Efficient evaluation of construction submittals using BIM

摘要

Submittal review is a formal process for evaluating all of the material, equipment, and processes submitted by a contractor before they can be used in a project. For projects involving unique architectural components, contractors often submit alternatives that have minor deviations from specifications. Thorough evaluation is therefore necessary to save project time and quantify the best acceptance conditions. This paper discusses the development of a BIM-based decision-support framework to help evaluate key architectural submittals during construction in an efficient and speedy manner. BIM is used for storing design rationale and specification data within its 3D model of a building. The framework uses this data and applies the multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT) and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to evaluate the degree of submittal compliance with design rationale and performance criteria. Accordingly, it suggests correct acceptance conditions, based on analysis of the cost and time implications at the short-term and the long-term during operation. Applying the framework to a case study shows its ability to reduce subjectivity in submittal evaluation, determine the best-value decisions, and automatically update as-built data to facilitate correct operation of a building.