BIM portfolio

Optimal utilization of BIM analytical capabilities requires an information platform providing technical specifications, physical attributes, appearance, time, cost, details, and dimensions of products and services available for clients and BIM users in the construction industry, to be used as input for the creation of information models. In this research, we have provided a comprehensive definition for this platform, which is more commonly referred to as “the BIM library,” its prerequisites and components, by identifying and prioritizing stakeholders, their requirements and expectations from this database, organizations capable of supporting this platform, and its development process. Through an extensive literature review of related studies and experiences and qualitative analysis of the structured interviews from local BIM experts, this study provides the necessary information for short and long-term planning for the development of Iran’s National BIM Library.

1. Review BIM literature and related studies to compile a definition for the BIM database and its stakeholders.
2. Designing interview protocol and conducting semi-structured interviews with competent experts to identify the requirements and expectations of BIM database end-users.
3. Analyzing and reviewing the interviewees’ responses to identify and prioritize the strategies for developing the national BIM library.

The primary data collection method was face-to-face and online interviews based on a pre-designed protocol. Also, the analytical functions of Excel software were employed to analyze the information encoded based on the qualitative content analysis approach. The interview protocol and the interviewee’s selection filters were validated through consultation and the research supervisor’s approval. Also, validation of data analysis and the conclusion was done via reviewing and re-examining the data in several stages and re-checking the final results with several interviewed experts’ opinions.

A clear structure for a BIM library is proposed in the final chapter along with the results of analyzing interview responses in this study; Client organizations were identified as the primary beneficiaries of BIM database development, with Architects and Project managers as Its main users. Providing various development levels (LODs) for each model was considered the most common suggestion by the interviewed specialists. And the fifth-dimension (cost) data was evaluated as the primary information required by experts from the BIM database. According to experts, compiling and developing a database without providing 3D models, at minimum standards, is impossible. The most anticipated value of the BIM database for users was to offer more options to optimize product selection for construction projects economically. Also, the accuracy and optimal quality of the information provided was the first and most expected feature of the BIM database, as mentioned by interviewees.

Based on the favorable opinion of ninety-five percent of the interviewees, it was determined that there is a demand for a national BIM database. According to the analyzed results, this database’s most appropriate development approach was through high-level private section organizations’ participation as a consortium of financial, legal, and execution supporters. It is also best to gain the trust of manufacturer organizations and protect their intellectual property rights by using educational platforms created as part of this database and informing the beneficiaries of this platform’s economic opportunities. It was concluded that the most appropriate method for collecting, controlling, and registering information in this database was defining standards and detailed checklists for information registration and its requirements along with the rules and regulations of employing experts with authority to produce and publish products made or provided by manufacturers/traders and approved by the parent organization supporting the BIM database. The information required by the database should be evaluated according to these standards; it is also wise to provide the necessary information from multiple means and various sources to achieve the diversity, quality, and accuracy expected by the end-users, as mentioned in the requirements section.

1. Testing the generalizability of the research findings within a larger sample population;
2. Concentrating research on different aspects of a BIM database (i.e., services, products, standards, and the like) to achieve a deeper understanding of the subject;
3. Developing detailed business models and benefit analyses, especially for clients addressing the possibility of misunderstandings and misinterpretation of benefits and investment variables;
4. Studying the implementation of blockchain encryption methods for identity confirmation, authentication, and preservation of manufacturer rights within this library;
5. There is also another great opportunity for securitizing the probabilities of a nationwide Internet of things-enabled BIM library and its benefits for procurement, especially for the public sector.