Integrated 4D Design Change Management Model for Construction Projects

Managing design changes effectively can reduce cost overruns and schedule delays in construction projects. However, existing design change management in construction projects lacks integration with schedules, comprehensive design change information, and interoperability with other applications. This study aims to address the aforementioned limitations by presenting an integrated four-dimensional (4D) design change management model (DCMM). We developed this model by integrating design changes with 4D building information modeling (BIM) models, extracting informative data from model geometry and design files to provide essential information for design change impact analysis and management, interfacing with a data warehouse for efficient data management, and utilizing interoperable data schemas for cross-platform compatibility. The integrated 4D DCMM successfully validated its abilities through two case studies, despite certain limitations such as only focusing on tracking main structural building elements. Our study introduces significant contributions to the field of design change management in construction projects by (1) allowing design changes tracking along construction progress, thus enhancing project controls and facilitating effective communication among project teams, (2) providing comprehensive information for design change management and assessing structural integrity risks resulting from design changes, thereby improving inspection practices in construction projects, and (3) enabling universal interoperability of design change management files across various BIM applications, enhancing construction data asset management.