BIM based Schedule Control for Precast Concrete Supply Chain J. Nissilä a , R. Heikkilä b , I. Romo a , M. Malaska b and T. Aho b a Skanska Oy, Helsinki, Finland b Construction Technology Research Center, University of Oulu, Finland E-mail: jaakko.nissila@skanska.fi, rauno.heikkila@oulu.fi, ilkka.romo@skanska.fi, mikko.malaska@oulu.fi, timo.aho@oulu.fi Abstract - Development of the schedule control of precast concrete supply chain has been studied. Main idea was to use BIM model created by structural engineer as a user-interface for schedule control, for saving different status information of the real-time schedule situation of the propagation of structural design, element manufacture, delivery and site erection directly to the BIM model by using a cloud-based networked service. Some of the missing software applications were programmed by the software companies participated in the project. Experiments were done in a real construction project in Finland, where the information from design, prefabrication, delivery and erection phases was synchronized between the stakeholders by using the cloud service. The most important observations and results are introduced and analyzed. A future model for intelligent BIM based schedule control concept is concluded. Keywords - BIM, supply chain, schedule control, precast concrete 1 Introduction Since the use of building information modelling (BIM) to design tasks has increased a lot in most industrialized countries, more and more attention has been paid to BIM model utilization in production phases, such as prefabrication, transportations and on-site assembly and erection works. Schedule control is one of the key management issues in the control of BIM based production flow. Traditionally schedule planning is made using special schedule software such as Microsoft Project, Primavera’s Project Planner, Vico Control, etc. The extension of CAD based design to schedule management has been studied and developed as a part of so called 4D CAD research area. The main idea has been in combining 3D CAD models with construction activities to display the progression of construction over time (visual intelligence for construction management). 4D models have used to link components in 3D CAD models with activities from the design, procurement, and construction schedules. The final 4D production model allows stakeholders to view the planned construction on the screen and to review a 3D CAD model for any day, week, or month of the project. Stanford University has also developed a special 4D interface for the interactive use of 4D models for planned schedule examinations. [4] Even though the construction industry has used BIM-based schedule management for year, an automatic information flow management between the project’s stakeholders has not been generalized. Newt Finnish BIM guidelines (COBIM) require that the critical installation dates for designated structures and systems needs to be saved in the building information model. The BIM-based schedule must also be distributes for other parties’ use in an agreed format. Model views must be shared with other parties without the need for separate BIM-based software. [2] Precast concrete elements, precast concrete wall panels or other components are usually fabricated in a central plant where industrial production techniques are used, then hauled to the construction site and erected. The information flow during supply chain of the precast building element is important. Traditionally the propagation of design, prefabrication, delivery and erecting information has been handled by traditional methods, such as e-mail, phone and by fabricators project portal. Generally, traditional forms of information dissemination in construction industry are seen ineffective and time-consuming. [1][3][5][8] By using 4D CAD / BIM models combined with cloud service, information batches as called as statuses of building element give important The 31st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction and Mining (ISARC 2014)