Construction decision-makings model integrated with building information modeling, operations simulation and ontology

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an innovative technology for managing and using construction information, and it has been widely used for construction decision-makings in recent years. Construction decision-makings have to consider both duration and cost perspectives for a project. However, existing relevant BIM-based studies seldom took into account the two perspectives simultaneously, thus making decision-makings inappropriate. Therefore, this study proposes a model to address the limitation and to facilitate evaluating both the duration and cost of construction projects and determining a construction plan which is most suitable for the needs of engineers and planners. The proposed model is based on BIM, computer simulation, and ontology: BIM provides quantity information, computer simulation estimates project duration, and ontology acts as a unit price analysis knowledge base for retrieving the unit prices of the work items in a construction plan and evaluating project cost. The results show that the proposed model can effectively assist decision-making in selecting construction plans, and generate necessary information for construction management and control.