A sustainable BIM-based multidisciplinary framework for underground pipeline clash detection and analysis

An urban underground pipeline system is widely applied to ensure the normal operation of urban functions. Building information modelling (BIM) can integrate a multi-disciplinary underground pipeline information system to improve the efficiency and quality of underground pipeline management and maintenance. This study therefore used BIM to establish a sustainable multi-disciplinary evaluation framework for underground pipeline clash detection and analysis. The framework integrated modules such as clash type definition and analysis, clash-rule definition, BIM clash detection, rule contribution and evaluation, irrelevant clash filtration, and clash coordination. The results showed that the proposed framework can effectively reduce design errors and burdens, and develop a knowledge-based rule for multiple participants and data objects, maximising multi-level and multi-factor optimisation for underground pipeline management and maintenance. The results also indicated that the sustainable BIM-aided urban underground pipeline optimisation framework plays an important role in advancing the infrastructural design process, and the exploration of greener measures to improve the underground built environment.