Implementation of building information modeling standards for the Shanghai Metro, China

In recent years, a large number of metro systems have been built in Chinese cities, this is especially true in Shanghai. As an emerging information management technology, building information modelling (BIM) has been introduced in the metro projects. However, very few data models of the completed metro projects conform to a uniform BIM standard. In fact, the existing deliverable models of different metro projects vary from each other widely in form as well as in contents. It becomes extremely difficult for participants to use these models for applications to new tasks or other related projects. Therefore a BIM standard framework was proposed for efficient BIM application, in particular for the Shanghai Metro system. The proposed framework includes information standard, modelling guideline, application standard and delivery standard. To ensure diverse BIM applications under these standards, associated tools were developed in the Shanghai Metro system: (a) a BIM object library for information standard, (b) rule-based checking tools for checking models according to modelling guideline and delivery standard and (c) a collaborative platform for BIM applications within application standard. The proposed standards and tools have been widely used in the Shanghai Metro system, and facilitated the standardisation and integration of BIM implementation on the metro.