Automation of as-built documentation generation based on a digital information model

Introduction. As-built documentation, including As-Built Inspection Certificates for concealed works, is a critical element of construction control, ensuring verification of quality and compliance with design and regulatory requirements. In the context of construction industry digitalization and the adoption of building information modelling technologies, reducing labour intensity and errors in the preparation of as-built documents becomes an important task. Despite the development of information modelling, practical solutions for the automated generation of certificate content based on a digital information model remain insufficiently developed. The purpose of this study is to develop and experimentally validate an approach to automating the generation of As-Built Inspection Certificates using a digital information model linked with a construction schedule (4D BIM).

Materials and methods. The study uses a building digital information model in IFC format, a construction schedule, and material specifications in tabular form as input data. The research applies methods of BIM data analysis, logical mapping between BIM elements and schedule activities, and algorithmic data processing using the Python programming language and open data exchange formats.

Results. A data model and an algorithm for automatic population of key fields of As-Built Inspection Certificates were developed. A software prototype of a certificate generator was implemented and tested on a pilot construction project. Quantitative performance indicators demonstrate a 3–4 times reduction in the time required to prepare a single certificate, a decrease in the number of errors to isolated cases, and an autofill completeness level of approximately 90 % compared to traditional spreadsheet-based and specialized software approaches.

Conclusions. The results confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of using 4D BIM for automating the preparation of as-built documentation. The proposed approach improves the reliability and transparency of certificates, reduces the impact of human factors, and can be recommended for implementation in construction control practice and common data environments of construction projects.

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