BIM and Through-Life Information Management: A Systems Engineering Perspective

Abstract

The digital era of construction has enabled new types of decision support for all phases of the building lifecycle. New capabilities to support the management of end-to-end service operations are emerging due to the outputs of building information modelling. Previous research has identified how the application of systems engineering activities in construction can inform the development of new methods and processes to better support a facility's life cycle. However, gaps remain in holistic systems approaches relative to how data is structured, reused and managed through-life. The paper discusses systems engineering management activities and reviews the related literature, examining the significance of these concepts in different sectors of construction. The paper identifies gaps in collaborative and progressive modelling methodologies and identifies the main challenges that industry face in adopting a systems mindset when implementing BIM on complex projects.