Developing a BIM-Based Visualization and Interactive System for Healthcare Design

In the building life cycle, the design phase is related to the usability and practicability of the building operation. Communicating ideas regarding the design requirement is the key point. In healthcare building design, it contains the most multiple, rigorous, and complex system. The healthcare design should be fully considered. However, designers are often only uses the 2D shop drawings, architectural rendering of viewpoints, and paper models to discuss the design concept and requirements with the stakeholders. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a revolutionary technology and solution in the modern architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. BIM is a suitable information collaboration platform for AEC projects. However, most BIM software still does not provide realistic visualization and simple interactive methods. The stakeholders may not too easy imagine and understand the design. And feedback professional medical requirements or advises to designers. To improve above problem, this study develops the BIM-based Visualization and Interactive System (BIM-VIS) integrated with BIM and game engine technologies. The BIM-VIS is a real-time rendering system that shows architecture, the spatial design concept, and building information. Furthermore, users may utilize the gamepad as controller to easily interact with building objects. Finally, the BIM-VIS system was applied in a selected test to demonstrate the effectiveness of interactive BIM use. Limitations and suggestions are summarized for further applications.