BIM design coordination rooms: proposal of an assessment method

Abstract Building Information Modeling (BIM) focuses on a tridimensional model that contains all the information of a traditional 2D documentation, among others, in a format able to be processed by a computer in a more useful way. BIM design coordination has many advantages compared to those based on 2D CAD. However, considering the drastic change in the design representation, there is a need for modifications in the physical infrastructure of coordination meeting rooms to reach all the potential benefits of BIM. This research aims to develop a method for evaluating BIM coordination rooms. Ten criteria and metrics for evaluating the quality of the layout of BIM coordination rooms were proposed. To establish the relative importance among all the proposed criteria, the AHP method of multi-criteria decision based on pair comparisons analysis was adopted. To validate the results, fourteen different layouts for the same room were analysed and evaluated. The proposed method was considered coherent as an evaluation strategy and, therefore the best alternatives could be identified. The criteria and metrics presented are useful for designing or adapting spaces for meeting the needs of BIM-based design coordination room users.