Integrating Point Cloud in BIM for Enhancing Building Facility Management: A Case Study

This research addresses how to improve the Asset Information Model (AIM) for MEP operations during BIM implementation in building facility management. The proposed point cloud-integrated AIM enhances Facilities Management (FM) team understanding, thereby improving efficiency and quality in building operations. The point cloud model functions like Augmented Reality (AR), integrating physical entities into the virtual environment. The innovation of this research lies in developing a new workflow for creating a point cloud-integrated AIM for MEP operations, adhering to ISO 19650 criteria. This workflow starts with Organization Information Requirements (OIR), proposes Project Information Requirements (PIR) and Asset Information Requirements (AIR), and guides the development of the Project Information Model (PIM) to achieve an AIM. Utilizing various technologies and tools based on BIM Standards, Methods, and Procedures (SMPs), the workflow follows the People, Process, and Technologies framework. A mixed-methods approach was employed: a literature review to identify key AIRs and evaluate point cloud technologies, and a design intervention using drones and SLR cameras, processed with RealityCapture and Autodesk ReCap. The workflow was tested in a real project at the Ningbo China Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (NISCI). Results demonstrated the workflow's effectiveness in enhancing the AIM's accuracy, efficiency, and usability for MEP facility management. The cost-effective workflow is suitable for SMEs and does not require high-performance computers for model review. This research provides valuable insights for the AEC industry, improving AIM quality and supporting FM operations.