Design Management: Metrics and Visual Tools

The iterative and multidisciplinary nature of design complicates its management. Nonetheless, the lack of adequate tools that can be used to manage design dynamics negatively affects the design process as well as the quality of the final design deliverables. In this regard, this paper introduces new metrics to measure information flow in BIM projects, and elaborates on the Level of Development (LOD) concept to reflect the design maturity of model elements in the corresponding design context. Moreover, a metric is developed to reflect the design maturity of the entire BIM model or part of it. The study also employs visual tools to plan and control design tasks based on the developed metrics. Results highlight that quantifying and visualizing the design progress helps design managers better assess the design status, streamline information flow among parties, and control the generation of corresponding design information