Author: Joana Fernandes; António Ruivo Meireles
Country: Portugal
Company: ndBIM Virtual Building

1. INTRODUCTION
This article comprises the new realities imposed by the BIM methodology, the impact and changes that it implies on the traditional systems of Project Licensing. Over the years, the design representation methodology used by AEC evolved resulting in different formats of submission in the competent authorities (Drawings, Digital 2D and now 3D) forcing the validation method to change as well. The question now is: How will we validate BIM 3D projects? In Portugal they are validated in the City Halls, regarding Municipal and National regulations. They consist in several documents of different categories, such as Municipal Plans, Urban and Edification General Regulations, Accessibility and Security Regulations. Different regulations aim to ensure the architectural design in its capacity/quality of response to the different needs of the human being, as well as their integration into the city surrounding, which is part of a grid, with rules and guidelines for urban growth. Currently we are faced with two realities regarding submission formats: printed drawings and written pieces, digital formats and written documents (Pdf). In most up to date City Halls, DWF (Design Web Format) is the delivery format used and it reflects the reality and development of CAD (Computer Assisted Drawing) software. A team composed by different specialties technicians analyzes the projects received concerning the regulations, approving or disapproving the licensing. This whole process is very technical and demands deep analysis of hundreds of drawings, resulting in a long response time by the City Halls, with the consequent impact on investment plans made by Owners.
Given the evolution of the AEC sector and undeniable emerge of BIM methodology in the Portuguese reality, some questions arise: How will BIM projects be licensed in the City Halls? What would be the advantages of introducing BIM in the current Licensing process?
The study presented in this article aims to raise the possibility of converting the existing Regulations and Decree-Laws (Figure 1) in a rule software package for semi-automatic verification of BIM designs. The methodology highlights the capability of the software in enabling the customization and configuration of rule sets for automatic verification.

Figure 1 – Municipal and National Portuguese Regulations for Project Licensing.

2. MATERIALS AND METHOD
It was used as a case study, the BIM model of a Primary School located in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, where it was tested a set of selected rules from the current regulations and decree-laws. Initially, it was performed the analysis of the National and Municipal regulations, such as:
National: Decree-Law 163/2006 Accessibility; RGEU (General Rules of Building and Urbanism), SCI (Safety against Fire);
Municipal: PDM (Director Municipal Plan), RMUE (Diretor Municipal Regulation).
Then we’ve selected some items of each regulation and proceeded to a parameterization work of a rule set in the Solibri Model Checker. After this, it was performed a licensing simulation of the BIM model in use (Figure 2).

Figure 2 – Case Study analysis process.

2.1. Model Quality Assurance
When we talk about the BIM model, we speak about information, which serves as a mean for design, physical scheduling, budgeting and energy analysis and facility management. This requires a high quality model as similar to the reality as possible. Only this way it will be possible to extract correct information and enjoy the benefits of a BIM model. The quality of the model can be ensured largely by the analysis of Solibri Model Checker (SMC), which can detect errors in modeling, intersections between specialties and errors in the design of the Project. Taking advantage of this process, we believe it will increase the advantages of a BIM Model, if we can use it, as well in the Licensing Process, which is one of the main parts of the Project. The approval to construction.

2.2. BIM Model Requirements for Licensing
Given the objective of exporting the model to Solibri Model Checker from IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) format, it was necessary to understand the modeling requirements needed for the correct exportation of the parameters, in each object, and therefore its interpretation according to the SMC rules that we’ve parameterized. For a correct model analysis we have noticed that it is necessary to stablish rules that assures that is possible to extract the information needed, e.g.: height, width, thickness of certain objects.
In other words, we have realize that the BIM model for planning and extraction quantities must have different requirements in regards to the licensing one, as the first ones concern geometric information and the second one are related to non-geometric such as IFC descriptions, layer information among others. This doesn’t mean that we must have different models, only that a standard has to be developed that serves everyone.
It was also important to understand how the regulations regarding the implantation in the urban area could be analyzed. We concluded that it would be necessary to model a portion of the city just with volumes in order to compare them the Building itself, especially while the rest of the city is not modelled (Figure 3).

Figure 3 – Architectural Model / Site Model

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Concerning the “National Regulations”, it was possible to simulate on the model problems related to Accessibility, particularly related with the areas of free circulation, bathrooms of conditioned access and free routes, through the parameterization of the rules in accordance with Decree-Law 163/2006. Software proved itself as quite effective in this kind of study, as well as detecting incompatibilities regarding fire safety. Rules were developed, e.g.: for the analysis of escape routes, for the existence of exit signs, verification of opening doors direction and the analysis of the existence of the correct door types and windows in case of fire protection. In the “Municipal Regulations” the purpose was to evaluate clearances, building highs, etc. through SMC.

4. CONCLUSIONS
What we can conclude is that the Licensing through BIM models is a vision that can become real very soon, with the submission to the City Halls of models in IFC format. Some procedures and regulations of the current licensing are extensive and complex documents, but if they turn into more objective documents, we can be able to easily parameterize in SMC the legislation featured in them. Automatic Licensing can make the process more objective, simple and efficient.
The goal is, with the possibility of using BIM, it will be important to take advantage of the investment done in the model and use it in all its potential for the design, coordination, construction, FM (Facility Management) as well in licensing.

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY
RGEU, Regulamento Geral das Edificações Urbanas, Porto Editora, 1998.
PDM, Plano Director Municipal, 215/94 SÉRIE I-B , 1994
Acessibilidades - Decreto-Lei nº163/2006 – INR, 2006