Conclusion

Various visual representations of a project management and associated information combined with visual representations of the project in progress, i.e. BIM, can assist with these tasks of identifying effective construction strategies for managing a project's knowledge and schedule. The application of BIM integrated with knowledge management and the as-built schedule management for building projects during the construction phase is discussed in this work. To assist the general contractor in effectively and efficiently managing knowledge and schedule, this study proposes BIM model management model, BIM schedule management updating model, and BIM knowledge management model. Furthermore, this study presents novel prototype called the Construction BIM-assisted Schedule and Knowledge Management (ConBIM-SKM) prototype for general contractors in Taiwan. Finally, the ConBIM-SKM prototype is applied to a case study of a commerce building project in Taiwan to verify its efficacy and demonstrate its effectiveness during the construction phase.

Although there is a great deal of previous researches focusing on the simulation of the 4D approach (3D and time simulations), there are few studies on updating an as-built schedule using the BIM approach. Notably, the proposed approach retains information about changes and conditions to the as-built schedule in a digital format and facilitates easy and effective visual updating of as-built schedule information in the BIM-based environment. Furthermore, project participants can access and utilize the most recently updated as-built schedule integrated with BIM model in practice during the construction phase. All as-built schedules can be updated, and changes and problems are made known

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to each project engineer via the markup-enabled BIM models. Finally, the proposed ConBIM-SKM prototype is applied to a case study of a building project in Taiwan to verify its efficacy and demonstrate its ConBIM-SKM prototype's effectiveness. The case study results show that the ConBIM-SKM prototype provides users with centralized storage of all updates to the contents and status of the as-built schedule during the construction phase of a project, such that the project managers and project engineers can track and manage the visual newest schedule status effectively. The case study also highlights the need to improve as-built schedule management work during the construction phase. Integration of web-based technologies and the BIM approach is promising for the alleviation of problems in updating an as-built schedule during the construction phase. Overall, field test results indicate that the proposed ConBIM-SKM prototype is an effective and user-friendly platform for the general contractor to handle as-built schedule management integrated with BIM model.

This study presented the ConBIM-SKM prototype to construction project participants so that they could update and share any information about their as-built schedule in an enhanced visual way. The ConBIM-SKM prototype improves efficiency in tracking the as-built schedule information collected visually from onsite engineers, and provides monitoring services for project participants. This study shows that the ConBIM-SKM prototype significantly enhances control of the visual aspect of a construction project's as-built schedule. In the view of construction management, the proposed prototype assist the visual illustration of real-time as-built information from all project participants and visually monitor and control the construction project's as-built scheduling process by using statuses of various colors. Furthermore, project participants and managers can access the ConBIM-SKM prototype to track the BIM-assisted as-built

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schedule anytime and anywhere, based on what they are permitted to do by their authorities.

Regarding to BIM-based knowledge management, this work presented and developed the ConBIM-SKM prototype as a visual platform to improve construction knowledge sharing in building projects. The ConBIM-SKM prototype illustrates knowledge with problem descriptions and solutions in the BIM environment. BIM is a highly promising means of enhancing knowledge management during the construction phase of a project. Collecting problem descriptions and solutions using the BIM technology allows project managers and onsite engineers to contribute and share the most up-to-date knowledge and experience regarding problems and solutions in construction.

The BIM technology generates 3D drawings, thus identifying valued experience-based knowledge relevant to issues and activities. Additionally, BIM provides objects and illustrations when knowledge is available. The ConBIM-SKM prototype collects specific problem solutions, and supports all information across projects. Overall, field test results indicate that the ConBIM-SKM prototype is an effective and simple platform for construction knowledge management. The case study results demonstrate the effectiveness of a ConBIM-SKM-like system for KM during the construction phase.

The concept of a BIM-based knowledge management system was presented to be utilized as a knowledge-sharing platform in construction projects. The application of BIM-based knowledge management system mainly allows project participants to access the knowledge easily and effectively. Although effort is required to update information on various problems and solutions, the proposed system benefits knowledge management by (1) developing web-based BIM-assisted knowledge management system for construction knowledge sharing, (2) providing an effective and efficient method to assist

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and manage visual knowledge management work, (3) enabling users to learn knowledge through BIM-based knowledge animation.

In sum, the engineers were able to increase their understanding of previous captured knowledge and experience from all participants working on different projects. Notably, BIM integrates the objects comprising knowledge management work by incorporating external factors, such as problem and solution descriptions, comments, and suggestions, into a single source for all construction BIM-based knowledge management information.

Effectively utilizing knowledge management integrated with BIM during the construction phase allows project participants to identify, monitor, coordinate and access information for future A/E/C projects.