Ghosh, B. and Karmakar, S. (2026) Development and application of a digitalized document management system to update highway operation and management systems using building information modeling. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 152(7): 04026090, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Highway operations and maintenance (O&M) systems are essential for ensuring safe and uninterrupted mobility. However, traditional highway operation, maintenance, and accident documentation systems (HOMADMS) still depend heavily on manual processes such as police reports and on-site inspections. These practices often result in inefficiencies, delays, inconsistent records, poor communication, and fragmented data handling, all of which hinder timely decision-making, increase operational costs, and compromise safety. This study introduces a digitalized HOMADMS, named RADM-BIM, developed using building information modeling (BIM). The system addresses long-standing documentation challenges by providing a structured, real-time, and integrated platform for managing accident events, inspections, and O&M activities. The research followed a three-phase methodology: identifying systemic HOMADMS issues through a literature review and expert interviews; developing a BIM-integrated solution using a customized plugin and application programming interface (API) in Autodesk Revit; and validating the system through a case study on an Indian National Highway project. Results from the case study demonstrate that RADM-BIM streamlines accident documentation, supports predictive maintenance planning, and generates reliable, auditable digital records that overcome the inefficiencies inherent in conventional systems. The system enhances data accessibility, reduces retrieval time, and improves decision-making through standardized and real-time reporting. By extending BIM beyond design and construction into the postconstruction O&M phase, the study embeds accident and inspection workflows within a unified digital model and demonstrates its effectiveness through industry-based testing. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in construction engineering and management by introducing the first BIM-integrated framework specifically designed for the postconstruction highway O&M phase. It establishes a structured, real-time digital documentation process that enhances traceability, improves operational decision-making, and provides a scalable and replicable model for proactive, integrated, and data-driven highway asset management, offering measurable benefits for engineers, managers, and policymakers.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | accident; building information modeling; document; highway; operation and maintenance |
| Index terms: | documentation, literature review, asset management, management system, predictive maintenance, operation and maintenance, traceability, interview, manager, workflow, body of knowledge, programming, decision-making, methodology, inspection, engineer, platform, case study, mobility, building information modelling, accessibility, testing, integrated solution, design and construction, effectiveness, construction engineering, highway construction |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, profession, supplier oversight, data analysis and analytics, professional development, engineering methods, civil engineering, performance management, management, information systems, infrastructure and transport systems, decision analysis, innovation studies, practitioner, programming, professional practice, knowledge management, contractual arrangements, digital design, maintenance engineering, research methods, inclusive design, quality assurance, asset management |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Risk Management, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Quality Management, Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Urban Studies, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here