Extending BIM Interoperability for Real-Time Concrete Formwork Process Monitoring

The concrete formwork process is a critical component of construction project control because failing to gain the necessary concrete strength can lead to reworks and, consequently, project delays and cost overruns during the project's execution. The goal of this study is to develop a novel method of monitoring the maturity of concrete and providing reduced formwork removal time with the strength ensured in real-time. This method addresses the wireless sensors and building information modeling (BIM) needed to help project management personnel monitor the concrete's status and efficiently decide on the appropriate formwork removal timing. Previous studies have focused only on the monitoring of concrete's status using sensor data or planning the formwork layout by integrating the BIM environment into the design process. This study contributes to extending BIM's interoperability for monitoring concrete's maturity in real-time during construction, as well as determining the formwork removal time for project control. A case study was conducted at a building construction project to validate the developed framework. It was concluded that BIM can interoperate with the data collected from sensors embedded in concrete, and that this system can reduce formwork removal time while retaining sufficient strength in the concrete, rather than adhering to the removal time given in building code standards.