CIOB Construction Conference 2012 - Global Challenges in Construction Industry, Colombo

Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka.

BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING FOR SRI LANKAN

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Himal Suranga Jayasena* and Professor Chitra Weddikkara
Department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is relatively a new buzzword in the Construction Industry;
however BIM is not yet practiced in Sri Lankan construction industry and not many in the industry
know about it. BIM is now becoming popular and likely to be industry standard for project design
and hence a key tool in project procurement in future. Integration of BIM into project development
life cycle would create deviations in traditional parameters of procurement systems. As a result, a
construction industry in which building procurement is based on BIM is thought to be quite
different from the today’s systems. The industry needs to understand its potentials in order to
develop strategies for BIM integration. Under this context, a research is conducted with broader
aim of integrating BIM in Sri Lankan construction industry. This paper is presented with its
preliminary findings from a literature review on features and requisites of BIM, developing logical
conclusions in terms of BIM’s potentials for Sri Lankan construction industry. It finds that BIM
leads to a more efficient industry and will save both time and cost; and the technology is unlikely
to be a significant barrier for BIM implementation.

Keywords: Building Information Modelling, BIM, Procurement, Construction, Sri Lanka.

1. INTRODUCTION
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is becoming popular and likely to become industry standard
for construction project design in future. BIM is not yet practiced in Sri Lankan construction industry
and not many in the industry know about it. Whether the Sri Lankan construction industry is ready to
adopt BIM technologies; or whether the acquisition of BIM technology is beneficial at all, remains
unclear. This paper is a review of the issue which aims to build up logical conclusions from current
knowledge. The work is a part of an ongoing research with a broader aim of integrating BIM into Sri
Lankan construction industry.

2. BACKGROUND
BIM, or Building Information Modelling, is digital representation of physical and functional
characteristics of a building creating a shared knowledge resource for information about it forming a
reliable basis for decisions during its life cycle, from earliest conception to demolition (Construction
Project Information Committee [CPIC], 2011). BIM may also stand for Building Information Model,
or Building Information Management. While the former is the product of the process defined herein,
the latter has related but different context, and thus is outside the scope of this paper. However, the
products are often referred to as BIM Models, leaving BIM to mean Building Information Modelling.
As envisaged by a leading BIM application developer Autodesk (2003) a decade ago, BIM would
support the continuous and immediate availability of project design scope, schedule, and cost
information that is high quality, reliable, integrated, and fully coordinated. For each of the three major
phases in the building lifecycle, BIM would offer access to critical information such as:
• design, schedule, and budget information (in the design phase)
• quality, schedule, and cost information (in the construction phase)
• performance, utilization, and financial information (in the management phase)

*
Corresponding Author: E-mail – [email protected], Tel/Fax - 0094112650738

196
 CIOB Construction Conference 2012 - Global Challenges in Construction Industry, Colombo
Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka.

BIM’s ability to keep this information up to date and accessible in an integrated digital environment
gives architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, builders, and owners a clear overall vision of their
projects, as well as the ability to make better decisions faster. A decade later, there is evidence that
BIM has made all these possible, but how effective they are, is yet to be realized.
BIM has gained gradual popularity in United States over the decade, while United Kingdom looked
for a kick-start in BIM with the UK Cabinet Office announcing the Government’s new Construction
Strategy in mid 2011 (Poletayeva, 2011) announcing the Government's intention to require
collaborative 3D BIM (with all project and asset information, documentation and data being
electronic) on its projects by 2016.

3. DEVELOPMENT OF BIM
BIM is not a software application. Instead it is an IT solution for integration of software applications
and IT tools to design a building in a common platform, a platform which is independent of the
software we use. The term BIM seems to have been coined by Autodesk (Laiserin, 2002), a leading
software vendor for AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) applications. However,
Graphisoft claims that their Virtual Building concept introduced with ArchiCAD in late 80’s was the
first ever implementation of BIM concept in an AEC application (Laiserin, 2003).
The roots of real BIM reside however with the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI) which
initiate the development of open BIM. IAI started as Industry Alliance for Interoperability in 1994 as
a consortium of group of US companies. They demonstrated interoperability among some CAD
(Computer Aided Draughting) and simulation tools at the AEC Systems Show in Georgia in 1995. It
became global organization in 1996 and changed its name to International Alliance for
Interoperability (Bazjanac and Crawley, 1997). In 2005, it was renamed to buildingSMART. The
reason for the renaming seems superficial, i.e. to make it simple and easy for people to understand and
remember (Eastman et al., 2011). The name itself represents the vision of the organization:
Sustainability by building smarter.
The mission of buildingSMART is stated as “Contribute to sustainable built environment through
smarter information sharing and communication using open international standards in the building
and construction sector, private and public” (Rooth, 2010). The keywords here are “information
sharing and communication using open international standards”. Thus, it intends to eliminate
communication boundaries between software applications, operating systems and languages.
BuildingSMART is a not-for-profit organization. The organization is responsible for developing and
maintaining international standards for openBIM – an open source (i.e. free to use) BIM standards.
These standards cover (buildingSMART, 2008):
a) buildingSMART Processes,
b) buildingSMART Data Dictionary, and
c) buildingSMART Data model.
It is worth exploring each of these for a better understanding of BIM.

3.1. THE PROCESSES

The construction industry is characterized by many different parties brought together in a temporary
multi-organization (TMO) for each individual project. They share many different information in
variety of formats. For work efficiency, it is important that parties know which and when different
kind of information is to be communicated. This becomes critical when digital tools are used, because
these tools have very low threshold of tolerance in data interpretation ability, compared to the human
brain. BuildingSMART develops “Information Delivery Manuals” (IDM) as ISO standards (currently
ISO 29481-1:2010 “Building information modelling - Information delivery manual - Part 1:
Methodology and format”) in order to have a methodology to capture and specify processes and
information flow during the lifecycle of a building. The main purpose of an IDM is to make sure that

197
 CIOB Construction Conference 2012 - Global Challenges in Construction Industry, Colombo
Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka.

the relevant data are communicate in such a way they can be interpreted by the software at the
receiving side (Karlshøj, 2011).

3.2. THE DATA DICTIONARY

BuildingSMART develops the standards for terminology libraries or ontologies, known as
International Framework for Dictionaries (IFD). IFD is not just a dictionary; instead, it defines the
framework for development of data dictionaries for BIM technology. IFD is a structure which can
hold many dictionaries (terminology libraries or ontologies). The concept for the IFD Library is
derived from internationally-accepted open standards that have been developed by ISO (Bjørkhaug
and Bell, 2007). Software developers use this framework to develop BIM enabled software. Since
interoperability is inherent feature of BIM, IFD will assure interoperability among these software.

3.3. THE DATA MODEL

The data exchange format for openBIM is called Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). This data model
is supported and complies with IFD (described above). In simple, IFD specifies concepts and IFC is
used to define the individual instances of the concepts. For example, IFD may define how to specify a
wall, IFC specifications for certain type of a wall is specified accordingly, and in an IFC product
model it may have defined the location and geometries (and much more information) of said wall type
in a particular building. IFD holds the templates while IFC standards are used to fill them in
(Bjørkhaug and Bell, 2007). The IFC can be called the master file format of a building project.
IFC is in fact an EXPRESS based entity-relationship model consisting of many entities organized into
an object-based inheritance hierarchy (International Organization for Standardization [ISO], 2005).
IFC consists of an information schema, i.e. a data model in a formal machine-readable notation, and
associated informal human-readable semantic definitions (Liebich, 2011).
The scope of IFC schema is to define a specification for sharing data throughout the project life-cycle,
globally, across disciplines and across technical applications. This is enormously broad and complex.
Therefore most BIM applications use a sub-set of IFC schema depending on their requirements.
Software applications have their inherent information schema. Importing from and exporting to IFC
involves mapping of their internal information schema with the IFC schema. Because of the
differences in the two data schemes, data losses can occur during the translation process (Exactal,
2012). This may be one of the reasons why proprietary BIM information schemas such as that is used
in Autodesk’s Revit, are also becoming popular.

4. APPLICATION OF BIM TECHNOLOGY

In simple, BIM allows for virtual construction of a building to its full details. How this has been made
possible is through the global BIM initiatives which are currently led by buildingSMART. The
background of the BIM (specifically the openBIM) technology is discussed above. Several proprietary
BIM solutions are also developed to scales not yet matched by IFC (of buildingSMART) probably
due to the competition and large budget allocation for R&D as a result of that. However, these
developments are usually within limited scope in contrast to wider scope of buildingSMART
initiatives.
The objects within BIM are termed “intelligent” because of defined properties and behavioural
relationship with other objects. A door knows that it is a door, and when it is placed into a wall the
wall knows it has to have an opening to suit that particular door. The parametric properties are inter-
related. If the door size is changed, the wall opening will change to suit. All of the physical and
functional characteristics of the building model are held in the central database. As the model
develops, all of the objects within it parametrically adapt themselves to the new design. These models
are therefore rich in information that can be extracted and used for a variety of analyses to assist in
design, construction and operational optimization (Exactal, 2012).

198
 CIOB Construction Conference 2012 - Global Challenges in Construction Industry, Colombo
Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka.

BIM technology brings in numerous advantages for designing, construction management and cost
estimating of building projects. However, it should be noted that BIM may also bring various
limitations to the process, which may have been already realized or yet to be realized. Nevertheless, it
is evident that limitations get diminished with the advancement of technologies.

4.1. TRADITIONAL CAD VERSUS BIM

A computer graphic is usually a Raster Image. A raster image is made up of large number of tiny
coloured dots (called piexels) which generate the image for the viewer. This is the common type of
graphic generated by digital cameras and scanners.
Traditional Two-Dimensional (2D) and Three-Dimensional (3D) Computer Aided Draughting (CAD)
programmes made use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves and shapes or polygons,
which are known as vectors. Vectors are based on mathematical equations. They lead through
locations called control points. Each of these points has a definite position on the x and y axes of the
work plane. For 3D graphics, a third axis z is added. Vector generated images are called Vector
Graphics. 3D rendering (image generation) in vector graphics uses polygon fill to get the solid state
appearance. However, the elements in fact do not have solid state characteristics (i.e. they are not
machine readable as solid). There were other 3D authoring applications which could add parameters
such as weight and friction to 3D elements, but were widely used in 3D animation industries.
BIM essentially does not require graphical interface. Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) is plain text
database readable in any standard text reader. In order to interpret the text, one must know the
relevant information schema. Still, the effort will become worthless because even the IFC file of a
small building is near infinitely lengthy that makes it far beyond human cognition. However, since
geometry is one of the parameter of a BIM element, software applications can generate vector
graphics or raster images by reading BIM data. Advanced tools are developed which enables the
designers to design buildings in a virtual 3D space without requiring them to have any knowledge on
IFCs. Similarly, there are many other software applications developed with interpreters built-in in
order to perform various tasks for design, development and lifecycle management of buildings. Some
applications read and author IFCs, while others only read them to interpret information for tasks such
as those in facilities management.
It should be noted that BIM is not an evolution 3D CAD modelling. Instead, it is a new breed of
modelling. Thus, it is not possible to say that BIM is better than 3D CAD in terms of all aspects of 3D
CAD. Whether BIM allows same level of flexibility of traditional CAD for designers is yet to be
found (Lockley, 2011).

4.2. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT WITH BIM

Construction Scheduling is known as 4D BIM, since time is considered to be the fourth dimension of
an element. 4D BIM is about use of BIM technology for construction project visualization (often in
virtual 3D) and CPM scheduling. Associated processes such as supply chain management,
procurement management, and risk management, are also considered within 4D BIM.
A highly welcomed feature of BIM in terms of construction management is Clash Detection. The
word "clash," will bring to one’s mind of pipes running into HVAC and cutting through a floor.
Identifying and fixing these issues ahead of time has been one of the best uses of BIM technology.
While been a useful feature during design phase, clash detection become invaluable when dealing
with changes and unexpected physical conditions.
Clashes will not only occur in design, there can be other clashes such as scheduling clashes where too
many labour gangs are required working in a limited space. The BIM and allied technology has been
advanced to detect all these 2D, 3D and 4D clashes in project execution (Vico, 2012). Technologies
are further extended from linking BIM models with popular project management software to
subcontractor evaluation and management.

199
 CIOB Construction Conference 2012 - Global Challenges in Construction Industry, Colombo
Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka.

One of the barriers envisaged getting BIM to the worksite where parties of various financial calibres
take-part, was the affordability of the technology. This is thought to be insignificant now since there
are affordable (or sometimes free to use) software available for using BIM at site level (Tekla, 2011).

4.3. BIM AND COST ESTIMATING

The next parameter considered for incorporation to BIM is the cost. Thus, cost estimating with BIM is
known as 5D BIM. However, there is no evidence of real integration of cost estimating into BIM.
While “Cost” is a standard property of a BIM element, there is no popular usage of it for cost
estimating. The possible reason is that summation of cost of elements would not yield the total cost,
since there are many other parameters affecting the cost. What is evident is the development of tools
for automation of quantity takeoff process by reading (interpreting) the BIM models and employ them
in the conventional estimating process, which may also be partly automated. However, some are
intuitively advanced that the estimate (or cost model) is visually linked to the 3D model view. For
example, when a cost item in the schedule is selected, relevant building elements are highlighted in
the 3D visual model (Exactal, 2012; Nomitech, 2011). While most of BIM cost estimating tools can
only read BIM models, there are some estimating tools which can write back to BIM models updating
its cost properties (Beck Technology, 2011).

5. BIM POTENTIALS OF SRI LANKAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Sri Lankan construction industry does not possess BIM technology. Yet, it is not a critical barrier for
BIM implementation. Technology can be acquired. The rational decision to acquire BIM technology
would be on the balance of costs and benefits. In absence of knowledge and experience, it is difficult
to know the benefits. While it is impractical to experience BIM in real life (due to absence of BIM),
the only option is to become knowledgeable in order to make an informed decision.
Recent studies in United Kingdom show that there is a majority who are not properly aware of BIM;
and those who are aware of BIM and adopt it, are pleased with its benefits and keen to invest for
further benefits (Malleson, 2012). Thus, it is clear that the knowledge matters in getting the best use
of BIM. However, an in-depth knowledge of core technology is not necessary to work with BIM.
Many WYSIWYG and intuitive software are developed so that the users can master tools in their own
domain and contribute to BIM effectively.
Once available, adoption of technology would not be a challenge in a nation with comparatively high
IT literacy and AEC professionals with fair coputer knowhow. The challenge is likely to arise from
the resistance to change and overlapping professional boundaries. To receive the true benefits of BIM,
changes in procurement strategies, processes, cultures and attitudes become necessary. The BIM
friendly procurement strategy – Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) – is still not known to Sri Lanka. In
fact BIM is a requisite for IPD (AIA California Council, 2007). Collaborative design development
and construction will require significant deviations from current practices. Strong commitment of
parties will therefore be required for successful implementation of BIM in Sri Lanka. The challenge
may not be severe as much as the current experience would suggest. There has been evidence of
positive changes in cultures and attitudes with the change of procurement strategies (Gunathilake and
Jayasena, 2008).

6. CONCLUSIONS
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is relatively a new buzzword in the Construction Industry; and
not many in the Sri Lankan industry know about it. The technological developments in BIM bring the
construction to a new era. Contrast to the conventional ICT developments in the field of construction,
BIM is based on a strong information schema which makes the building design fully machine
readable. This enables automation of various design, construction management, quantity surveying
and procurement processes; and minimizing of design and construction errors. All will lead to a more
efficient industry which will save both time and cost. Thus, BIM is a technology that Sri Lankan
construction industry should go for. Most challenges are unlikely to be significant where there is

200
 CIOB Construction Conference 2012 - Global Challenges in Construction Industry, Colombo
Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka.

commitment. What is likely to be critical at this point of time is the development of proper BIM
knowledge base within the industry; and identification and elimination of barriers of integrating BIM
enabled procurement strategies like IPD. These presents the questions for the way forward of the
current research study.

7. REFERENCES
AIA California Council. (2007, June 13). A working definition: Integrated project delivery. Retrieved from
http://ipd-ca.net/images/Integrated%20Project%20Delivery%20Definition.pdf.
Autodesk. (2003). Building information modeling in practice. California: Autodesk Inc.
Bazjanac, V., and Crawley, D. B. (1997). The implementation of industry foundation classes in simulation
tools for the building industry. Retrieved from http://www.inive.org/members_area/medias/pdf/Inive/IBPS
A/UFSC585.pdf.
Beck Technology. (2011). BIM toolkit. Retrieved from http://www.beck-technology.com/bimtoolkit.asp.
Bjørkhaug, L., and Bell, H. (2007, June 13). IFD in a nutshell. Retrieved from http://dev.ifdlibrary.org/index.ph
p/Ifd:IFD_in_a_Nutshell.
buildingSMART. (2008). buildingSMART: International home for open BIM. Retrieved from http://www.buildi
ngsmart.org.
Construction Project Information Committee. (2011). Building information modelling - Drawin is dead - long
live modelling. Retrieved from http://www.cpic.org.uk/en/bim/building-information-modelling.cfm.
Eastman, C., Teicholz, P., Sacks, R., and Liston, K. (2011). BIM handbook: A guide to building information
modeling for owners, managers, designers, engineers and contractors (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Wiley.
Exactal. (2012). Advanced costx techniques. Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Gunathilake, S., and Jayasena, H. S. (2008). Developing a relational approach to contracting: The Sri Lanka
context. In Proceedings of the CIB International Conference on Building Education and Research (pp. 280-
281). Kandalama, Sri Lanka: CIB.
International Organization for Standardization. (2005). ISO/PAS 16739:2005 - Industry foundation classes,
release 2x, platform specification (IFC2x Platform). Retrieved from http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/c
atalogue_ics/catalogue_detail_ics.htm?csnumber=38056.
Karlshøj, J. (2011). Information delivery manuals. Retrieved from http://iug.buildingsmart.com/idms.
Laiserin, J. (2002). Comparing pommes and naranjas. Retrieved from http://www.laiserin.com/features/issue15/
feature01.php.
Laiserin, J. (2003). Graphisoft on BIM. Retrieved from http://www.laiserin.com/features/issue19/feature01.php.
Liebich, T. (2011). Faq specific ifc spec. Retrieved from http://www.buildingsmarttech.org/implementation/faq/
faq-specific-ifc-spec.
Lockley, S. (2011). BIM and education. Retrieved from http://www.thenbs.com/topics/bim/articles/bimAndEdu
cation.asp.
Malleson, A. (2012). BIM Survey: Summary of findings. In R. Waterhouse, National BIM report 2012 (pp. 8-
15). Newcastle upon Tyne: NBS.
Nomitech. (2011). BIM estimating. Retrieved from http://www.nomitech.eu/cms/c/bimestimating.html.
Poletayeva, E. (2011). New construction strategy. Retrieved from https://connect.innovateuk.org.
Rooth, Ø. (2010). Strategic plan 2010-2011. Retrieved from http://buildingsmart.com/about-us.
Tekla. (2011). What is Tekla BIMsight?. Retrieved from http://www.teklabimsight.com/getStarted.jsp.
Vico. (2012). Coordination and clash detection. Retrieved from http://www.vicosoftware.com/coordination-
and-clash-detection/tabid/88208/Default.aspx.

201