ArtrA uses the Building Information Model (BIM) for FM and Asset management. The logic is that if a BIM has been created then why not harvest its information for FM as a by-product?

 

On most projects there are several stakeholders using a wide range of software systems, which is why interoperability is becoming so important. The buildingSmart™ IFC standard has been adopted by all the major software vendors and enables a reliable transfer of information between the various systems.

 

ArtrA has been developed to read the native file formats or IFC’s created from all the leading CAD systems such as Revit, ArchiCAD, EliteCAD, Bentley, Nemetschek etc.

Building Services for Tower 1

As the services for a modern building become more complex and efficient, so does the requirement for reliable information to carry out planned maintenance.

HVAC system for Tower 1

MEP models generally contain more information than other disciplines that make up the BIM. In the past this information was held as paper drawings and documents. Today, thanks to 3D modelling, this data and the scope for which it can be used, has been opened up to the FM professional by ArtrA.

 

ArtrA harnesses BIM attributes to create a visual 3D FM system that’s easy to understand, simple to use and rich in information. The ArtrA FM process can be started during the fit-out phase where 3D models are routinely used for coordination.

The information being created at this stage of the construction can be used by the maintenance teams during the buildings lifecycle.

 

3DMODELBUILDING.com created an attribute rich coordinated model

ArtrA’s philosophy is straightforward; extract attribute data from a 3D model into a database. Use the information to conduct specific searches and review the results in 3D. Then when an item has been found in the model, bring up all the documents that have been linked to it.

 

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The Build LONDON Live collaboration was conceived to show what could be achieved in a short period of time by a variety of disciplines working on a single interoperable BIM. All of the 10 teams that entered the international competition exchanged and published their BIM’s using the buildingSmart™ IFC standard. BIM Products formed a team of 25 designers, engineers and students who worked almost non-stop for 48 hours to create a detailed BIM of scheme which included the 22 storey mixed- use tower you see here.

 

10 software applications were used by the multi-discipline team to design the tower and create the BIM. 7 applications were used for analysis tasks such as cost, pressure, HVAC sizing, energy calculations and just 3 were used to create the BIM itself;

 

o EliteCAD AR (Architectural)
o Tekla (Structural)
o DDS (Building Services)

 

EliteCAD Architectural Model

 

EliteCAD was used to design the building and define the details of partitions, doors and suspended ceilings etc. all of which are assets that need to be maintained. Most asset information originated from the MEP model (basement plant room, risers, sprinkler systems, hot & cold water systems etc.)

 

Climate Gable in Tekla Structures

 

IFC MODEL CHECKING

The information needed for the FM system was automatically checked for accuracy, integrity and physical clashes before it was loaded in ArtrA using the Solibri Model Checker.

 

Checking the BIM in Solibri

 

FM in ArtrA – architecture removed

 

ArtrA & BUILD LONDON LIVE 2008

ArtrA was used by the BIM Products team to show how quickly an FM model can be produced, and demonstrate that ArtrA is fully IFC compliant. Peter Moyes from ArtrA joined the event on the last day to configure the system, ‘pull out’ the BIMs attributes and establish the FM Asset model.

 

ArtrA FM – roll over information

 

The process of creating the FM model was straightforward. The BIM was loaded into ArTrA as a series of IFC files (architectural, structural, & MEP) and at this point a NavisWorks file was issued so that anyone on the team could review the 'combined' model if required.

Material take-off in ArtrA

 

All the BIMs attributes were extracted into ArtrA’s database allowing them to be filtered so those that were required could be viewed and would 'pop-up' as the operator navigated through the model and hovered over an item (e.g. 2” stainless valve on the cold water system etc.). A full material take off from the piping systems was created in just a few seconds using the attribute information and this together with many more reports was published to the event. It was demonstrated how ArtrA's database could be can be queried and searched in many ways and how the results could be isolated or the surrounding environment turned transparent for clarity.

 

Searching ArtrA’s database

 

This flexibility to interrogate the building services enabled everyone on the team and as well as the judges to better understand and communicate the aspects of the design.

 

Linked documents in ArtrA

 

A number of documents were attached to items in the MEP model so that when those items were searched, they would be available for retrieval. This demonstrated how at the click of a mouse a colossal amount of information could be accessed such as design data, certification documents, vendor information, data sheets, Haz Ops, O&M manuals, maintenance schedules, welding information & records, job cards etc.

 

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