Advancing information modelling in healthcare facilities management.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, 2014) indicates the potential to leverage BIM and achieve 80% savings from OPEX investment through implementation of BIM across the whole lifecycle of a built asset. BIM for FM is immature due to the complexity of information for FM operations, complex technical systems and organisational frameworks (Khaddaj & Srour, 2016). The integration status of FM teams within the current BIM landscape is limited at best and negligible at worst.

Volk et al. (2013) identified the lack of engagement with owners, facility management operations and deconstruction firms. This has translated to a lack of motivation or investment by owners and facility managers to address BIM implementation (Korpela, Miettinen, Salmikivi, & Ihalainen, 2015). Khaddaj et al., (2016) engage with the integration of building management systems [BMS] data to BIM models and identify that interoperability and usability are key issues for BIMFM implementation. Oti et al. (2016) suggest further research is required of FM operations and integration with the BIM paradigm through assessment of planning, mapping information needs and investigating integration strategies.

The aim of this research is to improve Healthcare building operation and maintenance efficiency through technology enabled and data driven planning, design and operation.
Objectives:
1. Establish the capabilities of BIM, as a paradigm, to meet the data centric needs of facilities management and the consequential impact on BIM for design and construction.
2. Cost/benefit analysis of BIMFM implementation for legacy estate for a hospital client.
3. An implementation methodology for BIMFM, defining data requirements and interoperability needs within BIM standards for FM in a healthcare environment.
4. Adaptation required of the NBIMS Capability and Maturity Matrix and PAS 1192:1 - 4 to encompass complex facilities management activities.
5. Assess management strategies for addressing issues of standardised, non-standard and hybrid information in the application of BIM for FM implementation and a methodology to migrate to a BIM enabled integrated solution and deliver whole of life Building Information Management.
The scope of this research engages with relevant issues regarding the adoption of BIM FM as standard practice within hospital environments. The research has the capacity to contribute to strategic decision making regarding BIM FM implementation and BIM level 3, to expand the research knowledge base for BIM FM management and improve access to data, align increased resource utilisation, both human and financial to deliver whole of life cycle solutions for positive economic impact in healthcare organisations.

This research is to be conducted as real world research that is flexible in design with qualitative objective knowledge gained through direct experience and objective observation within the FM environment to record existing practice, assess the environment and understand significant events. Using case studies in context using multiple sources of evidence engaging with a maximum of three healthcare organisations. Multimethod techniques using qualitative and quantitative methods triangulate the research, facilitate interpretation and allow focus on the relationships at a macro and micro level.