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A cloud-based collaborative ecosystem for the automation of BIM execution plan (BEP)

Muhammad Azeem Abbas (Department of Computing, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen, UK)
Saheed O. Ajayi (School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK)
Adekunle Sabitu Oyegoke (School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK)
Hafiz Alaka (Big Data Technologies and Innovation (BDTI) Laboratory, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK)

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology

ISSN: 1726-0531

Article publication date: 12 August 2022

Issue publication date: 14 June 2024

2791

Abstract

Purpose

Master information delivery plan (MIDP) is a key requirement for building information modelling (BIM) execution plan (BEP) that enlists all information deliverables in BIM-based project, containing information about what would be prepared, when, by who, as well as the procedures and protocols to be used. In a well-conceived BEP, the MIDP facilitates collaboration among stakeholders. However, current approaches to generating MIDP are manual, making it tedious, error-prone and inconsistent, thereby limiting some expected benefits of BIM implementation. The purpose of this study is to automate the MIDP and demonstrate a collaborative BIM system that overcomes the problems associated with the traditional approach.

Design/methodology/approach

A BIM cloud-based system (named Auto-BIMApp) involving naming that automated MIDP generation is presented. A participatory action research methodology involving academia and industry stakeholders is followed to design and validate the Auto-BIMApp.

Findings

A mixed-method experiment is conducted to compare the proposed automated generation of MIDP using Auto-BIMApp with the traditional practice of using spreadsheets. The quantitative results show over 500% increased work efficiency, with improved and error-free collaboration among team members through Auto-BIMApp. Moreover, the responses from the participants using Auto-BIMApp during the experiment shows positive feedback in term of ease of use and automated functionalities of the Auto-BIMApp.

Originality/value

The replacement of traditional practices to a complete automated collaborative system for the generation of MIDP, with substantial productivity improvement, brings novelty to the present research. The Auto-BIMApp involve multidimensional information, multiple platforms, multiple types and levels of users, and generates three different representations of MIDP.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Innovate UK, the UK's Innovation agency, for providing the financial support for this study through Grant application number 24421 and File No 104796.

Citation

Abbas, M.A., Ajayi, S.O., Oyegoke, A.S. and Alaka, H. (2024), "A cloud-based collaborative ecosystem for the automation of BIM execution plan (BEP)", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 22 No. 4, pp. 1306-1324. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-02-2022-0128

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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