Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Alexandria Engineering Journal

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/aej

A hybrid building information modeling and collaboration platform for

automation system in smart construction
Yonghao Wang a, Hailu lu a, Yao Wang a, Zhenqin Yang b, Qingshan Wang a, Hao Zhang c, *
a
China Construction Seventh Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, China
b
China Construction Strait Construction and Development Co., Ltd., Fuzhou, Fujian 350000, China
c
Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Building information modeling (BIM) technology can organically combine data modeling and virtual reality, and
Smart construction compare them with actual construction objects to realize the smart collaboration of entity and the model in the
Building information modeling construction processes, greatly reducing early stage mistakes and improve construction efficiency. This paper
Collaboration platform
proposed an automation system framework of smart construction based on BIM technology and collaboration
Automation system
platform, and discussed the element configuration of smart construction based on BIM technology and collab­
oration platform, and finally elaborated the working mechanism of automated system based on BIM technology
and collaboration platform. The study results show that the automation system based on the BIM technology and
collaboration platform supports the rapid construction of large-scale three-dimensional scenes and the precise
integration of multi-source data, and can bring together construction information and asset information from
different sources to form an open, safe, and accessible digital environment. The application of smart construction
technology in construction cost management has brought huge economic benefits, construction efficiency has
been increased by 65%, construction period has been shortened by 30%, labor intensity has been reduced by
27%, and labor productivity has been increased by 39%, which has brought considerable indirect benefits to
construction projects.

1. Introduction
Smart construction means that intelligence and related technologies
will be fully utilized in the construction process, and the smart level of
the construction process will be improved by establishing and applying
smart systems. Conceptually, smart construction is a large container,
including smart design, smart construction site, and smart management.
Smart design is oriented to the interior of the design enterprise, and the
smart construction site is oriented to the construction site [1]. According
to the different management subjects, smart management can be divided
into smart management of construction enterprises, smart management
of construction management units, and smart supervision of government
departments. There are many subcontracting units in smart construction
projects, and it is difficult to coordinate management. In order to ensure
the coordinated operation of all participants in the project department,
an automated system is needed to manage the general contracting
technology, quality, safety, progress, and production modules. The in­
formation of smart construction is synchronously integrated into the
automation system, which accurately reflects the real situation of con­
struction and lays the foundation for further simulation and evaluation
[2].
Building information modeling (BIM) is an architectural model
established based on various relevant information data of construction
projects. It can simulate and integrate the real information of buildings
through digital information, and carry out information in the whole life
cycle of project planning, design, construction, operation and mainte­
nance, which plays an important role in improving production effi­
ciency, saving costs and shortening construction period [3]. The smart
construction based on the BIM technology and collaboration platform
adopts the comprehensive informatization method based on the BIM
technology to realize the expansion of the management and control
capabilities of man, machine, material, method and environment in the
construction process, so as to achieve reliable data collection and
effective accumulation of knowledge and information process, and
finally complete the integration of virtual construction and physical
construction through platform-based tools, realizing data analysis to

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: zhanghao16116374@163.com (H. Zhang).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2024.01.013
Received 16 October 2023; Received in revised form 30 November 2023; Accepted 2 January 2024
Available online 12 January 2024
1110-0168/© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier BV on behalf of Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University This is an open access article under the CC
BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Y. Wang et al.
provide decision-making reference choices for engineering construction
[4]. According to the characteristics of smart construction, the auto­
mation system based on the BIM technology and collaboration platform
realizes the sharing of model data among all participants of the con­
struction project, and the centralized management of data, which en­
sures the consistency and relevance of data.
Although in the research content, it is proposed to use BIM tech­
nology to realize the effective transmission of data information, in the
current research and application process, the transmission and appli­
cation of design data and information to the construction process is re­
flected. There is still a lack of research and application on how to apply
design information to the manufacturing of equipment and components,
and how to use the intelligent technology of construction information in
the operation process. Around the construction of new infrastructure
projects, the research and application of intelligent construction tech­
nology based on BIM technology has made great progress, but the
standard system to be realized by intelligent construction technology
lacks definition, and there is still a lack of targeted research and dis­
cussion on the application system of intelligent construction technology
to realize the whole process of design, manufacturing, construction and
operation from design onwards. Therefore, the research content of this
paper focuses on the realization of intelligent construction standards and
requirements of new infrastructure through the construction of intelli­
gent construction technology application system in the whole process of
design, manufacturing, construction and operation.
This study highlights several possible contributions to the BIM
collaboration platform and automation system in smart construction.
This study introduces the organizational forms and evaluation standards
of collaboration platform and the information exchange and authority
management of BIM technology, analyzes the standardization of the
information resources and system establishment of smart construction,
expounds the coordination between the construction process and man­
agement system of smart construction, proposes a automation system
framework of smart construction based on BIM technology and collab­
oration platform, carries out a case application and its result analysis,
discussed the element configuration of smart construction based on BIM
technology and collaboration platform, and finally elaborates the
working system of automated system based on BIM technology and
collaboration platform. Specifically, the technical contributions of this
paper can be summarized as follows:
Firstly, the organization form and evaluation criteria of the collab­
orative platform are introduced, the information exchange and author­
ity management of BIM technology are explained, and the
standardization methods of intelligent building information resources
are analyzed.
Secondly, the coordination mode between intelligent building con­
struction process and management system is discussed, and the archi­
tecture of intelligent building automation system based on BIM
technology and collaborative platform is summarized.
Thirdly, the element allocation method of intelligent building based
on BIM technology and collaborative platform is analyzed, and the
working mechanism of this automatic system is discussed.
Fourthly, the results are analyzed. The automation system based on
BIM technology and collaborative platform not only supports the rapid
construction of large-scale three-dimensional scenes, but also supports
the accurate integration of multi-source data, and brings together con­
struction information and asset information from different sources to
form a collaborative automated digital environment.
The detailed chapters of this paper are arranged as follows: Section 2
summarizes related published works; Section 3 introduces the organi­
zational forms and evaluation standards of collaboration platform and
the information exchange and authority management of BIM technol­
ogy; Section 4 proposes a automation system framework of smart con­
struction; Section 5 carries out a case application and its result analysis;
Section 6 discusses the element configuration of smart construction and
the working mechanism of automated system based on BIM technology
81
Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90
and collaboration platform; Section 7 is conclusion.
2. Related works
There have been many previous published works on BIM collabo­
ration platform, automation system and smart construction. On the
unified collaboration platform of the project team, users of all parties
can read the latest and most complete project information in real time,
so as to make long-term and beneficial decisions. The whole chain of
smart construction refers to all participants involved in project activities
in all stages of construction life [5–7]. The BIM technology organically
combines data modeling analysis and virtual reality, and compares and
analyzes with actual construction objects to realize the smart collabo­
ration of entities and models in the construction process, so as to greatly
reduce early errors and improve construction efficiency [8]. From
automation to intelligence, smart construction site equipment has
completed smart processing from data collection to simple transactions.
However, in practical applications, the core problems of smart devices
are that data is difficult to communicate; data cannot be shared between
devices of different brands and different networks, and the reliability of
device services [9,10].
The smart management in the smart construction site is used to meet
the project management requirements of the construction enterprise
itself, and is an important part of the informatization of the construction
enterprise. If all services are requested to the cloud, network jitter and
cloud resources affected, there are often problems such as untimely
response of equipment services and downtime [11]. After the item
management system completes the collection of equipment data, other
business systems need to use the equipment data. Since different systems
have inconsistent standards for equipment data and measurement units,
information transmission errors will occur. In order to solve the above
problems, the equipment standard data is introduced. In the design
stage, smart construction uses the collaborative management platform
to carry out resource mutual extraction and realize user allocation and
docking parameters [12–14].
Management standards refer to the standards specified for manage­
ment items that need to be coordinated and unified in the field of
standardization, including basic management standards, technical
management standards, economic management standards, administra­
tive management standards, and production and operation management
standards. When the equipment data of the item management system is
incrementally generated, it needs to be written into the data standard
module, and other systems need to call the standard equipment data in
the data standard module [15]. The building automation control section
transmits data, including face recognition attendance, cameras, water,
electricity, lighting, elevators, air conditioners, tower cranes and other
equipment information and operating status, and construction site video
information, equipment alarm records, construction site environmental
information and other data, corresponding to the labor, equipment,
safety, environment and other business sectors of the incoming item
management system [16,17].
By establishing BIM model database, Pan & Zhang [18] promote the
integration and application of data information in the whole process
management of construction projects, which is conducive to the sharing
of project data and information and the cooperation of construction
participants, and thus improve the construction efficiency of construc­
tion projects. From the perspective of cost control, Wang et al. [19]
integrate cost, schedule management and other influencing factors,
realize quality monitoring and resource optimization through BIM
technology, and give early warning to abnormal phenomena in the
construction process, so as to ensure that the cost is controllable. Qiu
et al. [20] study the American BIM standard and the transmission path of
BIM data information, and propose that the application of BIM standard
in the construction process of prefabricated components can effectively
improve the sharing and interactive accuracy of engineering data in­
formation at each construction stage. Through the integrated
Y. Wang et al.
application of radio frequency identification and BIM technology, Zhang
et al. [21] carry out real-time tracking and control of resources, realizing
lean control of cost and schedule in the construction process, and also
clarifying the applicability of information technology in construction
project management.
3. Methods and principles
3.1. Organizational forms and evaluation standards of collaboration
platform
The parametric design of standard parts is a parametric function that
comes with the automation system, and its parameters can be modified
for the smart construction, and it is easy to express the segment models
with irregular structures and complex physical relationships with mul­
tiple related components:
( )
∑ n
b1i d1i
a1i = − (1)
i=1
c21i b21i
In this formula, a1i is the automation system after the modeling is
completed; b1i is BIM technology models with any complex relationship;
c1i is the parametric modeling through pre-coded programs; d1i is the
secondary development interface of BIM technology.
Due to the poor ability to interactively modify parts of the system and
the heavy programming workload, a parameterized three-dimensional
model is built in the collaboration platform in advance, and then and
methods are called to drive the wisdom build the dimensional constraint
values and update the model automatically:
f1i g1i c1i
e1i = − (2)
h1i − a1i b1i
In this formula, e1i is the parameter set objects; f1i is the top-level user
interface; g1i is the logic processing level of the next level; h1i is the logic
processing level provided by the lower level.
The data layer is mainly composed of the BIM design model of smart
construction, various monitoring information during the construction
process, virtual construction models and construction-related standards,
specifications, construction organization design, contract documents:
⎧
⎨ l1i − a1i d1i − g1i b1i
k1i = m1i − b1i e1i − f1i c1i (3)
⎩
o1i − c1i f1i − e1i d1i
In this formula, k1i is the processing of the information data of the
data layer; l1i is corresponding quality management module; m1i is the
construction model layer with technical processing; o1i is the progress
management module ordering the data processing level.
Through the BIM integrated platform, information such as drawings
and specifications can be input through the construction model layer, so
that managers can read the specifications, drawings and schemes care­
fully without cumbersome, and the platform will automatically generate
information about components in the construction process.
The automation system uses distributed databases for smart con­
struction BIM data storage, which can integrate data from various pro­
cess projects, and store and manage existing system and group database
information in a unified manner, including BIM model data, engineering
documents, multimedia materials and related data generated during the
construction process. The business layer of the collaboration platform is
mainly for different common business needs of smart construction,
provides various standardized services, and develops a system platform
that conforms to the management of the project itself, mainly including
model application, document application, process management, task
planning, video application, monitoring and transmission. The BIM
technology can visually compare the actual completion time with the
planned completion time in the platform, and adjust the construction
period plan.
82
Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90
Construction cost management is the basis of the entire project
management, involving the management of each link in the whole
process of the project. In the implementation of the project, the overall
goal of the company is taken as the benchmark, and a series of organi­
zational management methods are adopted to effectively organize,
track, analyze, assess and control the project cost under the premise of
meeting the actual requirements of the project. This further improves
the cost management system, so as to achieve the goal of improving the
cost accounting level, optimizing the construction cost and creating
good economic benefits. Construction cost management based on BIM
technology and collaborative platform is a comprehensive management
work. Through dynamic comparative analysis of the deviation between
the actual and planned costs and timely corrective measures, the eco­
nomic benefits of construction and production can be accurately
controlled, cost overruns can be avoided, and resource waste can be
reduced.
3.2. Information exchange and authority management of BIM technology
Through comprehensive perception of internal and external envi­
ronment, ubiquitous interconnection, integrated processing, and active
learning and scientific decision-making, time and human resources are
to create a safer, more reliable and more cost-effective construction
technology system:
∑
n
q1i ∑n
s1i − k1i
p1i = = (4)
r1i a − e1i
i=1 1i
i=1
In this formula, p1i is the efficient and comprehensive utilization of
space; q1i is the safety management module; r1i is the cost management
module; s1i is the application layer corresponding to safety management,
including drawing data and special plan preparation.
The automation system uses BIM visualization features to realize
construction organization, hazard identification, safety protection,
safety hazard tracking, special plans, technical disclosure, so that the
information pushed by the management to the operation layer achieves
clear and effective purposes:
v1i
t1i = u1i − − (d1i − q1i )2 (5)
w1i
In this formula, t1i is the emergency evacuation simulation man­
agement; u1i is the construction safety inspection; v1i is safety technology
disclosure; w1i is the safety space management with changing
management.
Data use security requires the establishment of a sound data security
management system and data security normative system; the estab­
lishment of a data security management organization is related to an
effective data security review mechanism and the command of the upper
level needs to be as the following:
x1i − z1i q1i − u1i
y1i = − (6)
a2i t1i
In this formula, x1i is the principle mode in data security of smart
construction; y1i is the data storage, transmission and use security; z1i is
the directly commanded automatic transmission of monitoring data; a2i
is the description of the dynamic flow and operation of data.
The BIM technology and collaboration platform expounds the tech­
nical route of smart construction in survey and design, engineering
construction and construction management, and clarifies key technol­
ogies such as the combination of BIM and the Internet of Things (IoTs),
and integrated design. Data storage security includes physical security,
system security, and stored data security; data storage security is mainly
ensured through the purchase of secure hardware; data transmission
security includes data encryption and data network security control. The
data model of construction enterprises refers to the models of the
financial industry and the telecommunications industry, combined with
the actual situation of the construction industry and construction
Y. Wang et al.
enterprises, and uses the domain-oriented method to carry out design.
The model includes participants, contracts, engineering, project man­
agement process, project resources, planning and planning, accounting
and funding, standard and reference classifications. The collaboration
platform is the supplement and improvement of the business data model,
and the key to realizing the association and business collaboration be­
tween business data.
4. Automation system framework for smart construction based
on BIM and collaboration platform
4.1. Standardization of information resources and system establishment
In a project, various specialties and systems have a variety of intri­
cate pipelines, especially in mechanical and electrical engineering, it is
easy to repeat the pipelines at the intersection, which affects the con­
struction quality and cost. The collaborative platform can integrate all
kinds of important digital model information into a single building in­
formation model, which can efficiently complete the collision detection
of electromechanical pipelines. BIM provides a holistic view of the
project in real time, enabling efficient 3D collaboration, photo-level
visualization, dynamic simulation, and accurate analysis. Through the
BIM technology under the collaborative platform, we can intuitively see
the collision problem between pipelines, accurately control and adjust
the position and height of pipelines and cable Bridges, so as to solve the
cooperation problems among various professions and fundamentally
solve the accurate positioning of pipelines.
The automation system based on the BIM technology and collabo­
ration platform can formulate the BIM application policy aiming at
solving the difficulties of the construction project, and establish the
project implementation structure and team with the company’s chief
engineer as the chief commander, and the two-layer separation of gen­
eral contracting and subcontracting. The collaboration platform appli­
cation covers design, planning, technology, quality, safety, business and
other business lines horizontally, and vertically covers professional
subcontracting such as civil engineering, steel structure, electrome­
chanical, and decoration. Other planning contents also include the
project application process, BIM working system, project software and
hardware configuration and other elements; on the one hand, it effec­
tively supports the BIM application of the participating units and busi­
ness lines of the project, and on the other hand, it improves the
traditional engineering project, communication is mainly offline, and
document management is chaotic [22]. In the process of preparing the
Fig. 1. Automation system framework for smart construction based on BIM and collaboration platform.
83
Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90
construction plan, the project directly extracts the information of the
section size, length and net height of the structural members from the
BIM model. The automation system builds a BIM application and
collaborative work environment centered on the BIM collaborative
management platform. The software-hardware integrated environment
uses graphics workstations, mobile terminals and other hardware as the
basis for project calculation and data collection, and uses BIM model as
an aid to accurately and intuitively explain construction points to op­
erators and improve the effect of disclosure (Fig. 1).
Intelligent operation takes BIM technology as the basic platform. By
applying BIM model to operation and maintenance stage, BIM data in
design and construction stage can be effectively extracted to assist
building operation and maintenance, and subsequent operation and
maintenance data can be stored based on BIM model to realize data
management of the whole life cycle of buildings. It synchronously
combines new technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial in­
telligence, and big data technology to build a smart operation man­
agement platform based on BIM three-dimensional space intelligent
monitoring, intelligent analysis, and intelligent management and
control.
As the technology and structure of smart construction projects
become more and more complex, a large amount of construction quality
information will be generated during the construction process. At the
same time, in the project, the quality information concerned and applied
by different construction entities are also different, such as the con­
struction record information of the construction party, the quality in­
spection and acceptance information of the supervisory party, etc.
Therefore, the collaboration platform needs to obtain the information
required by the automation system from the quality data management
platform according to its own needs. Based on the constantly expanding
quality demand information, the quality information in the smart con­
struction data warehouse is also continuously supplemented and upda­
ted, and finally a quality-oriented information database is established to
provide complete data support for quality management. As shown in
Fig. 2, the process information of smart construction refers to the real-
time information of the construction quality status collected by the
automated system. Due to the cumbersome construction process, only
relying on the construction entity information contained in BIM cannot
fully reflect the construction quality status of construction projects, and
the application of collaboration platforms provides the possibility for
construction project quality management. The system enters the basic
information such as the variety, specification, quantity, quality inspec­
tion status, and production responsible person of each material into the
Y. Wang et al.
Fig. 2. Standardization processes of information resources and system establishment in the smart construction based on BIM and collaboration platform.
label, and marks these attribute information in the BIM model to make
the raw material information more accurate and traceable.
The automation system based on the BIM technology and collabo­
ration platform assists the design and process management within each
specialty, maintains the continuation of the design information of the
model between different design stages, and also realizes data exchange,
mutual viewing and reference, and collision checking among the disci­
plines. The data center of the collaboration platform provides unified
data management for each professional module in the system, allows
data mutual access between modules, solves the problems of scattered
data management and difficult communication among modules in the
existing system, and realizes better collaborative work in smart con­
struction. Construction project administrators can manage projects,
people, and role permissions through the management console. The
management console provides access to applications and web pages, and
administrators can access the server on a remote terminal or other de­
vices that can run a browser. The BIM technology can lock the compo­
nent objects according to the floor or building space or the work set
defined by the component category classification to form a distributed
parallel work state of multiple people. For different users in the same
role, the authority assignment of the automation system mainly refers to
the division of smart construction and the necessary authority; because
it involves the division strategy of models, this division is called work
set, and the division of work set mainly refers to the division of work
sets, which is divided into two types: division by space and division by
model element category.
4.2. Coordination between the construction process and management
system
The intelligent operation management platform based on BIM tech­
nology analyzes the multi-perspective and multi-dimensional original
iot data through the monitoring system, integrates multiple systems and
different networks, and realizes the interconnection of data. The single
system management is upgraded to multi-system unified management,
and the long-term barrier of different data Spaces is opened up. This
makes the data intermingle, making the big data analysis more rich and
84
Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90
substantial, and mining more practical data. The intelligent operation
management platform can improve the effective integration of various
resources through the comprehensive coordination management
mechanism, achieve energy saving and efficiency management of
buildings, efficient operation of equipment, and reduce costs.
The smart construction site level of the automation system provides
support for the realization of the comprehensive standardized manage­
ment of infrastructure projects, ensuring that the standardized man­
agement manuals of the three project departments of the owner, the
supervisor and the construction are fully implemented on the site by
means of information technology. The further improvement of the
application level of BIM technology and collaboration platform faces
two main problems: one is information sharing, and the other is
collaborative work. Due to the lack of data collaboration and sharing
capabilities, the participants still use the traditional point-to-point
communication method during the project process, which not only in­
creases the overhead and cost, but also cannot guarantee the timeliness
and accuracy of the communication information. As shown in Fig. 3, the
two-dimensional design of smart construction does not need to specify
the location, but the BIM design needs to specify the clear location of
pipelines, equipment, etc., which requires more design data. Therefore,
the collaboration platform should sort out the professional design pro­
cesses, combine the BIM design characteristics, and reengineer the smart
construction process to form a process that conforms to the automation
system. In delivery standards, automated systems can further clarify
issues of intellectual property protection and develop integrated plat­
forms, lightweight models, and review design results when submitting
models to other companies [23].
In view of the problems of many project participants, difficult
collaboration, large amount of project data, and low communication
efficiency, the automation system based on the BIM technology and
collaboration platform provides a technical system for cross-
organizational collaboration for construction and management units,
improves the efficiency of the communication and collaboration pro­
cess, and eliminates the need for Information blind spots. The smart
system of smart construction can be technically divided into two cate­
gories, one is the management system; the other is the technical system.
Y. Wang et al.
Fig. 3. Coordination between the construction process and management system in the smart construction based on BIM and collaboration platform.
As shown in Fig. 4, smart construction sites are an important part of
smart construction, and smart construction site solutions can be sum­
marized as construction site systems and construction enterprise smart
management. The construction site IoTs system is aimed at the problem
of site-level comprehensive status perception and data collection. The
smart construction collaboration platform requires the continuous
transmission and shared use of engineering information models in the
design, construction, acceptance, handover and other links. The BIM
technology and collaboration platform support the rapid construction of
large-scale scenes and the precise integration of multi-source data,
bringing together smart construction information and asset information
from different sources, unified format and unified management, forming
an open, safe, and accessible digital environment.
The BIM model is used for pre-simulation, safety protection is
Fig. 4. Efficient and comprehensive utilization of space in the smart con­
struction based on BIM and collaboration platform.
85
Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90
established, the site safety layout is planned in advance for disclosure,
and the drawings for dangerous side openings are marked to ensure that
the site construction is consistent with the model layout. Through the
labor real name management system and intelligent gate, the credit
information of workers is collected, and the workers with bad credit
records are excluded from the construction site, and the disputes on the
construction site are reduced from the source. The vital signs of con­
struction personnel are observed and recorded by intelligent safety
helmet and intelligent physical examination machine to reduce the
occurrence of casualties on site. Through the intelligent camera and
monitoring system, you can obtain the relevant data such as the oper­
ation of the tower crane, external elevator and other equipment at the
construction site. Once the monitoring system exceeds the safe value, an
alarm should be issued immediately to ensure the quality of construction
and reduce the occurrence of accidents.
The basic engineering data such as quantity, price and other data are
accurate, transparent and shared in the collaboration platform, which is
convenient to realize the control of project capital risks and profit goals
in the whole process. Smart construction can not only shorten the con­
struction period and reduce costs, but also change the inefficiency of
information transmission and sharing among various project de­
partments and construction parties, and open up the information be­
tween design, construction, owners, supervision, and engineering
offices. The on-site video monitoring sensors are formed into a local area
network, and then connected to the cloud server through the Internet to
realize remote video monitoring and real-time monitoring of construc­
tion sites. According to standardized objects, smart construction based
on BIM technology includes technical standards, management standards
and work standards. Technical standards include basic technical stan­
dards, product standards, process standards, testing and experimental
method standards, and safety, hygiene, and environmental protection
standards. Work standards refer to the standards specified for work re­
sponsibilities, rights, scope, quality requirements, procedures, effects,
inspection methods, and assessment methods, generally including
department work standards and post work standards. In the above
description, it focuses on the relationship between virtual digital con­
struction and physical engineering, and also considers the ability
enhancement of digital construction through big data, cloud computing,
IoTs technology, etc., and finally forms the smart assistance of the
Y. Wang et al.
construction process.
5. Case application and its result analysis
5.1. Background and design of case application
The BIM model provides a collaborative transfer station for different
participants of smart construction. Using the BIM technology to cover
the characteristics of the whole life cycle of the building, the role of this
transfer station can be extended to other stages of the building life, such
as construction and operation and maintenance. The automation system
based on the BIM technology and collaboration platform is a digital way
to create, manage and share information, and it is a powerful tool to
promote the transformation and upgrading of the project management
model. The automation system can also ensure that the data of each
smart construction project can be dynamically adjusted, facilitated sta­
tistics, and can trace the relevant cash flow and capital status; the image
progress of the BIM data model can create conditions for the system to
fully allocate resources for decision-making. It can be said that the
automation system based on the BIM technology and collaboration
platform integrates the resources of the construction project to the
greatest extent. The project management personnel can not only effec­
tively organize and accurately coordinate, reduce the risk of errors and
rework, control the construction cost, and better, complete the goal of
refined management and control of construction projects, and success­
fully complete the construction tasks (Fig. 5).
The automation system based on the BIM technology and collabo­
ration platform includes functions such as daily management, hidden
danger investigation, self-examination and self-correction, task distri­
bution, system management, hot approval, blacklist management, au­
thority management, statistical analysis, and performance management.
The visual security monitoring system of the collaboration platform is
based on the IoTs, cloud computing, and mobile broadband Internet
technologies. According to the requirements of construction scope,
management content and management fineness of each specialty at
different stages, the automation system can provide timely information
and data support for engineering supervision and other work, and
realize simulation and comparison of project progress and dynamic link
management of resources based on BIM technology. Taking the smart
construction safety management and control as the core and integrating
information technology, the collaboration platform realizes the sys­
tematization, informatization and standardization of safety manage­
ment. During the construction process, the automation system adopts
the combination of laser scanning technology and measuring robot to
carry out digital measurement control, establish a high-precision engi­
neering control network, and strictly control the configuration of the
grid frame assembly, lifting, unloading and other stages to ensure that
the final configuration and fitting of BIM models.
Fig. 5. Background and design of smart construction based on BIM and collaboration platform.
86
Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90
5.2. Result analysis
The BIM technology and collaboration platform take smart con­
struction projects as a unit, assemble digital components and parts into
lightweight models such as floor units and building units, and realize
digital integration of design information. The automation system can
upload the BIM model in the project to the server through the dedicated
client tool, and provide the service of online browsing of BIM data,
which realizes the sharing and public use of data resources through data
interaction, improves the data utilization rate, and ensures the
comprehensive service of digital design results [24]. In the whole pro­
cess of procurement, production, construction, operation and mainte­
nance, the automation system can provide three levels of data
organization: project library, prefabricated component library, and
model library, and support cross-professional BIM integrated collabo­
ration and remote collaborative design (Fig. 6). The collaboration
platform can provide digital design results that fully serve the follow-up
procurement, production, construction, operation and maintenance of
smart construction, and support the research and practice of follow-up
technological smart construction systems. The automation system
builds a digital model of smart construction through BIM forward
design, digitizes all components and parts such as pile foundations, steel
columns, steel beams, laminated floors, prefabricated stairs, and pre­
fabricated exterior walls, and assembles them into digital models.
At present, the basis for the collaborative work of various profes­
sional designers in various departments in the construction field is the
sharing and conversion of building information models, which is also the
core basis for the realization of BIM technology. Therefore, the building
collaboration platform based on BIM technology should have
outstanding storage advantages and most of the storage files of design
models are stored in traditional hard disks. This form of storage can
Operation and
Procurement Production Construction
maintenance
Prefabricated
Project Model base
component
library library
library
Fig. 6. A case application of BIM and collaboration platform in smart
construction.
Y. Wang et al.
improve construction efficiency to a certain extent and provide a rela­
tively safe environment for data security. However, this storage method
is difficult to uniformly and effectively manage multiple storage design
models. On the building collaboration platform based on BIM technol­
ogy, designers of various disciplines need to edit, convert, and share the
building information model in the BIM database. Therefore, all drawings
laid out from the same figure will be automatically unified and any
numerical analysis can be directly linked to this expression system. It
will be easier to generate estimates and material quantities, provide a
complete and unified visual analysis and quantitative analysis database,
and automatically generate code verification to achieve extraction in the
city hall. In the construction of large-scale projects, it may be found that
the system is in progress and advantages in material reservation.
BIM technology under the intelligent construction system can
conduct collision inspection of various professional models, and the
visualization function can realize the animation image display of com­
plex nodes or hidden projects, which can intuitively discover collision
points and spatial positions, detect design conflicts and omissions early,
achieve zero collision crossover, and eliminate changes and rework
caused by design problems. In addition, the collaborative work of BIM
technology and the dynamic monitoring of RFID can track and feedback
the changes occurring in the construction process in real time, so as to
improve the information management of engineering change, ensure the
timely sharing of information and data, and reduce unnecessary con­
struction cost waste.
6. Discussions
6.1. Element configuration of smart construction based on BIM
technology and collaboration platform
Taking the overall formwork system as an example, the collaboration
platform realizes the automatic operation of formwork by integrating
hydraulic technology, mechanical technology and electronic technol­
ogy, such as the hydraulic climbing formwork system and the overall
jacking steel platform system developed and applied now. The auto­
mation system basically realizes the automation and informatization of
smart construction in terms of synchronous control and template lifting.
While the labor production efficiency is greatly improved, the safety and
reliability are also fully guaranteed. The element configuration of smart
construction based on BIM technology and collaboration platform is
shown in Fig. 7. The BIM technology organically combines data
modeling analysis and virtual reality, and compares and analyzes with
actual construction objects to realize the smart collaboration of entities
and models in the construction process, so as to greatly reduce early
errors and improve construction efficiency [25]. For example, taking the
steel bar project as an example, through high-definition video
Fig. 7. Element configuration of smart construction based on BIM technology
and collaboration platform.
87
Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90
technology, smart construction can complete the supervision of the
quality of steel bar construction from a long distance, and realize the
intelligence of supervision. The labor force is the key element of con­
struction, and realizing the smart management of labor force is a huge
progress in the management mode. Effective labor management can be
achieved through information collection and inductive analysis of labor
data. Smart management is the technology of office automation for
business and contracts in the construction process.
The BIM technology can effectively simulate the entire process of
engineering construction, and can intuitively determine key routes,
reasonably divide construction sections, and coordinate resource
scheduling. The collaboration platform can monitor in real time and
compare construction differences more intuitively, which is conducive
to the strict control of construction progress of construction projects. In
the process of construction management of engineering projects, infor­
mation transmission is very important, and communication and
collaboration can be strengthened, so as to ensure that the overall
construction and construction benefits of the proposed smart construc­
tion can be realized. As shown in Fig. 8, the automation system can
convey the content to be displayed to the other party more intuitively
and conveniently, and can demonstrate and decompose the original
complex process one by one, making it more vivid and intuitive and easy
to understand. During the construction of major construction projects,
heavy transportation equipment such as scaffolding, formwork and
various tower cranes is inseparable, and most of the operations are high-
altitude operations. Safety management needs to avoid safety accidents
such as collapse and overturning; the smart construction system can also
introduce high-support formwork monitoring and tower crane operation
monitoring facilities. By collecting smart equipment information,
comprehensively recording worker operation and equipment operation
data information, and setting up an early warning range, it can effec­
tively improve the efficiency of on-site construction management, and
provide timely feedback, alarm and processing [26].
The server of the collaboration platform can be adjusted according to
the size of the construction project to meet the needs of different smart
construction. Generally speaking, its database can be divided into three
layers, data acquisition and flow control layer, data upload and
extraction layer, and data storage layer. The functional modules of the
collaborative design platform of the automation system can be divided
into seven: BIM model module, task and schedule management module,
security and authority management module, conflict detection and
design change module, legal regulation detection module, knowledge
management module and BIM-based module extension function analysis
module. The collaboration platform uses a suitable programming lan­
guage to parse the uploaded BIM model and extract key building in­
formation, such as geographic information, location, orientation and
relationship of building components, and materials. This key building
information is then loaded into the data storage and management layer,
and similarly, this layer can also extract the corresponding building
model information from the data storage layer. In the collaboration
platform, when each design team accesses various data in the cloud
server at different locations, due to the different task assignments and
professional expertize of each project stakeholder, the data access rights
obtained by different personnel are also different.
6.2. Working mechanism of automation system based on BIM technology
and collaboration platform
The BIM is a digital representation of the physical and functional
characteristics of a facility, and at the same time a shared knowledge
resource that provides a reliable basis for all decisions in the entire life
cycle of a facility, from construction to demolition. At different stages of
the project, different stakeholders insert, extract, update and modify
information in BIM to support and reflect the collaborative work of their
respective responsibilities. As shown in Fig. 9(a), the BIM model con­
tains entity information such as structural elements, geometric
Y. Wang et al.
(a)
Fig. 8. (a) Relationship between emergency evacuation and automatic transmission (b) Comparison between dynamic flow and data operation.
Fig. 9. Error rate (a) and construction efficiency (b) of the working mechanism of automation system based on BIM technology and collaboration platform.
dimensions, material types, etc. of building components, so as to
discover quality hidden dangers in time during the design stage or
construction simulation process. As shown in Fig. 9(b), the data logic
layer is the core of the entire system, which defines and stores various
data structures of the system. The data management layer and the
application layer operate and apply data to the same database system
under the unified data structure. The software architecture of each layer
structure is independent of each other, and the separation of data and
data operation is realized, which is convenient for system data security
and function expansion. After receiving the data, the automation system
immediately analyzes the monitoring data of smart construction; if the
data is abnormal, the monitoring system activates an early warning
mechanism, and the BIM also responds and displays the abnormal
location. The collaboration platform can monitor the whole process,
communicate online, and process collaboratively to achieve efficient
and comprehensive safety monitoring.
The BIM technology and collaboration platform apply sensors to
achieve real-time monitoring. When an abnormality occurs in the smart
construction process, it can also be quickly located through the reader,
prompting staff to take timely solutions to avoid the spread of abnor­
mality. The application of automation system realizes smart and large-
scale production, maximizes the role of limited resources, strengthens
the effectiveness of resource allocation, and promotes stable and effi­
cient implementation of production links. Sensors will be installed
throughout the construction process to collect real-time data, and then
data transmission will be realized through wireless communication to
supervise the entire construction process. When the components
required for smart construction are produced and processed, the system
88
Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90
(b)
achieves precise customization, and big data can be used when the data
reaches an order of magnitude (Fig. 10). On the basis of mining big data,
it can accurately predict, match and manage, and even bring great ad­
vantages to subsequent transportation and assembly, and build an in­
tegrated supply chain. The prefabricated components in smart
construction need to be refined and processed. After the components are
transported to the assembly site, the construction personnel must
implement the assembly strictly according to the material table. In view
of the obvious and hidden safety hazards existing in the construction, it
is necessary to predict in advance, and dynamically adjust the con­
struction plan to deal with the unstable factors brought by unexpected
situations.
Smart construction uses mobile terminals to check and collect safety
problems and rectification data, gradually establish a safety problem
database, and collect information such as safety hazards and problem
rectification. The data generated in the management process is aggre­
gated in the background database, and the automated system can easily
obtain information such as the distribution of hidden dangers on the
construction site and the rectification of problems, realize online
monitoring and tracking of safety management work, strengthen the
pertinence of on-site management, and improve management. The
collaboration platform can use the smart construction platform to carry
out standardized evaluation, dust control, safety acceptance, critical
project management, safety education, etc., to achieve multiple tasks on
the same platform, facilitate the management of the entire construction,
and improve construction site safety management. The BIM technology
uses the tower crane safety monitoring system to implement dynamic
supervision of the tower crane, and uses the database to calculate the
Y. Wang et al.
Fig. 10. Relationship between information data and construction model layer of automation system in smart construction based on BIM technology and collabo­
ration platform.
operating angle, amplitude, torque and other indicators of the tower
crane in real time, to monitor the operating status of the tower crane in
an all-round way, and prevent the tower crane from overloading,
overloading, collision and other situations occur during group tower
operation. The tower crane safety monitoring system can automatically
judge the illegal behavior of the tower crane driver, issue an alarm
during the operation process, and control its irregular behavior to ensure
the normal operation of the tower crane.
7. Conclusions
This paper introduced the organizational forms and evaluation
standards of collaboration platform and the information exchange and
authority management of BIM technology, analyzed the standardization
of the information resources and system establishment of smart con­
struction, expounded the coordination between the construction process
and management system of smart construction, proposed a automation
system framework of smart construction based on BIM technology and
collaboration platform, carried out a case application and its result
analysis, discussed the element configuration of smart construction and
working mechanism of automated system based on BIM technology and
collaboration platform. The collaboration platform uses a suitable pro­
gramming language to parse the uploaded BIM model and extract key
building information, such as geographic information, location, orien­
tation and relationship of building components, and materials. The
smart construction system can also introduce high-support formwork
monitoring and tower crane operation monitoring facilities. By collect­
ing smart equipment information, comprehensively recording worker
operation and equipment operation data information, and setting up an
early warning range, it can effectively improve the efficiency of on-site
construction management, and provide timely feedback, alarm and
processing. The study results show that the automation system based on
the BIM technology and collaboration platform supports the rapid con­
struction of large-scale three-dimensional scenes and the precise inte­
gration of multi-source data, and can bring together construction
information and asset information from different sources to form an
open, safe, and accessible digital environment. The automation system
integrates construction project resources to the greatest extent, and
project management personnel can not only effectively organize and
accurately coordinate project implementation, reduce the risk of errors
and rework, control the construction cost, and can better achieve the
goal of refined management of construction projects and successful
completion of construction tasks.
As the core of the concept of smart construction, BIM technology has
been widely used in the design and construction stage, but there are still
many difficulties and obstacles before the comprehensive promotion
89
Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90
and application of smart construction technology. The construction of
intelligent construction cost management operation system is mainly
based on the integrated application of emerging information technology
and intelligent construction theory in the fine management of con­
struction cost of engineering projects, without considering other aspects
such as quality and safety management, which needs to be further
improved and expanded. In addition, the implementation of smart
construction data is huge, complex construction environment, network
environment and other characteristics lead to data diversification,
therefore, it is necessary to guide the innovation and development of
smart construction technology from the national level, to achieve uni­
fied standardization of data interface and platform interface, and stan­
dardize data use behavior to ensure data security in smart construction
applications.
Declaration of Competing Interest
All authors disclosed no relevant relationships.
References
[1] C. Panteli, A. Kylili, P.A. Fokaides, Building information modelling applications in
smart buildings: from design to commissioning and beyond a critical review,
J. Clean. Prod. 265 (2020) 121766.
[2] I.V. Lokshina, M. Greguš, W.L. Thomas, Application of integrated building
information modeling, IoT and blockchain technologies in system design of a smart
building, Procedia Comput. Sci. 160 (2019) 497–502.
[3] Y. Chen, X. Cai, J. Li, W. Zhang, Z. Liu, The values and barriers of building
information modeling (BIM) implementation combination evaluation in smart
building energy and efficiency, Energy Rep. 8 (2022) 96–111.
[4] Y. Niu, W. Lu, K. Chen, G.G. Huang, C. Anumba, Smart construction objects,
J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 30 (4) (2016) 04015070.
[5] S. Tang, D.R. Shelden, C.M. Eastman, P. Pishdad-Bozorgi, X. Gao, A review of
building information modeling (BIM) and the internet of things (IoT) devices
integration: present status and future trends, Autom. Constr. 101 (2019) 127–139.
[6] A. Malagnino, T. Montanaro, M. Lazoi, I. Sergi, A. Corallo, L. Patrono, Building
information modeling and internet of things integration for smart and sustainable
environments: a review, J. Clean. Prod. 312 (2021) 127716.
[7] M.J.F. Silva, F. Salvado, P. Couto, Á.V. e Azevedo, Roadmap proposal for
implementing building information modelling (BIM) in Portugal, Open J. Civ. Eng.
6 (03) (2016) 475.
[8] A. Pal, S.H. Hsieh, Deep-learning-based visual data analytics for smart construction
management, Autom. Constr. 131 (2021) 103892.
[9] D. Liu, W. Lu, Y. Niu, Extended technology-acceptance model to make smart
construction systems successful, J. Constr. Eng. Manag. 144 (6) (2018) 04018035.
[10] K. Siountri, E. Skondras, D.D. Vergados, Developing smart buildings using
blockchain, internet of things, and building information modeling, Int. J.
Interdiscip. Telecommun. Netw. (IJITN) 12 (3) (2020) 1–15.
[11] T.O. Olawumi, D.W. Chan, Critical success factors for implementing building
information modeling and sustainability practices in construction projects: a
Delphi survey, Sustain. Dev. 27 (4) (2019) 587–602.
[12] Z. Yang, Y. Wang, C. Sun, Emerging information technology acceptance model for
the development of smart construction system, J. Civ. Eng. Manag. 24 (6) (2018)
457–468.
Y. Wang et al.
[13] P. Kochovski, V. Stankovski, Supporting smart construction with dependable edge
computing infrastructures and applications, Autom. Constr. 85 (2018) 182–192.
[14] H. Aladag, G. Demirdögen, Z. Isık, Building information modeling (BIM) use in
Turkish construction industry, Procedia Eng. 161 (2016) 174–179.
[15] A. Darko, A.P. Chan, Y. Yang, M.O. Tetteh, Building information modeling (BIM)-
based modular integrated construction risk management–critical survey and future
needs, Comput. Ind. 123 (2020) 103327.
[16] H. Zhou, H. Wang, W. Zeng, Smart construction site in mega construction projects:
a case study on island tunneling project of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Front.
Eng. Manag. 5 (1) (2018) 78–87.
[17] Lu, Q., Xie, X., Parlikad, A.K., Schooling, J.M., & Konstantinou, E. (2020). Moving
from building information models to digital twins for operation and maintenance.
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Smart Infrastructure and
Construction, 174(2), 46–56.
[18] Y. Pan, L. Zhang, Integrating BIM and AI for smart construction management:
current status and future directions, Arch. Comput. Methods Eng. 30 (2) (2023)
1081–1110.
[19] Y. Wang, Z. Wang, T. Ma, G. Li, H. Tie, Research on the realization path of railway
intelligent construction based on system engineering, Sustainability 14 (11) (2022)
6945.
90
Alexandria Engineering Journal 88 (2024) 80–90
[20] T. Qiu, D. Su, Z. Zhu, J. Li, G. Shi, X. Ji, Intelligent construction application system
of large and complex steel structure based on BIM, J. Inf. Technol. Civ. Eng. Archit.
15 (1) (2023) 100–106.
[21] Y. Zhang, B. Ge, G. Zheng, The exploration and practice of bim-based intelligent
construction in the Hong Kong infection control center project, J. Inf. Technol. Civ.
Eng. Archit. 14 (3) (2022) 50–56.
[22] H. Liu, J. Song, G. Wang, A scientometric review of smart construction site in
construction engineering and management: analysis and visualization,
Sustainability 13 (16) (2021) 8860.
[23] K. Park, S. Im, S. Kim, K. Koo, A study on institutional improvement for application
of smart construction technology, J. Korea Inst. Constr. Saf. 3 (1) (2020) 9–17.
[24] A. Elshafey, C.C. Saar, E.B. Aminudin, M. Gheisari, A. Usmani, Technology
acceptance model for augmented reality and building information modeling
integration in the construction industry, J. Inf. Technol. Constr. 25 (2020)
161–172.
[25] B. Wang, Addressing financial fragility in the construction industry through the
blockchain and smart construction contracts, Aust. Constr. Law Newsl. 30 (1-2)
(2018) 116–123.
[26] Z. Liu, Z. Chi, M. Osmani, P. Demian, Blockchain and building information
management (BIM) for sustainable building development within the context of
smart cities, Sustainability 13 (4) (2021) 2090.