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ENQUIRE PROJECT DETAILS BY GENERAL PUBLIC |
| Project Details |
| Funding Scheme : | General Research Fund | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Number : | 17200221 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Title(English) : | Building information modeling (BIM) on chain: From ‘stocks’ of model files to ‘flows’ of semantic trees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Title(Chinese) : | 整合建築信息模擬及區塊鏈——將「存量」文件轉化為「增量」語義樹 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal Investigator(English) : | Prof Xue, Fan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal Investigator(Chinese) : | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Department : | Department of Real Estate and Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Institution : | The University of Hong Kong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E-mail Address : | xuef@hku.hk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tel : | 3917 4174 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co - Investigator(s) : |
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| Panel : | Engineering | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subject Area : | Civil Engineering, Surveying, Building & Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise Year : | 2021 / 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fund Approved : | 799,692 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Status : | Completed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Completion Date : | 31-12-2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Objectives : |
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| Abstract as per original application (English/Chinese): |
本研究擬提出一類新穎的「可計算自適應語義樹」（CAST）模型，整合建築信息模擬（BIM）及區塊鏈。在香港及全球建築業中，BIM技術已被廣泛地規範和採納，並成為了一項億萬產值的新興業務。然而，工程中基于「增量」的分佈式 BIM 協作實踐與集中式「存量」BIM文件存儲之間存有根本上的兩難困境。例如，在每個小修訂後需重複發送巨大的（假設500MB ）且冗餘的 「存量」BIM 文件；這對分解和驗證修訂來說既不高效（時間和存儲成本）也不準確。另外，諸如社會動盪和 2019 年冠狀病毒病 (COVID-19) 等一些外部風險因素，容易導致建築工程中近距密切合作不足，將加劇該困境的痛苦。因此，本研究擬提出一類新穎的CAST模型，將「增量」修訂語義從巨大且冗餘的BIM文件中提取出來（亦可逆向還原BIM），並整合分佈式部署的區塊鏈，最終形成「區塊鏈CAST」方案來解決這一兩難困境，服務於建築業數字化。 |
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| Realisation of objectives: | 5.3.1 Scope of investigation BIM is a multi-billion-dollar business in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry and has increasingly been mandated in many countries and regions. Hong Kong mandates BIM uses in all major (>HK$30M) public works by 2020 and all major private projects (>HK$300M) by 2026. This project studies a novel computational adaptive semantic tree (CAST) model and blockchain 3.0/4.0 technology to building information modeling (BIM) collaboration for construction projects. We define a theoretical CAST model for BIM exchange. In CAST, any BIM model or file is presented as a tree of semantics, including components, properties, relations, and combinations thereof. We aim to apply CAST model to enhance BIM exchange for various construction management practice. Examples are information sharing, digital twinning, cross-chain synchronization, IoT synchronization, BIM schema extension, ESG reporting, etc. 5.3.2 Objectives achieved Objective 1 was achieved sustainably [100%]. The BC-CAST model of BIM focuses on both graph presentation of BIM, graph computation, as well as exchange on blockchain. The initial graph model of CAST was preliminarily studied in a pilot paper (Xue and Lu 2020) which triggered this project. In this project, we extended the graph model in Xue and Lu (2020) to 3.0/4.0 tree models in five aspects: o Paper [8.1] [Note: Paper #1 in Sect. 8 (Journal/Chapter)] on Blockchain 3.0/4.0: Designed and compared Blockchain 3.0 for BIM-related construction digital twins, which yields big data volume and real-time exchange needs. We reported Blockchain 3.0 saved 99.2~99.8% of exchange latency. o Chapter [8.2] on cross-chain data exchange. o Paper [9.1] on paradigm comparison: Analyzed BIM collaboration on blockchain, with comparisons with centralized and decentralized cloud. o Paper [9.3] on BIM schematic extension: reported an BIM schema extension to get BIM blockchain-ready, and o Paper [8.4]: on open-source openBIMdisk to realize the BC-CAST model as Blockchain 3.0 paradigm. o Paper [8.5 (Minor revision)]: Finalized Blockchain 4.0 paradigm for BIM-related construction digital twins, which enhances Blockchain 3.0 with automated reasoning and alerts. Objective 2 was achieved [100%]. Several tests were conducted on early versions of CAST for industrial BIM. Award [11.1] reported an integration of blockchain with open BIM in a MiC project, where the compression ratio was up to 99.9% and the best BIM change (in ifcJSON format) compression coding was gzip-base85. We have conducted several other experiments on the efficiency improvement of CAST with everyday uses, such as on a BIM virtual chain disk. Award [11.3] demonstrated another test of integrating CAST model and quality issues detected from 4D point clouds. Papers [8.1, 8.4, 8.5] reported the experimental metrics. Objective 3 was achieved [100%]. Paper [9.2] has demonstrated that off-shore IoT updated project BIM can be applied to quality assurance platform with blockchain. Papers [8.3, 9.4] reported construction blockchain for accurate information sharing and ESG reporting with peer-to-peer stakeholder networks. Paper [8.4] develops a CAST-based virtual chain disk for main-stream BIM platforms, and shared it via GitHub and HKU’s repository. We chose OpenBIM standard to maximize the compatibility to all mainstream BIM platforms. Paper [8.5] will also share the software codes for dissemination on mainstream BIM platforms. 5.3.3 Deviations from the original plan N.A. 5.3.4 Extensions and success beyond the original plan Apart from the successful execution of the project, we also looked into a few topics related to the project. Most findings have been applied to an ITF project “’BIM Square’”: blockchain and i-Core-enabled multi-stakeholder building information modelling platform for construction logistics and supply chain management in Hong Kong” (ITP/029/20LP, HK$10.36M). Journal paper [3] reported that blockchained BIM is strongly demanded for accurate information sharing in construction management according interviews with professionals. This paper also won the 2022 Best Peer Reviewed Paper Award from Journal of Management in Engineering (Impact factor = 7.4, ranked 6/139 in Civil Engineering), ASCE. Conference Paper [6] led to another GRF project (No. 17212725) “A novel blockchain smart contract and zero-knowledge proof approach for accurate and secure access to building information models for multi-stakeholder collaboration”. The PI is the newly graduated PhD student trained through this GRF; now I serve as the Co-I for the new GRF. A reaching out to several Chinese institutions for possible pilots of heritage BIM (HBIM) on chain cases: o Key Scientific Research Base of Application of Spatial Information Technologies in Cultural Heritage Conservation (Tsinghua), National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), China o Guangdong OkayGIS Ltd. o The collaboration led to a prestigious National Social Science Foundation of China (NSSFC) Major Program project titled “Research on coordination mechanisms for the conservation and revitalization of urban cultural heritage” (25&ZD115, 2025-2028) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary of objectives addressed: |
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| Research Outcome | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Major findings and research outcome: | Executive summary of findings and outcome Orientation: This project aims to address the growing demand for efficient, trustworthy, and scalable Building Information Modeling (BIM) collaboration in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry. Note that BIM has become economical and increasingly mandated. This project has developed and validated new Blockchain 3.0/4.0 technologies based on our CAST model, with tests and findings on enhancing BIM exchange and construction management practices. Outputs: 5 journal/Chapter papers (4 published, 1 minor revision), 6 conference papers, 3 international academic Awards, 1 local award. PhD trained: 2 (graduated in 2023 and 2025, respectively) Theoretical findings: The primary theoretical contribution is the formalization of CAST as a semantic tree representation of BIM models, in which components, properties, and relationships are explicitly structured for computation and exchange. Building upon earlier graph-based studies, the project advanced CAST into adaptive tree models compatible with Blockchain 3.0 and 4.0 paradigms. These models enable semantic-level BIM transactions, cross-chain data exchange, schema extension, and automated reasoning, thereby overcoming the latency, redundancy, and Internet dependence that limit conventional blockchain and cloud-based BIM collaboration. (See journal/chapter papers 8.1-8.5) Empirical findings: The tests demonstrated impressive performance. Experimental tests across modular and industrial construction scenarios showed that Blockchain 3.0 implementation reduced BIM exchange latency by 99.2–99.8% and achieved compression ratios up to 99.9% for BIM changes; meanwhile, object-level semantic traceability was well maintained. The open-source virtual-disk-like implementation, openBIMdisk, helps average users as a Blockchain-based virtual disk; This virtual disk delivered millisecond-level response times and practical interoperability with mainstream openBIM standards. (See journal/chapter papers 8.1, 8.4) Interesting findings for future work: Beyond simple efficiency, we confirmed the applicability of CAST-based blockchain BIMs for higher-level construction management goals. Examples include IoT-synchronized digital twins, offshore-to-onsite quality assurance, peer-to-peer information sharing, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting. Extending further, the Blockchain 4.0 paradigm integrates automated machine learning–based prediction and interpretable reasoning, achieving high predictive accuracy (R² = 0.974) in distributed construction project management. (See journal/chapter papers 8.2, 8.3, 8.5, Conference 10.6, Awards 11.3, 11.4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Potential for further development of the research and the proposed course of action: |
The findings from this GRF has directly or indirectly led to three research grants as follows. - HK ITC ITF. “’BIM Square’”: blockchain and i-Core-enabled multi-stakeholder building information modelling platform for construction logistics and supply chain management in Hong Kong” (ITP/029/20LP, HK$10.36M). - HK RGC GRF. (No. 17212725) “A novel blockchain smart contract and zero-knowledge proof approach for accurate and secure access to building information models for multi-stakeholder collaboration”. Note: The PI is one of the newly graduated PhD students trained through this GRF; now I serve as the Co-I for the new GRF. - A prestigious National Social Science Foundation of China (NSSFC) Major Program project titled “Research on coordination mechanisms for the conservation and revitalization of urban cultural heritage” (25&ZD115, 2025-2028). The above three grants well articulate the future development of the research, i.e., (a) applications to local industry; (b) theoretical "digging" on exciting new topics (such as zero-knowledge proof); and (c) Extending to national/international Surveying disciplines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Layman's Summary of Completion Report: | BIM is a multi-billion-dollar business in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry and has increasingly been mandated in many countries and regions. Hong Kong mandates BIM uses in all major (>HK$30M) public works by 2020 and all major private projects (>HK$300M) by 2026. This project studies a novel computational adaptive semantic tree (CAST) model as Blockchain 3.0/4.0 paradigms to leverage building information modeling (BIM) collaboration for construction projects. The CAST model exchange BIM with minimum redundancy, where any BIM model or file is presented as a tree of semantics, including components, properties, relations, and combinations thereof. We tested CAST in Blockchain 3.0/4.0 paradigms in several projects for enhancing BIM exchanges; source codes are open online. Recommended use cases are information sharing, digital twinning, cross-chain synchronization, quality assurance, BIM schema extension, ESG reporting, etc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research Output | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peer-reviewed journal publication(s) arising directly from this research project : (* denotes the corresponding author) |
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| Recognized international conference(s) in which paper(s) related to this research project was/were delivered : |
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| Other impact (e.g. award of patents or prizes, collaboration with other research institutions, technology transfer, etc.): |
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| SCREEN ID: SCRRM00542 |