The Challenge of Computerizing Building Codes in a BIM Environment

Computerization of building codes and standards in connection with Building Information Modeling (BIM) represents a real challenge for the AEC industry. On one hand, building rules and regulations are written by professionals to be read and applied by people since the reasoning and interpretation ability of the human brain is unlike anything implemented in computer systems. On the other hand, a smart phone app can outperform any engineer on solving a set of linear equations. However, many tasks that are easy for engineers or human in general are surprisingly difficult for computers. Examples include interpretation and expression of code and standard provisions that are characterized by subjective and descriptive rules. The perceptual abilities of engineers certainly surpass the fastest supercomputers. This gave motivation to many researches investing the efforts in creating computable representation of the building codes and standards and their link to Building Information Modeling (BIM). This paper provides critical review of the development of computable building codes rules that can be implemented into BIM-based automated rule-checking systems. It also addresses the complexity of these knowledge systems, the problems they pose for engineers and designers, and the methods for managing and advancing them.