BIM-QA/QC in the architectural design process

This paper describes a procedure for quality assessment in architectural design based on Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies and investigates how the evaluations can affect the decision-making process. Based on techniques already defined in the literature, a method of evaluating the BIM processes and BIM model based on the definition of a BIM Quality Assurance (BIM-QA) that is applied through BIM Quality Control (BIM-QC) will be shown. The proposed method integrates into a general BIM methodology and its common procedures several tools and approaches. The method uses customised checklists and queries performed on a database management system that also perceives data from the use of model-checking software in order to achieve data that will be used for the evaluation of quality. The method was validated by applying the procedure to three projects in Italy, where quality issues play a fundamental role and influence the design solution on public building with health care functions. It was found that the procedure for integrating QA/QC into a design process based on BIM provided a range of possibilities for assessing quality during the design process.