Supervisor(s): Paulo Ferreira

Abstract: 

Introduction

The ELT project involves several international contractors working on different engineering models and technical documentation. Keeping this information consistent, accessible and up to date is essential for effective coordination throughout the project. This thesis will contribute to the digitalisation of ESO/ELT engineering workflows by exploring how BIM information management and quality checks can be automated. The focus will be on identifying practical improvements to existing processes, reducing manual work and making engineering information more reliable and easier to use. 
 
Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to develop and test a practical workflow for improving BIM information management within the ESO ELT project. Using existing tools such as Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), Revit, IFC and available APIs, the student will investigate how information from different engineering models can be checked, compared and reported more efficiently. The work will focus on a selected use case within mechanical engineering. This may include checking parameter completeness, identifying inconsistencies in model information, verifying document and model identifiers, or tracking relevant changes between model revisions.

Based on the selected use case, the student will develop a prototype to automate a set of defined checks and present the results through a simple dashboard or reporting interface. The prototype will be tested using selected ELT models, and its results will be compared with the existing workflow to assess its reliability and potential to reduce manual effort. The thesis will deliver a working prototype, a description of the developed workflow and an evaluation of the results. It will also identify possible next steps for further automation and integration into ESO's existing digital engineering environment. 

Objectives

• Review existing approaches to BIM information management, data exchange and automated quality check
• Identify a practical use case within the ELT mechanical engineering workflows and define the information requirements to be checked.
• Develop a prototype using available ACC capabilities, Revit, IFC and/or APIs to extract and validate selected BIM information.
• Automate checks for missing or inconsistent information and, where feasible, compare relevant changes between model revisions.
• Present the results through a simple dashboard or structured report.
• Test the prototype on selected ELT models and compare the results with the existing manual workflow.
• Document the results, limitations and recommendations for further automation and digitalisation within ESO/ELT.