Integrating Building Information Modeling with Logistic Chain: A Case Study of a Material Management System for Modular Construction

To continuously improve the efficiency of the construction project delivery process, various innovative methods and technologies have been developed and adopted in the past decades. Among these methods, modular construction has become a popular option due to its short on-site installation time generated by off-site prefabrication. However, the process of modular construction requires a highly integrated system to accurately connect multiple phases, including material packaging, transportation logistics, locating and tracking, and on-site installation. Accordingly, this process typically poses a significant challenge for contractors to efficiently manage the materials needed for daily tasks. This paper introduces a construction material management system that integrates every phase from off-site packaging to on-site installation. The integrated system was developed based on Logistic Chain and Building Information Modeling (BIM) using a three-layer framework, namely material packaging, inventory management, and material locating and tracking. The new system utilizes recent innovative technologies for transparent consolidation and highly efficient operation of off-site inventory management and on-site visualization. The developed system was further examined in a real-world case study project. The material handling time was then analyzed and compared with benchmark data without using the integrated system. The results indicated that the newly developed system was able to effectively reduce the time of locating materials and the rate of missing materials during on-site installation. In addition, this case study project added value to the verification of the broader system’s capabilities for inventorying, tracking, and visualizing construction materials. The findings of this project provide valuable knowledge and insight into improving construction efficiency through an integrated material management system. Future research is needed to expand the applicability of multiple framework designs and assess the cost–benefit analysis for production-scale and commercial use.