Comprehensive Clash Prevention in BIM Coordination Using a Rule-Based System

Achieving efficacy and economy is an ongoing pursuit for the construction industry. However, challenges within Building Information Modeling (BIM) based multidisciplinary coordination and the significant occurrence of clashes within federated models hinder the full potential of this collaborative technology’s utilization in BIM-based practices . In the past, clash management strategies predominantly focused on enhancing the technical efficiency of automated clash detection tools. More recently, research in clash management has also delved into the exploration of automated clash resolution methods. However, the facet of clash presentation within the BIM process remains largely overlooked in the existing body of literature. Clash management constitutes a holistic framework encompassing prevention, detection, and resolution. Highlighting the significance of the underexplored prevention component in the current stage of clash management research bears noteworthy importance for the broader field of clash management within the framework of BIM. Analysis revealed a noteworthy connection between clash origins, their solutions, and their primary impact phases within BIM coordination. Significantly, it was determined that most clashes are rooted in the early stages of the BIM coordination process, particularly during the formulation of the BIM coordination strategy and the development of specialized BIM models. Drawing from these insights, a proactive clash prevention strategy was formulated that leverages the expertise of BIM professionals and actively incorporates the industry’s ‘lessons learned’ into the initial phases of BIM coordination. This paper delves into the compilation of “lessons learned” or “industry rules for clash prevention”. These insights were validated through consultations with BIM experts and construction practitioners. The dimensions of these rules, their application phases, and the methods of implementation were also identified. Additionally, the development of a rule-based system customized for seamless integration of the collected rules into the BIM authoring environment was explored. The study also includes an assessment of the system's effectiveness in clash prevention, with real-world testing conducted on an active project.