The discovery of bottlenecks

within the BIM design process by

using process mining

C. (Claudia) van der Graaf

MSc Construction Management &
Engineering

18 October 2017
 Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. Problem definition
3. Research approach
3.1 Pilot case
3.2. Methodology
4. Tool development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

2
1. Introduction
Construction information
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
Various domain experts with an own contribution
3.2 Methodology Information flows occur
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

3
1. Introduction
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
Managing building information, centrally available for every
stakeholder
3.2 Methodology
Availability of project information at a great volume
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Different software 1 central 3D model

4
1. Introduction
Systems Engineering (SE)
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case A method to structure project information
3.2 Methodology Insight into the complexity of the project
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Capturing project information in a structured way

5
1. Introduction
BIM and SE?
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case Client requirements described with SE
3.2 Methodology BIM visualizes the answers
4. Tool Development In the process of the development of requirements and design many
4.1 Collect data steps are included
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Client requirements Design

6
1. Introduction
Current process Interviews
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
Design processes are not monitored automatically.
3.1 Pilot Case
3.2 Methodology
Minutes, notes, e-mails, etc. are used for the decisions making
4. Tool Development process.
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data The BIM manager compares whether the process is progressing
4.3 Load data
according to the planning in a random and human manner.
4.4 Summary data
Assessing the process of the project through evaluations at the end
5. Conclusions
of the project.
6. Recommendations

7
1. Introduction
What are processes?
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
The set of activities that arise between the demand for a product or
3.1 Pilot Case service and the delivery. (Peter Mattijssen, 2012)
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
Design process:
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

First phase in the life cycle

Final result: a design

8
1. Introduction
Design process:
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
Intermediate design steps between products
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data Version 2
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Version 1

9
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition
Process mining
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
Monitors automatically what is happening during the processes
in a project
3.2 Methodology
Provides full visibility of the as-is process
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data New in the construction industry
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Extracting knowledge from data e.g. to generate insights in processes

10
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition
Process mining
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
Monitor what is happening during the processes in a project
3.2 Methodology Provides full visibility of the as-is process
4. Tool Development New in the construction industry
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

A fragment of some event log: each line corresponds to an event

(van der Aalst, 2011)

11
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition
What is data?
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Collection of facts
Computers represent data
Stored in file formats

12
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition
What are bottlenecks?
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case Refers to the shape of a bottle
3.2 Methodology - The bottle's neck slows down the flow
4. Tool Development Critical point in project/ process
4.1 Collect data
Create delays
4.2 Transform data
Improving/ accelerating the process
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

13
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition
Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case Limited view on specific role in process
3.2 Methodology Intermediate design steps not recorded automatically
4. Tool Development Monitoring based on handwritten models
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

14
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition
Research Question:
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data In which way could process mining be used to
4.3 Load data discover bottlenecks during BIM design
activities of construction projects?
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

15
1. Introduction Pilot case:
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach Building type: School
3.1 Pilot Case
Design requirements specified
3.2 Methodology
5 usable datasets
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Example design model

16
1. Introduction
Methodology
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
ETL process:
3.2 Methodology 1. Extract, transform and load data
4. Tool Development 2. Place data into warehouse
4.1 Collect data 3. Acquire a subset of data for visualizations or other purposes
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions ETL process
Data mining
6. Recommendations Data
Extract useful
Data collection Transformation Load data Data visualization
data
Warehouse Reports
...

1. 2. 3.

17
1. Introduction
Data collection:
2. Problem Definition Extract useful
Data collection
Tracking of design activities data
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

18
1. Introduction
Data collection:
2. Problem Definition Extract useful
Data collection
Tracking of design activities data
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
3.2 Methodology
The data include:
Timestamp Type of change
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data User Project
4.2 Transform data Unique identifier Object type
4.3 Load data Floor level
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Example of a part of a history log

19
1. Introduction
Data transformation:
2. Problem Definition Extract useful
Data collection Transformation
data
3. Research Approach
1) Rules for process models
3.1 Pilot Case
2) Rules for visualization
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations
Filter 1

Raw data

Filter 2

20
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition Data transformation:
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case Rules for process models:
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development Collected data > filtered data
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
Time
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations
split

Start Time End Time Duration

new

21
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition Data transformation:
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case Rules for process models:
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development Collected data > filtered data
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
Time Type Change Object Type
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations
split combine

Start Time End Time Duration Activity Count

new new

22
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition Data transformation:
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case Rules for process models:
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development Collected data > filtered data
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
Time Type Change Object Type User Case
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations take over take over
split combine

Start Time End Time Duration Activity Count User Case

new new

23
1. Introduction
Load data: Extract useful
2. Problem Definition Data collection Transformation Load data
data

3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development In myInvenio (process mining tool)
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Example of a part of a filtered event log

24
1. Introduction
Load data: Extract useful
2. Problem Definition Data collection Transformation Load data
data

3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development In myInvenio (process mining tool)
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Example of a part of a filtered event log

25
Introduction
Problem Definition
Research Approach
Pilot Case
Tool Development
Conclusions
Recommendations

26
1. Introduction
Example process model:
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

27
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition Data transformation:
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case Rules for visualization:
3.2 Methodology Modified records
4. Tool Development
Color range
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
4.3 Load data Max.
4.4 Summary data modifications

5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Green Orange Red

28
 Data visualization:
Introduction
Problem Definition
Research Approach
Pilot Case
Tool Development
Conclusions
Recommendations

29
1. Introduction
2. Problem Definition
Summarizing data
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case Different outcomes:
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data
Compare Findings
4.3 Load data n Datasets

4.4 Summary data

5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

Obstacle in time in the modelling process: adding interior walls

Most efficient modelling process: second floor level process (6 minutes)
Most modified object type: interior walls (18 times)

30
1. Introduction
Conclusions
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
Insight in how to utilize, collect and structure design data
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development Activities in processes and bottlenecks revealed
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data Intermediate steps in the design process become clear
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations

31
1. Introduction
Future research into:
2. Problem Definition
3. Research Approach
3.1 Pilot Case
Shortcomings of the developed tool
3.2 Methodology
4. Tool Development Improving the rule-sets for transformation
4.1 Collect data
4.2 Transform data Factors influencing an efficient process
4.3 Load data
4.4 Summary data Tracking design information in other software
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations Impact of design modifications

Process mining in other building life cycle phases

32
Thank you for your attention!

Questions?

C. (Claudia) van der Graaf

c.v.d.graaf@student.tue.nl