Building Information Modeling (BIM) Application for a Section of Bologna’s Red Tramway Line

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors have presented a BIM design report explaining the methodology for a railway line. The presented paper is a BIM design of an interesting topic. I would recommend the authors to add more citations of previous work done in BIM for railway lines, and also citations of work in MEP environment. It would also be interesting to add the 4D BIM simulation before the conclusion section if possible in video format or through a downloadable link. 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript entitled “Building Information Modeling (BIM) application for a section of Bologna’s Red tramway Line” proposes a case study for the design of a portion of the future Bologna’s Red tramway Line using the I-BIM approach. Although the topic is very interesting, there are several points in the paper structure that need improvement.

MAJOR COMMENTS:

- SECTION 1: I suggest that the Introduction be redrafted. This section should provide a brief introduction to the topic, delimit the research gap and the objective, highlight the novelty of the research, and provide a brief explanation of the methodology to be used. The contextualization is well described, but the other items were not satisfactorily addressed, mainly the objective. I understood the case study, but the purpose of the work must be clearly stated in the Abstract and Introduction. "What" and "How" the research was done, it's OK. But "Why" and "For What" purpose, No.

- THEORETICAL BACKGROUND: The literature review was presented in the Introduction section. I suggest dividing it into two parts, namely Section 1 – Introduction, and Section 2 - Theoretical Background.

- THEORETICAL BACKGROUND: The use of BIM in infrastructure projects has been widely explored in the academy. Therefore, I suggest that the review be improved, with the citation of the most current references on the subject and that effectively promotes the theoretical background of the study. Topics to be addressed include the use of I-BIM, I-BIM x 4D simulation integration; etc...  

- THEORETICAL BACKGROUND: Considering the 28 references used, only half were published in the last five years. I suggest expanding this number with more current references on the subject.

- SECTION 2: I suggest the inclusion of a figure summarizing and illustrating the research framework, that is, the step-by-step of the activities described throughout Section 2 - Description of the case study. From modeling to 4D simulation, so the reader can quickly understand how the work evolved. The figure can even be used as a Graphical Abstract.

- SECTION 3: This section left me confused. It starts with an explanation of the data organization process (subsection 3.1) and the organization of the "clash detection" process (subsection 3.2), which in my opinion are stages of the methodology. It then goes on to describe the clash detection results... After all, is the section about methodology or results? I suggest separating the information better.

- SECTION 3: Since the objective was not well defined, it is difficult to assess whether the results are sufficient or not. I identified two main results: Clash detection analysis and 4D temporal simulation generation. However, I suggest that this section be improved, with the inclusion of more results, including the authors' considerations on the process of using I-BIM together with Navisworks for this case study, which will support the assertions made in the conclusions section.

- SECTION 4: Emphasize suggestions for future work.

MINOR COMMENTS:

- SECTION 2: I suggest renaming the section to "Materials and Methods", or similar, since the section’s first paragraphs really describe the object of the case study, but from Subsection 2.1 onwards, the text describes the methodology.

- Although not mandatory, in my opinion, it would be interesting if the video obtained with the 4D simulation were made available as Supplementary Material.

- Figure 4: Would it be possible to present the figure with its dimensions included in the drawing? In addition to the transversal slope percentage that is already highlighted.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The study is well done and the case study is useful to support the stated objectives.

The conclusions could be expanded somewhat to better illustrate the practical utility in contexts other than those of the case study.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors dedicated themselves to improving the manuscript. However, there are still some adjustments that need to be made.

The introduction has been split, but the information needed for an introductory section is still missing. This section should provide a brief introduction to the topic, delimit the research gap and the objective, highlight the novelty of the research, and provide a brief explanation of the methodology to be used. The “brief introduction to the topic” was provided, but the others items, No.

The literature review should be a separate section of the Introduction, not a subsection of it.

Author Response

According to the reviewer's comment, the literature is a separated section and, in the Introduction it has been insered:

• The research gap and the objective: “In recent years, the demand from public administrations for the use of this software, has determined the application of this technology also in the infrastructure. In particular, this study aims to highlight how the I-BIM design allows to optimize the design, considering time, cost and resources in a complete and real vision in the 3D context. It is aimed at analysing a case study concerning a part of the Red Line of the Bologna tramway.”
• The novelty of the research: “The discussion has an innovative connotation: a "federated" model has been created, aggregating in a single digital environment all the models inherent in the individual disciplines involved and, subsequently, interference analysis (Clash Detection) between the various disciplines themselves. By performing preparation of a coordination matrix, and status, it has been possible also simulate the construction site phases (BIM 4D).”.
• The explanation of the methodology to be used: “In this regard, the application of BIM was carried out in three successive phases: the creation of the three-dimensional design model, the planning of the construction process (4D) and the extraction of information from the model. For these three phases of work, several software packages were used: Autodesk Civil 3D and Revit proved to be suitable for 3D modeling, while Navisworks Manage was used to create the model in four dimensions. “.

Round 3

Reviewer 2 Report

--