Cloud-Based BIM Governance Platform Requirements and Specifications: Software Engineering Approach Using BPMN and UML

Abstract

Utilization of cloud technologies has recently attained a profile in building information modeling (BIM). Many studies have investigated the potential role of cloud in facilitating the use of BIM in the construction domain. In addition, recent studies have focused on the role of cloud in facilitating team collaboration across a building’s lifecycle by applying a BIM governance model. The lack of a suitable means for the governance of collaboration and for the access and archival of data has been cited as the key barrier for the widespread adoption of collaborative BIM environments. This study, therefore, investigates the requirements for BIM governance and develops specifications for a cloud-based BIM governance platform (GovernBIM). The study also uses findings from wide consultation in combination with software engineering approaches using business process model notation (BPMN) and unified modeling language (UML) to define the platform’s requirements and specifications. This platform also aims to provide a computerized solution for overall BIM governance solution to facilitate team collaboration and mange generated BIM data during a project’s lifecycle. This ensures that data is consistent, available, and hosted in a scalable storage environment with high performance computing capabilities. The results from this study (1) define functional, nonfunctional, and domain-specific requirements for developing a GovernBIM platform; (2) develop a set of BPMN diagrams to describe the internal and external business procedures of the GovernBIM platform lifecycle for setting, configuring, managing, and using a GovernBIM platform; (3) evaluate several fundamental UML use cases for the adoption of the GovernBIM platform; (4) present a core BIM governance model (UML class diagram) to present the internal structure of the GovernBIM platform; and (5) provide a well-structured, cloud-based architecture to develop the GovernBIM platform for practical implementation.