Utilizing BIM for Real-Time Visualization and Indoor Localization of Resources

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been found to be one of the most promising advancement in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations and Management (AECOM) industry. BIM integrates the geometric and parametric properties of the 3D model of a facility with all the information and properties of building features and components. However, finding the current location of a specific component or navigation through an unfamiliar facility can be difficult and time consuming. Visualizing the location in real-time can provide the ability to reduce the time for manual searching and locating. This paper demonstrates how the BIM model can be utilized for real-time visualization and localization when integrated with sensing technologies. Real-time visualization and localization requires context-aware information (e.g. space, location, time) in order to function properly. Therefore, the BIM model can provide the spatial relationships while the location sensing technology can provide location and time information. Current indoor localization techniques utilize probabilistic algorithms to estimate landmarks or components, which often require great computational power. Since the model contains the exact locations of components, utilizing BIM provides the advantage of not needing to estimate the true location of the landmarks, drastically reducing the complexity and computing time of the algorithm. PROBLEM DESCRIPTION In an industry where time is crucial for remaining on schedule and lowering facility management costs, manual inspection remains especially inefficient and costly. Current methods of planning and executing facility management are based on personal knowledge and experience (Akcamete et al. 2010). Additionally, current manual efforts and paper-based quality inspections involve labor-intensive methods and are shown to be unreliable, ineffective, and time consuming (Wang 2008). Additionally, building systems are becoming increasingly complex, causing challenges for the management and operation of the facility (Kean 2011). The process of manual inspection proves to be time consuming as it relies distinctly on a worker