BuildingSMART: Digital Rule Checkers

Abstract

The purpose of the thesis is to evaluate how digital rule checkers can implemented as a tool for improving building information modelling. It describes principles and methods of how to develop digital building rules, exemplified with a transformation of the ISO/DIS 21542 standard regarding universal design.

The building industry is the largest industry in the world. While other industries have revolutionized their efficiency and capacity by utilizing the information technology during the last 40 years, the building industry has not changed much.

The thesis gives a short overview of the traditional building process and the potential of BIM. Additionaly it presents how universal design can be incorporated in the new way of managing information. Further, the principles of digital rule checkers are described, and different methods of how to develop digital building rules are presented.

Using a case study, the process of how to develop digital building rules by initiating the transformation of ISO/DIS 21542, an international standard regarding universal design, is exemplified.

The thesis concludes that digital rule checkers might be a good tool for improving the building industry. The technology is available and processes have been described for how to develop the concept further. What stands left is testing in a larger scale and better documentation.