3D Facilities and Asset management

Developers in the FM industry are using Building Information Models (BIMs) for Facilities and Asset management by harvesting their 3D M&E (mechanical & electrical) information. Building Services models are now routinely produced on construction projects for coordination, collaboration, and clash checking and the principle is that FM and asset information should be a bi-product from these efforts. In terms of the M&E installations the BIM will contain vastly more information than any 'manual' FM package could possibly hope to incorporate, especially when the M&E is designed using any of the leading intelligent CAD systems.

The most advanced M&E FM software application available today is developed in the UK by ArTrA Ltd which uses the BIM data for facilities and asset management and offers new business opportunities for construction companies, building owners and FM consultants. ArTrA reads all 3D CAD formats including the new IFC (Industry Foundation Class) standard. All attributes contained within a model are automatically extracted into a powerful database where they may be sorted, searched for, and found at the click of the button. So if for example the FM professional has a problem with the Cold Water System, he may simply ask ArTrA to show him the system and all of its information. The results can be isolated or the surrounding model turned transparent so the geometry of the system can be understood in context with its surroundings. When the mouse is passed over an item, its information will pop-up so the operator knows exactly what is being reviewed. Any electronic information such as a purchase order, maintenance records, installation manuals, user guides etc can be attached to any item for fast data retrieval.

ArTrA ‘grew-up’ from the process and petrochemical sectors and has been developed further to address the specific requirements of the AEC industry. It deals with building services assets (plant, equipment, HVAC, piping, electrical, containment, lighting & communications) as well as the building fabric itself. ArTrA enables the viewing, interrogation, and linking of documents to a building model without the need for CAD software and has the ability to extract graphics and associated design data from all the leading 3D CAD packages. Artra is recognised as the most flexible asset management application for the AEC industry and is being used on the St Barts Hospital project in London.

Energy Analysis

Continuing the theme of using a single BIM throughout the operational phase of a building, BIM Products Ltd will demonstrate how a building model may be used to calculate and analyse the energy consumption of a building using spatial information contained within a BIM. These technologies analyse and simulate the indoor air temperatures and quality throughout the year and allow comparisons between the specification of alternative equipment, windows and shades. Building simulations in steady state conditions are used to calculate the annual energy consumption for the whole building or for groups of individual spaces using the building geometry. The thermal loads originating from windows, lighting, people, equipment, thermal conduction and air filtration are taken into account to produce a monthly energy consumption analysis.

Both of these new technologies will be demonstrated live by BIM products Ltd and ArTrA Ltd at M&E - The Building Services Event. An example 27 storey office tower from the recent Build London Live competition will be used for the demonstrations.

For more information please visit: www.bimproducts.net or email pgs@bimproducts.net