Model-based systems engineering and through-life information management in complex construction

Abstract

With increasing maturity in model-based design and construction, a concomitant increase in the need for system-based methodologies and toolsets to support systems integration, requirements management, verification and validation and configuration management is evident if model-based information is to serve the operations of complex buildings and civil infrastructure projects. There is much to learn from best practices reported in complex discrete manufacturing. In particular, closed-loop product lifecycle management (PLM), systems engineering (SE) and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) are key to systems approaches to digital complex construction delivery and the reuse of model-based information for operations and maintenance (O&M). The paper reviews related research and investigates the role of the V-model in the development process, discussing its significance to structuring a through-life approach to information management. A discussion of Erasmus’ PLM aligned V-model is presented, and missing links in current BIM-enabled environments are identified relative to requirements engineering, verification and validation, and configuration management. The paper closes with a discussion of the gaps in supporting model-based tool ecologies and lack of a central structuring infrastructure, as well as the deficiencies in current process and data standards. Closing with the identification of a future research agenda.