Traditionally, the design coordination process is carried out by overlaying and comparing 2D drawings made by different project participants. Detecting information errors from a composite drawing is especially challenging and error prone. This procedure usually leaves many design errors undetected until construction begins, and typically lead to rework. Correcting conflict issues, which were not identified during design and coordination phase, reduces the overall productivity for everyone involved in the construction process. The identification of construction issues in the field generate Request for Information (RFIs) that is one of delays causes. The application of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) tools to the coordination processes can bring significant value to architecture, structure, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) designs in terms of a reduced number of errors undetected and requests for information. This paper is focused on evaluating requests for information (RFI) associated with water/sanitary facilities of a BIM model. Thus, it is expected to add improvements of water/sanitary facility designs, as well as to assist the virtual construction team to notice and identify design problems. This is an exploratory and descriptive research. A qualitative methodology is used. This study adopts RFI’s classification in six analyzed categories: correction, omission, validation of information, modification, divergence of information and verification. The results demonstrate VDC’s contribution improving the plumbing system designs. Recommendations are suggested to identify and avoid these RFI types in plumbing system design process or during virtual construction.

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Request For Information (RFI) is a communication tool to facilitate resolution of, or to clarify, construction issues. Traditionally, construction teams generate RFIs, but with BIM they are anticipated being generated before construction by designers. The aim of this study to improve the understanding of how design conflicts happen through the lenses of RFI and motivate a proactive design review approach. The study was developed as a case study of RFI distribution and classification in the design of residential towers using a Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the virtual construction team coordinator. The interviews were transcribed and transformed in process map, especially, explicating how Request For Information was generated and how the interaction among the participants occurs. A documental analysis was performed on coordination models characterizing the type of RFI, its location, and quantity distribution within design discipline. The design process map drawn shows a partially implemented VDC where design developed with traditional CAD tools benefits from a design review process developed with virtual prototyping and 3D coordination with BIM tools. The distribution patterns of RFI quantities denote where the greatest effort in the review was, exposing design complexity. The analysis here presented may be applied to new situations other than those studied in order to promote learning within and metrics for VDC. Keywords How to cite this article:DANTAS FILHO, João Bosco Pinheiro et al. BIM based requests for information classification and distribution: two residential tower cases.

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