Cup-of-Water Theory: A Review on the Interaction of BIM, IoT and Blockchain During the Whole Building Lifecycle

Abstract

The Architecture Engineering and Construction/ Facility Management (AEC/FM) industry plays a significant role in the development of economy. In recent years, the wide application and development of Building Information Modelling (BIM) promote the development of informatization and digitalization of AEC/FM industry. However, due to the limitation of a one single tool and lack of understanding of single source of truth, the problems of the industry cannot be solved completely. Therefore, the revolution and innovation of industry can be stagnated. Internet of Thing (IoT) and blockchain can be considered as two technologies that can be integrated with BIM for AEC/FM industry. The aim of this paper is to understand and analyse the basic principles and the applications of these three technologies in AEC/FM industry through literature review. With the integration of these three technologies, the virtual and realistic object and data during the whole building lifecycle can be managed and stored in a security, transparency and convenient decentralized common data environment (DCDE). Finally, a theory named, Cup-of-Water theory is presented. Keywords-BIM IoT blockchain AEC/FM industry whole building lifecycle

Blockchain in the built environment and construction industry: A systematic review, conceptual models and practical use cases

“…With regards facilities management, Kinnaird and Geipel (2018) offer a concept of 'The Blockchain of Circular BIM Things' facilitating the transfer of [near] live data about components in the building to the BIM model providing updates on the 'as is' state of the building, optimising performance, predicting building lifespan and potentially extending the lifespan as well as providing detailed building information at the demolition stage. The use case of integration between BIM, IoT and blockchain is proposed by Ye et al, (Ye et al, 2018) for creation of a DAO for building maintenance systems resulting in a wholly automated system at the operations phase.…”

Risks and Opportunities for Reforming Construction with Blockchain: Bibliometric Study

“…The combination of three technologies BIM, IoT, and Blockchain, was presented as the "cup-of-water theory" by Ye et al [19]. According to the authors, all three components are compulsory in this system for the construction industry: BIM as a construction data digitalisation tool, IoT as a data collecting tool from construction components and Blockchain as data protection and records management.…”

“…According to the authors, all three components are compulsory in this system for the construction industry: BIM as a construction data digitalisation tool, IoT as a data collecting tool from construction components and Blockchain as data protection and records management. The three technologies strengthen each other's function and contribute to expected gains in time and resources efficiency [19]. Aleksandrova et al (2019) presented a model of an ecosystem for the currently trending digitalization technologies functioning together in order to improve firms' management and control over projects and assets.…”

Mapping Blockchain Research in Construction: Bibliometric Study

“…BIM is ptBIM 2020 -3º Congresso Português de Building Information Modelling 26 e 27 de novembro e 4 de dezembro de 2020, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto 687 present in most of the studies in parallel with Blockchain. Blockchain and BIM were presented as a foundation for future communication in construction, where BIM appears as a tool for authoring and managing data and Blockchain as a means to protect it [14][15][16].…”