Assessment of BIM Workflows for Construction Management: Case Study of Sevran Beaudottes Underground Station

Building Information Modeling is a testament to the conviction that digitalization and automation are the new normal for the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. Laying out reliable solutions to realize integrated design, information-rich models, enhanced progressive-elaborated lifecycles of projects, and collaborative planning of construction projects. The conventional methods of the execution process in the construction industry have many limitations that lead to significant issues in the industry, such as lower productivity rates in contrast to other sectors and a high level of risk and uncertainty. However, BIM workflows for construction management became convenient project control and planning approaches. Over the years, 4D BIM planning and simulations played essential roles in the industry, providing the Business market with 3D visualized scheduling that scrutinizes the impact and limitations of the AEC industry's ordinary execution methods in its real-life context. To provide the concerned audience with a framework for establishing project simulations and coordination objectives, Investigating, and detecting the capabilities and incompetence of building information modeling (BIM) software packages concerning 4D BIM planning and simulations can be instructional to all stakeholders concerned with construction management. This thesis presents a concise assessment of the current business market's most used and familiar workflow patterns. The methodology revolves around applying various workflow patterns on the BIM model of Sevran Beaudottes underground station. Aiming at identifying faults in data exchange and comparisons of tangible construction management functions by assessing workflows of exchanging the BIM model with coordination and 4D planning software packages, and Project scheduling programs. In addition to exploring the beneficial use of visual programming as an asset in creating simulation parameters. Concluding with a decision-making analysis, particularly the AHP (Analytical Hierarchical Process) method that considers the interoperability, the cost of BIM platform, and the time consumed to perform the workflow, and final-product collaborative sharing, as decision-making criteria. The results show that workflows typically depend on the BIM platform used and interoperability. Also, it discusses the critical role of visual programming in executing workflows. Consequently, it outlines a concrete framework for BIM practitioners. However, experienced stakeholders suggest that productivity improvement depends not only on technological advancement (Industry 4.0) since the wrong manipulation could be counterproductive. At the same time, resistance to change represents an obstacle that must be faced in the adoption process. This is why it is crucial to understand the framework and how these workflows must be implemented. Thus, utilizing a proposed Autodesk Revit® Plug-in at the end of this research summarizes the thesis's key findings in the documentation that could hypothetically help the BIM practitioners to choose the best optimum workflow and reach the common goal of improving the AEC industry.