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Top1. Introduction
BIM is defined and used in several ways for years. As standardisation is now increasing on BIM, it is time to optimise the use of BIM, especially for civil infrastructure projects. BIM requires re-questioning the organization of information and processes to be used. “Modelling” is generally used to speak about the object visual representation. Of course, the visual modelling is an important issue in BIM but it is not sufficient (buildingSMART InfraRoom, 2016). The modelling has to complete other types of information to help to meet products requirements. To this end, we need to define a methodology considering the whole project in it environment and all the activities to design, build and operate it. This work to define a methodology is here called “modelling”. Through this modelling using conceptual data models, this work should improve concurrent engineering processes. Thus, main topics that have to be considered are identified:
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Limit inefficiency (re-entry, barriers to trade and modifications, etc.)
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Remove wastage of time, excess information and irregularities in its exchanges and quality
They are the pillars of lean construction. A conceptual data model is proposed to arrange project information and processes to reach these aims. It considers macro-elements to manage the project (such as management system or project decomposition) but also micro-elements like BIM uses or like the level of detail of the information.
How to optimize the use of BIM and the structuring of both information and processes? A BIM Use is defined as a method of applying Building Information Modelling during a facility’s lifecycle to achieve one or more specific objectives (Kreider & Messner, 2013). BIM use exists for this purpose, but it is therefore necessary to optimize their identification (which requirements to meet?), the definition of their content and the way to organise all BIM uses to satisfy the two topics cited above.
The design phase of the project is mainly considered. Other phases would have to be taken into account, to solve interoperability problems and continuity of information through infrastructure lifecycle.
1.1. MINnD Research Project
MINnD is a research project carried out in France on the application of BIM (Building Information Modelling) in infrastructures projects. It is supported by the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy and Advancity, a French cluster on sustainable cities and mobility.
The goals of MINnD are to enable actors from the infrastructure industry to have a common project model, based on conceptual data models, object oriented, including 3D representation. This should allow each actor to reach its modelling needs during the entire life cycle. The implications are to improve productivity, manage risks and realize sustainable projects. It produces pre-normative documents for standardisation or for buildingSMART International through buildingSMART France.
The Theme 3 of MINnD is in charge to develop a reference framework for holistic process for infrastructure engineering. This work has to help in defining BIM uses for infrastructures. It validated, in addition to other works, the relevance of using system engineering principles to meet the needs mentioned above (buildingSMART InfraRoom, 2016; MINnD Theme 3, 2017; Tolmer, Castaing, Diab, & Morand, 2017; Tolmer, 2016).
Regarding both BIM and System Engineering (SE) principles, some are similar or even identical. (It is also valid for Lean Construction.) The main difference is that in BIM, several principles are implicit while they are explicit in SE. So we have to combine these approaches, optimising them and removing contradictions or duplicates.
Which methodological SE tools or concepts complement the BIM? How to adapt SE by integrating BIM? A confrontation of these two paradigms remains to be established. But first, these principles are presented.