Digital disruption and the Internet of Things
In this phase of BIM implementation or “digitalization” of the AEC sector (construction sector, Architecture Engineering and Construction), reference is often made to new technologies such as the IoT, Internet of Things. This technology potentially offers a series of benefits to the construction sector, such as improving the productivity and efficiency of interconnected systems.
The Internet of Things is therefore a technology that allows devices and equipment to send and receive data. According to Wikipedia, for the first time the term “Internet of Things” was used by a British entrepreneur in 1999 and over time it is defined as a set of data transmission methods and protocols.
This technological advance has brought with it what in the Anglo-Saxon world is defined as “digital disruption” and is increasingly impacting the various sectors, not just the construction one. Just look around to understand the degree of diffusion of this technology, starting from watches that tell us to walk more, refrigerators that warn us if “the electricity goes out”, garages that open automatically when we get home, we could continue with dozens of other examples, but the point is that all this, as with the commercial sector, is also happening in the construction sector.
Building Information Modeling and IoT
The connection between BIM and IoT at this point seems almost obvious, the BIM method in fact concerns the management and organization of information, while the IoT technology is used to send and receive data. The use of IoT devices at the service of a BIM process definitely amplifies its efficiency and uses can be varied, from predictive maintenance to energy saving, to safety management, to the efficiency of construction site logistics and more.
For example, an IoT solution based on Azure cloud and Microsoft services from Intelligent Systems has been developed, which connects thousands of sensors inside elevators, which monitor a variety of data, from motor temperature to alignment of the tree. dell’albero.
This solution, oriented towards Facility Management or BIM 6D, allows technicians to use data in real time to identify, for example, a malfunction or breakdown, allowing effective prevention activities, a reduction in costs but above all a significant reduction in plant shutdown. Another example of a relationship between BIM and IoT is certainly project Dasher by Autodesk, a research project for the development of a BIM-based platform that serves to provide a detailed view of the performance of buildings over time.
BIM as Better Information Management
The application possibilities are therefore many and can lead to many advantages, both in economic terms and in terms of optimization of activities, from the construction phase to management and maintenance.
However, it is important to consider that this technology produces a considerable amount of data, and it is not enough simply to “associate” it with Building Information Modeling to obtain a more efficient system if Better Information Management has not been studied at the base, i.e., a solid information organizational process.
