A Case Study of Building Information Modelling (BIM) for Subsurface in Malaysia

Unforeseen ground condition often leads to the occurrence of cost overrun and project delay in Malaysia’s architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries. The implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) for subsurface was attempted to reduce uncertainties associated with the underground conditions. A pilot case study was performed to understand the 3D subsurface modelling workflow in BIM environment. A construction site in Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia was selected for the pilot case study. The site investigation data of the study area were interpreted and input into AutoCAD Civil 3D with geotechnical module to perform the 3D subsurface modelling at various detail levels. The workflow of the modelling process in case study was documented for future references. Through this pilot study, it was found that the adoption of BIM for subsurface modelling could produce soil profiles for different engineering purposes such as visualisation of subsurface conditions during project initiation stage, preliminary conceptual design, and detailed analysis and design of geotechnical structures, particularly foundation. The BIM implementation for geotechnical data improves the management of site investigation data, enhances the visualisation of subsurface profile, and improves the efficiency in communicating the subsurface conditions to all stakeholders in a project team.