Research on information models for the construction schedule management based on the IFC standard

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to study the description and extension of the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard in the construction schedule management, which achieves the information exchange and sharing among the different information systems and stakeholders, and facilitates the collaborative construction in construction projects. Design/methodology/approach: The schedule information processing and coordination are difficult in complex construction projects. However, Building Information Modeling (BIM) provides a platform for exchanging and sharing information among information systems and stakeholders based on the IFC standard. Through analyzing the plan, implementing, check and control, the information flow in the schedule management is reflected based on the IDEF0. According to the IFC4, the information models for the schedule management are established, which not only includes the each aspect of the schedule management, but also includes the cost management, the resource management, the quality management, the risk management and so on. Findings: The information requirement for the construction schedule management can be summarized into three aspects: the schedule plan information, the implementing information and the check and control information, and three aspects can be described through the existing and extended entities of the IFC4, and different information models are established respectively. Originality/value: The main contribution of the article is to establish construction schedule management information models, which achieve the information exchange and sharing in the construction project, and facilitate the development of the application software to meet requirements of the construction project.