Work

Optimising scheduled maintenance on operational buildings: a microservice-based BIM framework

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Operation and Maintenance (O&M) aims to preserve the quality of the building throughout its life, keeping maintenance costs within acceptable limits. Maintenance involves different tasks, from replacing air conditioning filters to restoring structural elements. Each task has an optimal frequency, which can be flexible within a specific time range, a cost, and a duration. These maintenance activities may disrupt building operations by repeatedly interrupting ongoing activities. This research seeks to reduce these disruptions by grouping tasks within reasonably close time frames to schedule preventive maintenance plans while respecting their frequency. We propose an optimisation model, solvable using a general-purpose solver, which identifies the best time range for grouping O&M tasks. By penalising deviations from the optimal period, the model ensures that tasks are performed at the most cost-effective time. Integrated within a microservice-based architecture, the optimisation engine seamlessly links an input database and a BIM model, orchestrated using Dynamo for Revit. A case study illustrates the effectiveness of this system, consolidating multiple tasks into optimised work clusters and significantly reducing operational disruptions. The originality of this work lies in its innovative combination of optimisation techniques and BIM tools, providing a practical and scalable solution for efficient O&M management.

Source: Journal of Civil Engineering and Management

DOI: 10.3846/jcem.2025.24957

Authors: Edoardo De Santis, Francesco Livio Rossini

Institution: Sapienza University of Rome

Language: English

Topic: BIM and Construction Integration

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $517