Third 2008 International Conference on Convergence and Hybrid Information Technology

A Study on Application of BIM(Building Information Modeling)

to Pre-design in Construction Project

Nam-Hyuk Ham1,a, Kyung-Min Min2,b, Ju-Hyung Kim3,c, Yoon-Sun Lee4,d , Jae-Jun Kim5,e
1,2
Master Course, Dept. of Sustainable Architectural Enginr., Hanyang Univ., Seoul, Korea
3
Professor, College of Architecture, Tongmyong Univ., Busan, Korea
4
Research Prof., Dept. of Sustainable Architectural Enginr., Hanyang Univ., Seoul,
5
Professor, Dept. of Sustainable Architectural Enginr., Hanyang Univ., Seoul, Korea
a
sunkist7@naver.com, bwheninneedmin@gmail.com, cjkim@tu.ac.kr, dyoonnsunlee@korea.com,
e
jjkim0205@hotmail.com

Abstract making new decisions by related participants are

Construction project pre-design phase is highly
influential in setting the directions for the whole
business and project to proceed. Thus, it is essential to
collect and analyze enormous amount of data related
to construction project. So far, the pre-design phase in
a project was depending on experts’ experience and
intuition. However, as construction projects become
larger and more complex, the amount of related
information and analyzed data increases. Therefore,
the necessity arises for a plan that could directly
support the pre-design phase. In this paper, BIM was
suggested as a tool that will support the pre-design
phase, and so the concept and role of pre-design BIM
is defined. The framework of pre-design BIM
simulation is composed using the international
standard model IFC and how the pre-design BIM
simulation system can support the process is
illustrated.
insufficient by reusing and referring to information
gathered, processed, saved on the project. This is
because major planning relied on experiences and
intuitions of few experts despite of many participants
in planning phase with broad job scope and unclear.
Therefore, there requires study on ways to support
making major decisions by the participants, contractor
and constructor, in planning phase.
The concept of BIM (Building Information
Modeling) is becoming important from the point of
integrated management on information generated
during the lifecycle of the building in advanced AEC
(Architecture, Engineering, Construction) industries in
the US, Finland.
Therefore, this study aims to expand the concept of
BIM as a tool supporting information to support
planning and maintenance phase by expanding studies
on BIM limited only in AEC and to present application
plans.

1. Introduction 1.2. Methods and Procedures of Study

1.1. Background and Aim of the Study
Each phase of jobs directly affect the life-cycle of
construction project, that is planning, design,
construction, maintenance and the quantity of
information generated from this is huge. As the
construction projects at present day is getting bigger,
complex thus the quantity of information increases
exponentially and efficient management and use of this
information is required. Currently, there are many
studies to increase the efficiency of projects by
managing this information and reusing useful
information in construction project design and
construction fields. However, studies on these project
information is insufficient in planning and maintenance
fields and planning phase is especially where major
decisions on the project in general are made but
The study was conducted in the following ways to
present plans for supporting architectural planning
using BIM.
First, the study presented the changes in
construction environments and the necessity of BIM
application in architectural planning phase and
methods of study.
Second, the concept of BIM was defined presented
as a tool to define architectural planning and analyze
the trends of related studies and to support architectural
planning from theoretical examination.
Third, obtained the concept and roles of planning
BIM by analyzing the concept of planning process and
lifecycle BIM.
Fourth, defined 3D unit space model based on the
international standard IFC space model to support
architectural planning using BIM and constructed

978-0-7695-3407-7/08 $25.00 © 2008 IEEE 34

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DOI 10.1109/ICCIT.2008.190
simulation system that implements the roles of information from contractor through collection and
planning BIM based on the model. Finally, conclusion analyzing information into design from the viewpoint
presented summaries on this study and future of project lifecycle.
directions.
Table 1. Definition of Architectural Planning
2. Theoretical Examination Researcher
2.1. Definition of Architectural Planning Dong Jae
Wook
Architectural Planning is planned frequently in each
and 2 others
project but it’s not systematized due to lack of interests
(2006)
on planning duties. As the construction projects are
getting bigger and complex the importance of
architectural planning is in increase recently. The
definition on architectural planning varies according to
the aim of the studies and it is shown on Table 1.
Dong Jae Wook and 2 others (2006) divided the Jang Sung
planning phase of construction project into solving Jun
problems and information flow system, many decisions (2002)
are made and explained by external environments in
the planning phase as a problem solving and it is
included as definite action expressed by knowledge
system or methodology. Also, the planning phase as
information flow has the information structure to
convert information required by participants on many Park Il Woo
problems on the projects and information related with and 1 other
projects into new building information.
(2001)
Park Il Woo and 1 other (2001) said that the concept
of domestic architectural planning matches with the
concept of architectural planning in Japan that
emphasize feasibility study and project operation plan
and analyzed that “Architectural Programming”
concept, “Pre-design” concept regarding planning as Robert. G.
planning at pre-design phase in lifecycle that are being Hershberger
used in the US as rational and systematic design
(1999)
methodology.
The definition on planning by Cherry (1999), the
concept of construction framing is strong, defined
problems that can be solved with design as studying
and decision making procedures to prepare rational
standard for selecting the most appropriate types of Edith Cherry
buildings by architects in pre-design phase and to (1999)
obtain solutions on the range of projects and design
standards through programming procedures.
Park Han Gyu (1998) advised to prepare all
information and data required for constructor to start
designing through his study to apply practically
architecture methodology. Park Han
As the following table shows, the definitions on Gyu
architectural planning are diverse and architectural (1998)
planning can be summarized as a role of gathering
necessary information in advance to perform
construction projects and setting up the direction of 2.2. Advance study on architectural planning
project and as a pre-design phase for reflecting related
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Contents
Study to use as a tool assisting knowledge model
Aim to solve problems in architectural planning using
GIS
Defined as a function presenting direction and
guide of design through collection and analysis
Def
of information required in design as well as
feasibility and economy of the project
Study to systemize by clearly dividing duties of
Aim
each phase of building lifecycle
Defined planning phase ranges from the
beginning of project to preparing guide for
design phase from the viewpoint of project
Def
lifecycle and prepared job results through the
participation of experts in various fields related
with planning
Study to clarify the concept of architectural
Aim
planning
Defined the concept of feasibility study and
economic feasibility focusing on project
operation plans and a phase presenting the
Def
direction of design and setting up design
conditions focusing on the concept of improving
physical ability of buildings
Presented the concept of planning as a
Aim
methodological approach of architecture
Regarded planning as the first stage of
architecture and defined phases of setting goals
Def of project, collecting information, extracting
building requirements by reflecting the values of
contractor, user and social value
Presented the concept of planning as
Aim
methodological approach of architecture
Defined problems that can be solved with design
as research and decision making phase and it is
Def defined as extracting solutions on design
standard and clarifying the scope of project by
constructor
Basic study for matching architecture
Aim
methodology with actual jobs
Defined as preparing information and data
Def needed for starting designing and completing it
by constructor
 A Architectural planning, from project life cycle
viewpoint, is finding out the needs of construction
participants related with project and finding out
information on pre-design phase and it should be
converted into useful information at design phase and
provide tools for making decisions for contractor and
architects. There needs to know about the scope and
duties of planning to support making decisions as
architectural planning phase, and supplementary means
to control those information should be studied for
using information at each phase of project well in
lifecycle.
Table 2 shows advanced studies on architectural
planning and broadly divided into study to present
architectural planning for clarifying the processes of
planning phase and study on construction of
knowledge structure on architectural planning and
decision making system assisting planning.
As shown previously, architectural planning can be
defined diversely and the scope and contents of duties
are diverse as well. There arises duplication of duties
due to unclear planning duties and lacks cooperation
between experts. A study by S Architecture Office on
planning process for systematizing architectural
planning stated that feasibility study is conducted
before signing contract with the contractor and
performed architectural planning after signing the
contract but in reality, it was not able to present
comprehensive planning model because feasibility
study and construction is progressing at the same time
thus it was difficult to apply in various situations. Gang
Mi Sun (1997) considered the economical and social
gains on contractor and architectural planning aspects
in feasibility study with comprehensive viewpoints.
However, it is limited by limiting planning in
feasibility study side only. According to Architectural
Planning Theory by Japanese Architect Academy
(1992), planning process is composed of project
proposal, planning condition analysis, planning from
organization/administration/spatial/technology aspect,
evaluation of plans and preparation but the procedures
of planning duties on each phase are unclear and has
difficult in controlling architectural planning in terms
of construction project lifecycle.
Kim Jin Woo (1996( and H Kim (2007) constructed
knowledge structure of architectural planning for
studies on construction of knowledge structure of
architectural planning. Kim Jin Wook studies ways to
extract essential knowledge in developing knowledge
base meeting the characteristics of construction fields
as a base step to develop knowledge base system in
construction design field, H. Kim defined the
relationship between object and object of buildings to
support initial design phase, and constructed those
concepts with ontology and presented knowledge
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based methodology. Many cases for supporting
decision making by participants by using those
technologies and drawing control and site control are
being discovered in the fields of architect and
construction due to development of information
technology but there are not many studies applying
those information technologies at planning phase yet.
Kim Chang Guk (1991) researched progresses of
finding out problems arising at the beginning of design
process and conceptualizing and presented basic
methodology on modeling to execute those processes
with computer, You Sang Wook and 1 other (1994)
studies concepts on architectural processes to develop
object oriented construction programming professional
system and selected construction programming model
and established theoretical conceptual model to
construction system based on object oriented
development methods. Dong Jae Wook and 2 others
(2006) along with recent NGIS Project performed
studies by dividing into information analysis phase
through analysis on societies and natural environments
and GIS analysis and feasibility analysis phase such as
facility programming, feasibility study and business
forecasting, and decision making phase based on
comprehensive business plan and planned design.
As seen so far, the duties of planning phase is
unclear compared to design and construction fields and
broad and there are many participants since it is the
beginning phase of project lifecycle thus it is difficult
to establish process and prepare plans for supporting
planning duties. This study intends to use BIM
(Building Information Modeling) concept which is
becoming popular in AEC(Architecture, Engineering,
Construction) industry as a supporting tool for
comprehensively managing information generated
during the lifecycle of buildings and for duties before
designing phase.
Table 2. Advance study on architectural planning
Class Researcher Contents
Learn lessons through project analysis
Gibsond and related with initial planning processes
3 others and proved positive relationship
(2006) between initial planning and
improvements in project results
Presenting
Architectural Performed feasibility study before
Planning S Architect signing contract with contractor and
Process Office performed planning design in
(1998) architectural aspects after signing the
contract
Gang Mi
Presented feasibility study models in
Sun
(1997)
economic, social, architectural aspects
 Discussed about concepts and Table 3. Definition of BIM
Gibson and definitions at initial planning phase and Organization,
Definition
2 others presented process model analyzing Scholar
(1997) functions of planning phase Provide parametric based model to reflect
Composed of project proposal, insertion, extraction, updating or altering physical,
NIBS
Japanese planning condition analysis, planning functional characteristics of building at each steps
(2007)
Architect in aspects of as needed throughout the processes to support
Academy organization/administration/spatial/ cooperation among related parties
(1992) technology, evaluation and preparation Comprehensively manage and use information on
of plans Gang Hyun all steps from planning to expiry through
H.Kim and 1 Cheol and 1 exchanging and sharing information according to
Construct space with building ontology
other other projects, processes focusing on interoperation of
Construction for supporting initial design
(2007) (2007) information through the entire lifecycle of
of
Architectural Construct knowledge base construction
planning development phase for developing Refers to the entire processes of exchanging,
Kim Jin
Knowledge knowledge base system in construction GSA reusing, controlling information generated during
Wook
Structure field and examined ways to extract (2006) the lifecycle of building through object oriented
(1996)
knowledge essential in developing artificial intelligent information model
knowledge base
Comprehensively control all information and
Performed studies by dividing into Lee Gang organization, duties and processes needed from the
information analysis phase through (2006) stage of planning for construction to its cycle of
analysis on societies and natural design, construction, maintenance and demolition
Dong Jae
environments and GIS analysis and
Wook and 2
feasibility analysis phase such as
others As seen from the above, the concept of BIM has
facility programming, feasibility study
(2006)
and business forecasting, and decision developed from the points of integrated management
making phase based on comprehensive of information thought the lifecycle of a building and
business plan and planned design
its concept is being firmly established with the
Defined the concepts on design development of CAD. Picture 2 compares efforts and
Decision processes for developing object
Making oriented APES (Architectural effects required to form BIM based on existing CAD
System You Sang system, object-oriented CAD system, parametric based
Programming Expert System), selected
supporting Wook and 1
other
construction programming model and CAD system. As shown in the picture, parametric
Planning set theoretical conceptual model to
(1994) based CAD system is most effective in forming BIM.
construct APES by integrating
structure expert system based on
object-oriented development methods

Presented basic methods in modeling

from problems arising in the beginning
Kim Chang
to conceptual modeling and till
Guk
execution in computer based on themes
(1991)
on design problems, design models,
problem search and problem solving

2.3. BIM(Building Information Modeling)

A According to (2006), there were many

discussions on BIM at a conference held in 2005 and
Eastman & Laiserin argued that BIM should be
regarded as the entire process exchanging, reusing and
controlling project information being generated during
the lifecycle of buildings and not just simple
Information model. The BIM concept defined from the
aspect of integrated control of information generated
during the lifecycle of building has stronger meaning
as integrated control of processes through parametric
modeling advancing from the concepts of existing 2D
CAD, Object CAD model and the definitions of BIM
are shown on Table 3.
Figure 1. BIM composition and CAD technology
One building model is used through each participant
and program per field to manage project information
on the lifecycle of building and STEP, IFC, XML are
being developed to interoperability of data in
ISO(International Organization for Standardization)
and IAI(International Alliance for Interoperability) to
solve the problem of data compatibility. Especially,
IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) of IAI integrates all
objects of industry throughout the lifecycle of

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AEC/FM project thus compatibility between BIM
exclusive program can be solved.

3. Concept and Role of Plan BIM

3.1. Concept of Plan BIM Figure 3. Planning Supporting BIM

‘Tasks and Outlooks on constructing Korean BIM’
forecasted that interoperability and the importance of
information exchanges between firms will increase as
the steps of development increase as BIM development
steps of BIM based on the results of researching
European BIM market evolve into unit function BIM,
job unit BIM, A/E step BIM, A/E/C step BIM,
lifecycle BIM and presented that it should become
lifecycle BIM integrating planning, designing,
constructing, maintaining building. BIM refers to
process comprehensively managing information being
generated throughout the processes and not just simple
information model. For planning phase, it is a phase
where the first information is generated for integrated
management along with the start of the project and
generates basic information on design phase.
3.2 Roles of Plan BIM
Job processes at planning phase can be defined
according to the characteristic of projects. Planning
duty is a process of extracting optimum Plan by
comprehensively finding out information related with
project and the role of Plan BIM should be defined on
this line of thoughts.
As defined previously, Plan Supporting BIM should
be reflected initial data related with plans and
requirements related with projects at initial space and
Plan BIM with strong characteristics of initial project
program as shown is developed into Building Model
by going through design, construction, maintenance.
Major roles and detailed duties of Plan BIM are shown
on Table 4. Major roles of Plan BIM is supporting
processes of collecting and analyzing data, process
extracting optimum space plans reflected with
requirements from contractor and project.

Table 4. Role of Planning BIM

Characteristics Roles Detailed Duties
-Feasibility Study
-Research and Analysis on surround
environments (social/nature)
Data -Land analysis
collection/ -Review legal validity
Analysis (purpose, floor space, building space,
height control)
Figure 2. Concept of lifecycle BIM -Project costs analysis
-Research/compare similar buildings

Trelligence Affinity, US firm developing a system -Maximum costs for contractor

-Due Date management
supporting initial design phase, called the tools Managing -Requirements on the size of space
containing those information as Program Model and Program
Requirements -Space composition on building,
Model
these model include data at initial phase, requirements purpose
related with project (land, contractor), initial space plan -Selection of finishing materials
which is the basic information at design phase and -Examine feature of building unit
stated that this model evolves into Building Model space
gradually by going through conceptual design and -Set physical size of building
execution design, construction and maintenance phases. -Extend/reduce building (complex)
Space Plan -Layout of building
As shown from the above, BIM supporting planning -Review costs on space plan
use Program Model containing information on general -Review regulations on space plan
project and create initial BIM to manage project -Review space on contractor
through acquiring, generating, reusing information requirements
throughout the lifecycle. The concept of Plan BIM is as 4. Plans for implementing supporting
follows.
architectural plan using BIM

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4.1. Define unit building space model for Site inherits all attributes as Sub Object of unit
supporting planning space and has Address information as additional
attribute.
There requires a tool to contain architectural
planning information to use on construction lifecycle Table 6. VC_Site Object Definition
usefully by collecting/analyzing information at attribute description
planning phase, BIM required for supporting planning Global_ID Object identifier
at initial project phase is space model containing initial Name Object name
data on project and contractor requirements thus it
should contain attributes on definitions and usage, VC Type Object type
costs on unit space to be developed into Design BIM _Site Placement Object location information
Model. This study constructed 3D Unit Space Model
Representation Object shape information
based on space model of IFC, international standard
model. Address Address information
IFC Model being developed as standard BIM model
in construction industries has broad range of 4.1.3. Building
expressing information and open-structure in
expressing information thus has excellent advantage in Building inherits all attributes as Sub object of unit
expansion and application of BIM model. Unit space space and has ground level and address information as
model for supporting architectural planning support is additional attributes.
as follows.
Table 7. VC_Building Object Definition
attribute description
Global_ID Object identifier
Name Object name
Type Object type
VC
Placement Object location information
_Building
Representation Object shape information
GL Building height information
Address Address information

4.1.4. Storey

Storey inherits all attributes as Sub Object of unit

Figure 4. 3D Unit Space Model space and has elevation value as an additional attribute.
4.1.1. Unit Space
Table 8. VC_Storey Object Definition
attribute description
Unit space, conceptual object, is defined as attribute
contained commonly by all space objects. Global_ID Object identifier
Name Object name
Table 5. VC_UnitSpace Object Definition VC Type Object type
Attribute description _Storey Placement Object location information
Global_ID Object identifier Representation Object shape information
Name Object name Elevation Elevation information
VC Type Object type
_UnitSpace
4.1.5. Space
Placement Object location information
Space inherits all attributes as Sub Object of unit
Representation Object shape information space and has interior/exterior identifier and elevation
height as additional attributes.
4.1.2. Site Table 9. VC_Space Object Definition
Attribute description

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 Global_ID Object identifier identify additionally required interior and exterior and
Name Object name Elevation_from_floor displaying the height of
Type Object type elevation. Rough space planning can be planned
Placement Object location information through generated unit space.
VC
_Space Representation Object shape information
Identifying internal and
Interior_Exterior
external space
Elevation_from Height of space (based on
_floor level)

4.2. Planning Simulation using BIM

This chapter presented prototype system showing

how the system supports architect through planning
simulation system platform through unit space created
based on IFC. Figure 6. Generation of Unit Space Model
for planning space
4.2.1. Generation of Project
4.2.3. Reviewing Space Plan

Space tree will be generated on navigation on the

screen according to the types of project through unit
space model and architect can set up space plan
through those unit spaces. At this time, basic mass is
generated according to land and regulations for
reviewing unit planning and basic mass is generated by
inheriting attributes of land. Architect needs to check
Figure 5. Generation of Project the size of space and the relationship between spaces
through unit space and can adjust appropriate size
Picture 6 is the initial step of a project and this is according to space. Also, space planning outside of
where the types of project is decided and information basic mass can be derived through moving and
related with projects such as location of land, expansion/reduction, alteration of spaces.
contractor requirements is generated for the first time.
When a location of land is decided than regulations on
land will be automatically generated and user can
define laws and regulations to consider and items
related with regions, zones according to the
characteristics of projects. For land, an attribute on
address will be added on the previously constructed
unit space model attributes.

4.2.2. Generation of Unit Space Model for planning

space
Architect classifies spaces according to purposes
through researching and comparing existing similar
buildings and calculates appropriate size according to
project desired by contractor.
Space for planning space plan inherits attributes of
unit space and basically includes Global_ID an
attribute to identify objects, Name an attribute
displaying object name, Type displaying the types of
object, Placement displaying location of object,
Representation displaying the shape of object and
additionally defines Interior_Exterior an attribute to
Figure 7. Reviewing Space Plan
4.2.4. Cost Review
Planning phase requires economical review as well
and space information for designing. Costs per each
space can be calculated when unit space model and
costs are linked. Also, it is possible to calculate costs
per storey, purpose according to the classification of
unit space and space plan can be adjusted based on the
total costs presented by the contractor.

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Figure 8. Cost Review
5. Conclusion
This study aimed to present the concept of Plan BIM
and its applications to support decision makings by
participants of planning phase.
It established the concept and role of Planning BIM
efficiently supporting decision makings at planning
phase through defining architectural planning and
analyzing advanced studies, defining BIM, and studied
the role of planning supporting BIM according to each
situation by creating simulation screen to check how
planning duties can be supported based on unit space
model by establishing 3D unit space model based on
space model based on IFC model by taking into
account expendability and compatibility from the point
of view from project lifecycle. Finally, there required
studies to define the relationships between unit space
models according to space formation and purposes,
contractor requirements and it is believed that there
needs studies on expansion of planning supporting
BIM when we think that construction project planning
will expand from building to complex, region, city
units.
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