Ricardo Codinhoto

Challenges in the Implementation of BIM for FM - Case Manchester Town Hall Complex

An often-introduced claim is that BIM can be a powerful tool for facility managers to improve buildings’ performance and manage operations more efficiently throughout the life-cycle of buildings. Although this claim has been common since the early introduction of BIM, there is relatively little information about the real use on BIM in the operation and maintenance of buildings. Even most large public owners who have been early adopters of BIM, such as GSA, USACE or Senate Properties, have used BIM more in managing their construction projects than implemented it into their FM activities. The benefits of BIM for design and construction are relatively well studied and documented, but there is little evidence of the benefits of BIM in the operational phase. In addition, the challenges involved in shifting from traditional FM processes to new BIM-based processes are not well-known. In this paper we document some of the issues involved in the adoption of BIM in FM and identify some of the enablers and barriers to BIM implementation in FM. The findings are based on a case study carried out during the final design and construction phase of Manchester Town Hall Complex, a major re-development project in the UK. Results confirm the lack of awareness the potential of BIM in the operation phase and need of clear guidelines for the implementation of BIM in FM defining required level of integration, standard BIM protocols and the key deliverables for FM purposes.

The Aristotelian Proto-Theory of Design

In comparing deliberation to the analysis of a geometrical figure, Aristotle made a highly significant theoretical statement on design, which has largely gone unnoticed. Through an interpretation of the accounts given by Aristotle and the Greek geometer Pappus, seven features of the method of analysis can be identified, concerning the types of analysis, its stages, its start and end points, the types of reasoning involved, the relation of the two directions of reasoning, the strategy of reasoning and the targeted outcomes. This proto-theory is compared to the current theoretical landscape of design; also it is applied to clarify a current approach to conceptual design. Based on all this, the proto-theory as a theory of design is evaluated. It is concluded that the proto-theory fulfils several of the functions of a theory in a superior and fertile way. Thus, this proto-theory is not only of historical interest, but also provides a contribution to the theoretical knowledge on design.

BIM for FM: A Case Support for Business Life Cycle

Relatively little information exists about the use of BIM in the operation and maintenance of buildings. Reported cases of BIM adoption to support facilities management and lifecycle management reveals that the implementation of BIM for FM processes is, in general, limited to an experimental scale. Even large public owners who have been using BIM for managing their construction projects have not implemented it into their FM activities. Therefore, there is little evidence of the benefits of BIM in the operational phase. In addition, the challenges involved in shifting from traditional FM processes to new BIM-based processes are not well known. In this paper we document some of the issues involved in the adoption of BIM in FM and identify some applications, metrics and benefits related to its adoption. The findings are based on a case study carried out within a major re-development project in Manchester, UK. Results indicate a step rise in the level of awareness regarding potential benefits of BIM in FM activities and lifecycle information management.

Evidence-based design of health care facilities

The last 15 years have witnessed large investments in health care in the UK. These investments have been made with the aim of improving a system which was considered to be slow, inefficient and below international standards. A wide range of problems were experienced, among them unacceptable levels of health care associated infections and inappropriate work environments.

Architecture: Healing architecture

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the design of acute care settings with a focus on the evolution of design practice over the last decade. In particular, ideas around healing environments describe how design is contributing to enhanced health and wellbeing and how recent developments are helping to create better designs. The chapter covers aspects of the theoretical hypothesis explaining the relationship between people, the environment and healing with a focus on three elements: how people perceive the environment, social interaction as part of healing and the influence of peoples sociocultural background. The chapter looks at evidence-informed design in the context of acute healthcare settings whilst also covering trends, challenges and opportunities in healthcare design, and how this field is developing. A case study demonstrates elements of a real project on a before and after basis. The chapter concludes with the message that design of acute care settings involves much more than simply providing a space for care services to take place.This chapter explores the role of design in the context of behaviour change for people living with long-term conditions. A series of short case studies illustrates how design can facilitate the development of products and interventions that better support the needs of individuals and how these can lead to positive coping behaviours. The chapter concludes with a broader discussion of the complexities and ethical issues that design in the context of behaviour change promotes.

Evidencing changes in design practice

We started this special issue with a call for an open debate as to whether or not improving the design process is concerned with reducing the time it takes to design. Contrary to that idea, we argued that the efficiency of a process cannot be at the cost of effective design solutions. Thus, to improve the design process could mean that, sometimes, processes are lengthened to accommodate improved practices. As architectural, engineering and construction companies change their design practices by adopting Building Information Modelling (BIM) enabled tools, methods and standards of work, comes the opportunity to reflect on reconfigured design processes (be they shorter or longer). This special issue is focused on research related changes in design practice showing evidence of impact in both processes and products: particularly how they support improved communication and collaboration across the multidisciplinary project team. In this respect, three articles presented in this issue are focused on changes in the process to improve the levels of design integration that leads to enhanced products (buildings and infrastructure). In the context of continuously increasing complexity, the exploration and solution of design trade-offs seems to be the bottleneck of design, irrespective of the design phase. BIM appears as a common cross-cutting theme (but not restricted to it) that supports design trade-offs and in our final article emphasis is placed on metrics of an efficient design process through BIM implementation. The first article presents a longitudinal investigation concerned with future proofing design solutions in the context of environmental changes. Goldsmith and Flanagan promote adaption of the Value Methodology in the United States, which combined with the multi-criteria analysis supports resilient design solutions. The approach was developed through action research within seven cases where the method was applied to leverage the challenges related to stakeholder concerns, practitioner preferences and uncertainty around future conditions. The authors suggest that the combined approach offers an effective platform for collaboratively developing innovative design solutions. Our second article follows the idea of support to decision-making and discusses the need for better tools within the early stages of design, when the brief is still developing and decisions are made in an environment of uncertainty. Donato addresses this problem by linking parametrical design with graph theory through BIM-enabled software. His approach was developed through a series of case studies which were focused on exploring building layout and circulation patterns through graph theory. This way, spatial relationships are converted in numerical reference values which assist the assessment of design options and help minimise the risk of project failure. The method seems to be particularly advantageous in large complex projects that contain a multitude of criteria and parameters. While our first and second articles are focused on the early stages of design, the third article concentrates on the flows of information within the detail design phase. In this article, Mejlænder-Larsen discuss change management and how a change control system linked to design information within a building model can be used to manage design change requests and assess the impact and consequences of changes. The findings are based on experiences from project execution in major infrastructure oil and gas projects through case study research. The change management approach is characterised by four aspects concerned with: the coordination and categorisation of changes, the approval of changes and the identification of downstream consequences of changes.