ITcon Vol. 19, pg. 383-398, http://www.itcon.org/2014/23

A BIM-enabled MEP coordination process for use in China

submitted:December 2013
revised:July 2014
published:September 2014
editor(s):Wang X., Li H., Wong J. and Li H.
authors:Ping Yung, Associate Professor,
School of Built Environment, Curtin University, Australia,
Email: ping.yung@curtin.edu.au

Jun Wang, PhD student,
School of Built Environment, Curtin University, Australia,
Email: jun.wang1@curtin.edu.au

Xiangyu Wang, Professor,
School of Built Environment, Curtin University, Australia,
Email: xiangyu.wang@curtin.edu.au

Ming Jin, BIM manager,
Sichuan Southwest Project Management & Consultancy Co. Limited, China,
Email: jinmingcqu@gmail.com
summary:Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) coordination is an important part of constructability review process. The rapid development of Building Information Modelling (BIM) could substantially facilitate this process by affording a visual and collaborative manner. However, BIM adoption in China has been hindered by the low management commitment and knowledge level. There is a need to develop a model to utilize BIM in China taking into consideration this current situation. This paper reports how design institutes without 3D modelling capabilities can work with modellers to perform MEP coordination with BIM. A BIM-enabled MEP coordination process for use in China is documented and further developed as one of the primary findings. IDEF0 language is used to illustrate the process in detail. It is found in the case study analysis that the use of BIM may not save overall design time as traditional 2D design was still used. However, it can reduce the costs of manual MEP coordination, the expected number of change orders, chance that significant number of change orders may occur, as well as MEP coordination related change orders as a percentage of total change orders.
keywords:MEP Coordination, constructability, Building Information Modelling, IDEF0, China
full text: (PDF file, 1.378 MB)
citation:Yung P, Wang J, Wang X, Jin M (2014). A BIM-enabled MEP coordination process for use in China, ITcon Vol. 19, Special issue BIM Cloud-Based Technology in the AEC Sector: Present Status and Future Trends, pg. 383-398, https://www.itcon.org/2014/23