An exploratory study of the data quality of BIM models for Spanish public procurement

Abstract

Building and infrastructure models created using the Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology workflow serve as comprehensive data repositories, and are capable of storing both geometric and essential semantic information that can facilitate the various stages of asset life cycle management. However, the information contained in these models is sometimes incomplete, which may lead to inconsistencies and misunderstandings among the parties involved in the process. In the present study, we conduct an initial assessment of the data quality of BIM models used in the Spanish public tender process. A basic set of information requirements (IRs) is defined and validated based on a sample of five case studies, using the Information Delivery Specification (IDS) method. The aim is to explore the degree of compliance of these models with the proposed requirements, in order to obtain a preliminary overview of the BIM models produced as part of public tenders in the country. The findings reveal that most models lack some required information on the basic properties of building entities, such as fire ratings, thermal transmittance and similar data. BIM tender models are found to be data-poor, not only in terms of basic properties, but also regarding building and infrastructure facilities and services, and urban planning regulations, among other aspects.