What is CAD-Based Interface Management

Many interface events and problems occur in Architecture/Engineering/Construction (A/E/C) projects during the construction phase. Identifying and controlling related interface events and problems are essential to construction management. Interface management (IM) has become the most important projectmanagement strategy in construction management. Interface management is the systematic control of all communications that support an operational process. Construction IM affects cost, scheduling, and quality directly and indirectly. Despite many academic studies and considerable discussion regarding IM, information about systematic approaches for managing interface events and problems during the construction phase is lacking. Interface or changed events can be identified and traced in IM such that participants can improve construction processes, minimize mistaken rework, and reduce total duration. This study presents a novel practical methodology for tracking and managing interfaces using Building Information Modeling (BIM). When using BIM, users can obtain an overview of previous and current interfaces in a given project and implement appropriate advanced control strategies and manage interfaces and problems in A/E/C projects. This pilot study utilizes BIMs for IM to the construction/ mechanical/electrical interfaces in a building project and develops a construction CAD-based Interface Management (CBIM) system for project participants. The CBIM system is applied to a case study of a construction building project in Taiwan to verify the proposed methodology and demonstrate the effectiveness of IM.