A BIM-based supply chain model for AEC

Abstract

This paper proposes a model to integrate the construction Supply Chain (SC) through Building Information Modelling (BIM). The various information flows in the construction SC are vague. BIM is an aspiring integrator of information that could potentially improve such multi-disciplinary information flows. The paper presents a method to bridge information gaps and integrate the team using BIM-based SC modelling. After a literature review, the modelling method is presented. The model merges product and process models to social networks in a graph-based framework to represent a BIM-enabled SC. Although, BIM-enabled SC Management (SCM) is not widely applied, there is increasing interest from many stakeholders to engage in both BIM and SCM. The paper uses a real-world case as a proof of concept. The model analyses the actors’ interactions, identifies bottlenecks and increases the collective understanding about the project.