Entrant details
Role or Job Title on the Project
Building Information Manager
Employer
Auckland International Airport Limited,
Auckland, New Zealand
Employer Role
Private Sector Owner/Client
Are you or your employer a member of buildingSMART?
No
Submission details
Submitting Party Company Name
Auckland International Airport Ltd.
Submitting Party Company Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Submitting Party Role on Project
Owner
Submitting Party Company Website
Full Project Name
Auckland International Airport
Project Location (Country)
New Zealand
Project Objectives
We are responsible for operating our terminal buildings around the clock 365 days a year, in addition to them being constantly under design and construction. Our primary objective is to develop a better understanding of our built environment and collectively manage it through smart solutions to improve airport operations and future planning. In doing so we enable our airport team to make better design, financial and operational decisions to continually improve the quality and performance of our built assets; helping to provide a world class employee and passenger experience.
openBIM Achievements
OpenBIM enabled us as a large scale asset owner to take ownership of our BIM data internally and cost effectively create a comprehensive record of our built and future assets for operational use. Regardless of what software the original data was produced with, we managed to combine it all through the use of IFC, in a way that wouldn't have been possible if we relied on proprietary solutions. At no point do we demand our suppliers to deliver in a specific software package, instead we clearly define the data standards and let them determine how to meet these.
openBIM used
IFC 2x3, IFC4, BCF
openBIM or open standards used other than those listed above
Omniclass, E57, XYZ, DWG, Collada, DWFx
Software used
Autodesk (Revit, Navisworks, Civil3D, AutoCAD, Recap pro, BIM360 Field and Glue), ArchiCAD, Solibri, SynchroPRO, Oracle Aconex, Oracle Primavera P6, Tekla, FME, ESRI ArcGIS Pro, Renderlights,12D, Leica Cyclone Register 360, BIMCollab, Prosteel, AutoCAD, Microsoft PowerBi, PyroSim
Strategic Alignment
In addition to operating a significant amount of infrastructure 24/7/365, Auckland Airport (pre-Covid 19) was undertaking the biggest Capital Works Programme in the company's history. The development covered numerous asset typologies and required coordination among a countless number of external parties to deliver. It is therefore crucial that data about existing and future developments is delivered and stored in a standard and open format to ensure project data can be used freely across multiple platforms well into the future. Rather than restrict ourselves and the supply chain to adopt one software platform, we are embracing the use of openBIM.
Highlights
- Over 100 disparate models successfully geo-loacted and exported to IFC to create the foundations for terminal Asset Information Models.
- 250,000+ elements modelled within our existing international terminal.
- Client developed Asset Information Delivery Manual (AIDM), mandating OpenBIM delivery requirements for Native and IFC models for all new projects. Existing building models gradually being developed to meet defined information requirements.
- Developed a comprehensive 4D Capital Works Masterplan model utilizing IFC at its core, that was simultaneously used within GIS.
- The use of BIM on two key terminal expansion projects enhanced project delivery and enabled successful delivery without significantly interrupting 24/7 airport operations.
- As a client organization we took control of our asset's BIM data through the use of IFC.
Project Website
Project and Stakeholder Logos (compiled into one .ppt/pptx file for upload)
Project Address
Auckland Airport
4 Leonard Isitt Drive,
Manukau 2150,
New Zealand
Project Type
Institutional
Size of Project
- Land Area of approx. 1700 Hectares
- 21 Million passengers per year
- 170,000sq.m of Terminal Buildings (International and separate Domestic Terminal)
- Approximately $1.3B USD was to be spent on construction by 2022.
- Two key terminal expansion projects handed over in the past two years to the value of Approx $325M USD.
- Over 15 projects were regularly delivering IFC models to Auckland Airport prior to the impacts of Covid-19 as part of the Capital Works Master Plan.
Detailed description of the project
Prior to Covid-19 Auckland Airport serviced approx. 21 million passengers per year and was undertaking the largest capital works development in the company's history. The business was committed to spending upwards of $2 billion NZD ($1.3B USD) by 2022, as part of the ongoing 2044 master-plan. This is in addition to operating over 170000sq.m of terminal buildings and supporting airport infrastructure.
The business also has a property development division, which has developed and manages in excess of 350,000m² of new facilities ranging from logistics and distribution warehouses to award winning office buildings and hotels. In the past two years at least five of these projects have been undertaken using BIM and IFC model delivery to us as client.
Up to the point in time that COVID-19 impacted the business, we had 15 projects in design or construction that were delivering IFC data regularly, with projects ranging in scale from one million to one billion dollars. All this was occurring while we operate our facility around the clock and constantly have some type of design and construction project going on.
In the past 3 years we have had over $500 million NZD ($325 Million USD) worth of construction projects delivered along with Native and IFC models at project handover. These models have been integrated into our federated terminal Asset Information model, which is constantly under development and working towards meeting the high internal standards we set for ourselves.
Digital delivery was widely promoted by Auckland Airport Ltd. as client since 2015, the result of this approach has significantly accelerated the business's development of an Asset Information Model due to a significant amount of data being delivered. This has been a team effort between countless internal and external parties working towards a common goal, including Architects, Engineers, Contractors, Sub-Contractors, Fabricators, Surveyors, BIM Consultants, Project Managers, Programme Managers and many more.
Projects include:
- Pier B Extension project, which provided three more contact gates for international aircraft, such as the A380 and B787. This included detailed asset information capture handed over by the contractors as Native and IFC models. This project was completed two-months ahead of schedule and under the budget.
- Highly Complex expansion and upgrade of our International Terminal Departure experience in the middle of a fully operational terminal. BIM was used extensively solve challenging problems, such as how to install 40m long steel trusses over-top of an operational terminal building without causing disruption.
- Design of a new Domestic Jet Hub joined onto the existing international terminal;
- Design of a new international arrivals experience by expanding the border processing area and public arrivals space;
- Development of a campus wide Survey Control network to facilitate improved BIM, GIS and site survey processes, Including the installation of internal control points.
- Multiple scan-to-BIM projects to capture the existing terminals.
- Investments in public transport, road network and walking projects; and
- New hotels and other commercial properties.
- Development of BIM to GIS processes via IFC.
From an Asset Management perspective our AIM models provide the entire business with the most detailed view of our key built assets that the business has ever had. They help answer complex questions and assist with the planning of our Terminal Expansion Program that without BIM models would significantly increase project risks.
Detailed description of openBIM on the project
Terminal Building Asset Information Models (AIM)
Approximately 100 IFC models make up the existing terminal buildings AIMs and were developed from a variety of design models, as-built construction models and Scan-to-BIM models, covering all disciplines.
- Models were produced in various authoring tools (primarily with Revit, AutoCAD, Prosteel, Archicad and Tekla) by numerous external parties to no consistent standard or location. Our Internal team successfully geo-located and published these models as IFC for incorporation into our various federated models. Now we are starting to standardize the data to meet our asset information requirements.
- Laser scanning was used in combination with our survey control network to locate models in real-world coordinates, successfully giving us federated IFC models of our two existing terminals.
IFC Model Sharing
Prior to Covid-19 we had 15+ projects sharing information with us in IFC format during design phases. Post Covid-19 we now have these models as archive documents. The majority are delivered geo-located and in accordance to our IDM requirements.
- At least five large projects have delivered handover models in IFC and native formats.
- As client we do not restrict consultant teams in their choice of authoring tool. Our requirement is the delivery of native and IFC models. Models are primarily shared between us and external parties via Oracle Aconex as our Project Document Management System (PDMS).
- Project teams can view IFC models in the Aconex Model viewer.
- All models are published as IFC for sharing with the wider business via an internal SharePoint site known as “The BIM Hub”. Staff have access to Solibri Anywhere to view models as needed and this setup has allowed us to share information at minimal cost, while we better develop our longer-term strategy in sync with the business's appetite for BIM.
- Shared IFC models have been used for numerous purposes, including:
As Existing condition models for reference in both major and minor design projects or retail fit-outs, (which used various software including Sketchup, Revit and Archicad); To help determine whether new baggage handling equipment will be able to fit within the existing building structure.; Future planning and determining design option viability.; To assist a consultant with smoke simulation modelling using PyroSIM in order to get our annual Building Warrant of Fitness approval, to maintain the right to operate a public facility.; To assist with Investor presentations.; Stakeholder Engagement to show how construction works will interfere with existing tenancies.; To schedule accurate floor and wall surface areas for a trial project that aims to procure cleaning based on area rather than time.; On two major design projects, IFCs were being used for 5D cost control using Cost X.
- Numerous projects have used BCF as an issue exchange format.
Capital Works Master Schedule (CWMS)
IFC played a critical role in developing our CWMS into a 4D enabled masterplan. The resulting model was distributed across the business monthly and successfully communicated development plans through to the year 2044. This streamlined our forward planning and took it from multi-page text-based Gantt chart to an easily understood 4D Model.
- This process was done by our internal team and involved taking proposed project designs in various 2D Formats (such as .dwg, pdf, hand sketches, PowerPoint slides, etc.) and using ArchiCAD to scale correctly and geolocate. From this we produced basic building masses and applied various data to them such as Project ID, Project Type, Responsible business unit, Project Manager, project Status etc; thus, enabling colour coded views of the data.
- Our internal Scheduler maintained the CWMS within Primavera P6 with matching Project IDs to enable auto-matching between the IFC masses and the schedule that was imported into Synchro as an XML.
- The Synchro file was then shared around the business for viewing within Synchro Open Viewer and regularly used by 20+ people a month.
- An enriched IFC was exported from Synchro Pro with additional data from the schedule and the data was split into GIS polygons and attribute tables (with FME) for use within our GIS database for analysis against other data sets, examples include:
- Overlaying the time enabled project polygons over our existing utilities network data and comparing each asset’s expected depreciation date with the date it will be removed due to a construction project; producing a schedule of assets whose financial depreciation can be accelerated. This Utilized IFC, XML, GIS & Fixed Asset databases.
- A CWMS Project Governance Register that provided a map-based view of project data and highlighted projects which had a governance forum within the next 30 days. This utilised IFC, XML and GIS databases.
- Regular model updates helped reduce meetings; increased understanding of our masterplan; improved planning processes and communication; and enabled programme level coordination.
BIM to GIS
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Our GIS team developed a FME work flow to take Design and handover stage .ifc models to generate floor plans for uploading to our enterprise map viewer.
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We developed an underground utilities data model as a Proof of Concept alongside an external consultancy to convert existing 2D survey data into an IFC model (Using 12D) with a new Property Set that contained all the available utility data. In addition to the BIM data, the project also merged in our existing GIS data about the same assets. This provided us with a common Property Set for viewing all known data about the underground utilities. This model was delivered as an IFC to our design consultants and used successfully in 3D coordination. The IFC data has been structured in a way that can be extracted for use in producing a GIS network model of the 3-water services.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Internally produced VR walk-through based on IFC models of the existing building and proposed designs for the purposes of User Experience testing with a randomly selected group of passengers. IFC enabled us to use the tools we had capability within our small team. This removed reliance on external partiees and helped to cost effectively produce presentation files and deliver successfully to a tight time frame using Revit, Archicad and Renderlights.
Software ecosystem map
openBIM Supporting Evidence
Benefits from using openBIM
OpenBIM enabled us to do more with less by being free to work between multiple tools as needed, without having to work within the constraints of one software. It puts the output at the centre, which in the reality of a client organization is what matters most. OpenBIM means you can use the full capability of your team, by using tools suited to their skill set. It creates a diversity in thinking that comes about from having a group of people with different capabilities working collaboratively across a range of tools; subsequently leading to innovative outcomes.
As a client, OpenBIM allowed us to focus on the data requirements first and foremost, leaving the supply chain to innovate within the clear parameters that have been set. It is not our role to select the one tool for our 50+ suppliers in the name of "collaboration" and spend our resources teaching them how to use it accordingly. It means we can continue to select project teams based on merit and not shut out potential suppliers who can offer quality design and construction outputs, but don't use a specific tool.
OpenBIM allows us to focus on improving our own systems and processes for our specific needs, while leaving our external suppliers to use, develop and replace their own systems and processes as it suits their business needs. Whether they are an, architect, engineer, contractor, fabricator or facility manager, they are free to adopt BIM on their own terms, budget and time frame, while still maintaining the ability to collaborate and deliver to our requirements.
OpenBIM reduces cost, increases the range of available tools, enables clients to own their data with confidence and significantly lowers the barriers of entry to BIM.
"We were able to innovate using openBIM."
With so many design and construction projects happening simultaneously while we operate a facility 24/7/365, it makes no logistical sense to spend our resources on mandating a proprietary file format and then policing that our 50+ external suppliers across projects big and small, use the same specific software. We acknowledge that no single tool can model the full range of airport assets. Therefore, by using OpenBIM we remained innovative by developing a connected ecosystem of data and technology components that can evolve and change at a component level without impacting our overall strategic direction.
It enabled our entire supply chain to develop their own systems to deliver quality outputs and for us to be able to run multiple projects using a variety of project specific strategies without being restricted by one centralized BIM delivery method. To us this is where the innovation lies, as in a short three-year period we have managed to get a broad understanding of different methods and continually learn from each one to evolve our thinking and processes.
This mentality enabled us to internally develop and maintain an Asset Information Model of our existing International Terminal, while allowing us to easily overlay design proposals from external parties in the correct context with no impact to their or our processes. With OpenBIM we could achieve this with only 2 Full-time BIM staff and one part-time scanning technician.
We could work within the IT framework we have and mature our BIM environment in a more controlled manner, rather than rushing to procure an enterprise platform before the business fully understands its digital built environment aspirations. All without restricting innovation within our supply chain, or becoming an unnecessary roadblock.
In hindsight of COVID-19, this has proved a successful strategy as we are not over-committed to lengthy multi-year enterprise agreements, yet still have full control over our data. It has also meant we have IFC and native records of projects that were put on hold due to the rapid reduction in aviation. These will provide us a chance to review the scope of these projects in due course and determine how we proceed once the aviation industry picks up again. Until that point the business can view IFC models as it pleases for no cost. Post Covid-19 budget pressures will not impact the ability for us to continue utilizing BIM models across the business and allows us to easily change direction, based on what we know now.
"We were able to identify where we need openBIM to develop further."
The biggest challenge is the misconception that openBIM doesn't work, this largely comes from the incomplete process of round-tripping, misunderstanding of export settings and a lack of understanding of geo-location across users of different platforms. There needs to be some effort to address these issues and reduce complexity.
It would also be beneficial to apply MVDs post IFC export to enable one export from the authoring tool and the end users then define the MVD on import to suit their requirements. This would reduce the need to go back to the model author each time one needs a specific view.
Further development of IFC entities to reduce the need for Building Element Proxies would also be beneficial.
BIM Uses were defined on the project
I agree to be contacted about the project BIM uses outside of this awards program.
Stakeholders
Auckland Airport Limited, Auckland, New Zealand,
https://corporate.aucklandairport.co.nz/, Owner & Operator, Karl Fitzpatrick
