of information exchange standards could be used for representation of current information exchange standards to come up with an integrated set of standards for building industry. This would be achieved as a result of using the same PAM for development of the information exchange standards. In addition, the interpretation methodology presented for generation of modular buildings could be implemented in other engineering design/analysis areas in both modular and site-built construction. Implementation of the Interpreted Information Exchange (IIE) concept can significantly facilitate engineering analysis BIM uses by decreasing implementation cost of MVDs in BIM authoring tools and automating the model modifications that are required to make an imported model ready for analysis. Moreover, the platform developed for testing the structural model interpretation process is a general purpose platform, which could be utilized for all-purpose BIM information extractions and implementation of different automated interpreted information exchanges.