An interplay of building information modelling and prevention through design (BIM-PtD) towards safe design

The integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Prevention through Design (PtD) concept facilitates the visualization of safety features for designers to identify hazard and minimize risks at early design phases, and hence improving the safety aspect in construction at later stages. Despite it is well acknowledged that the applicationof BIM could enhance the safety features, research focusing on the integration of safe design concept (i.e PtD) using BIMcapabilities remain elusive. Therefore, this research aims to explore the capabilities of BIM towards the implementation of PtD, by integrating both to enhance the role of designers in considering safety measures in their designs. The methodology of this study is by theoretically linking the BIM capabilities and PtD principles through literatures pertaining to the areasof safety and BIM in construction research. Several papers on the subject of PtD and similar concepts ( e.g., Design for Safety, Construction Design Management, Safe Design, etc.) were screened, reviewed, and discussed fundamentally and linked with studies related to BIM for safety. The findings were critically discussed by highlighting BIM capabilities to implement PtD practices and the framework of the integration between BIM-PtD is further established. The risk identification through BIM visualization, constructability review and collaboration platform are among the outcome of the BIM-PtD integration towards safe design. The significance of this integration will increase the construction industry understanding on the ways to implement PtD by using BIM functionalities.