The Master Thesis deals with the added value of using building information models in the field of code-checking. We have described the current state of affairs in this area and carried out a detailed analysis of the possibility of using building information models in this process with the technology that is currently available.
Over the past 30 years, we have witnessed a revolution in the AEC field, caused by information technology. Unfortunately, this technological development in the field of digitization of construction and production of project documentation has not brought significant changes in the field of determining the conformity of design solutions with the applicable building codes. This is a demanding process that needs to be carried out throughout the planning and construction period. Information models enable us to use them in the automation of the process of determining the conformity of design solutions with the building codes. This automated process is presented in the first part of the Master and an overview of the basic standards in this field is also carried out.
In the continuation, three initiatives in the field of automated code-checking based on BIM models are presented. By reviewing these initiatives, various approaches to the creation of a simple and user-friendly process for assessing the conformity of models with building codes and regulations are presented, and we also pointed out the restrictions that relate primarily to the interpretation of existing building codes into machine processable format that can be applied directly onto the BIM model.
In the final part of the Master Thesis we focused on the practical aspect and translated a set of selected rules and applied them to the building information model, and then verified its compliance. Through the whole practical part, we pointed out the importance of the modeling process of the BIM model, and how paramount is the role of the level of development (LOD) of the BIM model.
The potential of the automation of code-checking process based on BIM models is substantial, but one has to be aware that the automation of the verification process of building codes of all types represents an exceptional bit. In certain cases, the implementation of automation for code-checking is currently impossible, but the building information models nevertheless offer us the possibility of manual and visual verification of compliance with certain building codes. By combining automation with manual and visual verification, we obtain a reliable and above all faster method for assessing the conformity of design solutions with building codes, and we believe that the further development in this area will increase the level of automation in this process in the future.
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