Investigation the Opportunity of GIS-BIM Integration in Construction Projects

Abstract

The integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) is receiving increasing attention in recent times, especially in the construction industry, because BIM provides detailed information about buildings while GIS provides information on the external environment, and that the integration process between them provides one environment that represents the real world. The aims of the thesis is to develop a model of integration between (GIS-BIM), using the smart platform for the purpose of improving data documentation management and improving demolition waste management. The thesis started with a review of previous literature and researches that includes the topic of integration between the GIS and BIM, as well as the topic of demolition waste management. The main feature in the field of integration between the GIS and BIM is to deal with the project through one file and manage all project details centrally through a file built between the integration of the two techniques. Because of the inability to exchange files between the GIS and BIM techniques directly, the options available for developing a common platform that combined the two studied techniques and the researcher was able to accomplish the goals of the research effectively. As several tracks were tried and the researcher found that the adoption of Autodesk InfraWorks software is the best solution to its effectiveness and its ability to deal with the two techniques is flexible at the same time. The completion of the integration between the two techniques required great efforts in providing satellite images of the case study (Baqubah City) and the part studied (University of Diyala), and in a manner that suits the characteristics of the three software so that the researcher can process them by adopting the GIS software and prepare them to be ready for export to the InfraWorks software. As well as making the building schemes VIII for a site completing the remainder of them and modifying a number of them, then exporting them to the InfraWorks software. The buildings positioning and management, coordination of measurements, comprehensive site management, and project file feeding with quantitative and technical data and documents for each building were subsequently managed with an enhanced environment for all aspects of the project. In addition to study the effect of natural light and shadows on the site and at different times and dates. After completing these items, the integrated project model was tested through a case study to determine the extent of benefiting from it and the effectiveness of the two techniques. To demonstrate the importance of integrating the two techniques and studying the expected results in benefiting from this, the researcher intends to take the demolition waste management as a case study in which integrated BIM is applied with GIS. The results showed that the BIM model gives the ability to calculate the exact quantities of demolition waste. In addition, use the GIS model to manage demolition waste, especially concrete landfills by identifying and calculating the volume of this region. A comparison was also made between BIM volume and GIS volume and found that the percentage of error around (3.03%), which is a small and acceptable percentage. The number of trucks was determined based on the project schemes and by taking advantage of the integration from the two techniques. Finally, the researcher concluded that the integration of the two techniques, GIS and BIM, can be used in managing Iraqi projects through dealing with one file to manage all project items, including the demolition waste management. As a result, using the questionnaire and according to the opinion of the experts and engineers, an evaluation was made for the integration platform (GIS-BIM), and it was found that it saves time and cost by 60% compared to traditional methods