Until now, the process of obtaining spatial information for facilities management (FM) has been laborious and tedious, even with the use of computer-aided facility management tools. The proposed research utilizes BIM-based workflow to capture object attributes such that the building data created in a BIM model may be brought seamlessly into a facilities management system rather than recreated. The proposed system not only imports geometry of walls, doors, windows, columns, and so on, but also retrieves attribute data associated with these objects. Therefore, queries can be executed to obtain needed information, generate graphic or data-based reports, and identify interesting trends in facilities operations and maintenance for appropriate management. Because the proposed approach is object-based, the system will calculate automatically or display the area of each space, and add additional information about each space, such as occupant information, capacity, type, equipment, and so on. Open BIM standards are used to retrieve or store information in a BIM model as that will facilitate the exchange of information among different FM systems. A prototype of the proposed system was developed in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) FM department. The prototype was tested for its applicability and flexibility for the UNCC FM operations and maintenance management.

This study proposes a 3D visualization model in highway design/construction that electronically represents information of highway projects. The 3D model will be based on the Standard for the Exchange of Product (STEP) model data, which is an open standard, so it can be used as data structures. Because the design model includes integrated resources to represent 3D geometric shape and project management information of the infrastructure, the built visualization model will allow end users to extract the necessary data from the object-based 3D intelligent model. This integrated data model is expected to provide practical engineering information to improve the design/construction process. This study presents the framework for the integration of application programs, such as existing 3D CAD programs used in practice by applying the STEP-based information model and information technologies. With the system integration framework comprised of the information model, data repository, application program, and application programming interface, this research proposes establishing a prototype system according to the system integration framework so that end users can manage information of an infrastructure in an integrated computing environment. The final output of this research is to present a methodology to generate a construction schedule automatically from infrastructure facility design information. This method is performed by the full connection between construction quantity take-off analysis and design information by using the information model.