Information Technologies and Information Requirements: A BIM-Based Approach

The construction industry is currently facing important challenges: an imperative improvement of its productivity, higher performance targets and an increase of projects complexity. In order to overcome these challenges, a digital transition is on-going and has started with the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) processes. At the same time, digitisation of the construction industry requires a paradigm shift focused on collaborative workflows and user involvement, with the Client acting as driver for innovation. The proposed paper highlights the role of the Briefing process as project management tool of the demand side of construction. Information technologies for managing the bi-directional link between as-briefed and as-designed information requirements within a BIM environment are also investigated. These approaches are then compared with the ones of other industries and particularly with Systems Engineering methods. As a major Systems Engineering tool, the use of the SysML language in the construction industry is discussed. The comparison between the various data flows suggests further researches both in the application of Systems Engineering in the construction industry and in the development of requirements management tools for managing a BIM-based construction process. Finally, recommendations for the effective implementation of innovative processes and technologies are proposed.