The MPS is a language suitable for owners, designers, and builders for identifying every component and task in the building construction procedure. The MPS makes the communication between the architect, design team, estimators and schedulers and steers the procedure of design progression. It brings all the information about the building - what components should be modeled, and to what level of detail the components are being modeled, estimated, and scheduled. It presents the efficient outline for the project stakeholders. It can be termed as written checklist that grown-up from a very representation level of detail to a high level of detail on the basis of 3D geometry, cost, and time. The predictable cost and schedule becomes more and more precise as the level of detail enhances all through the design procedure. It arises from the need to define the representations of building elements in a BIM (it is possible to use a BIM for many purposes - costing, scheduling, performance simulation, code checking, and visualization etc.) and a framework for BIM’s precision and suitability for specific uses. MPS methodically categorize project data for every single checkpoint in the BIM practice.

1. Keywords - Model Progression Specification, BIM, IPD, LOD, BIM Practice, 3D Geometry
Model Progression Specification (MPS) can enhance the Building
Information Modeling process
The MPS is a language suitable for owners, designers, and builders for identifying every
component and task in the building construction procedure. The MPS makes the communication
between the architect, design team, estimators and schedulers and steers the procedure of
design progression. It brings all the information about the building - what components should be
modeled, and to what level of detail the components are being modeled, estimated, and
scheduled. It presents the efficient outline for the project stakeholders. It can be termed as written
checklist that grown-up from a very representation level of detail to a high level of detail on the
basis of 3D geometry, cost, and time. The predictable cost and schedule becomes more and
more precise as the level of detail enhances all through the design procedure.
It arises from the need to define the representations of building elements in a BIM (it is possible to
use a BIM for many purposes - costing, scheduling, performance simulation, code checking, and
visualization etc.) and a framework for BIM’s precision and suitability for specific uses. MPS
methodically categorize project data for every single checkpoint in the BIM practice.
Webcor Builders tied up with Vico build up the concept and submit it to the technology
subcommittee of the AIA California Council’s Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) Task Force. In
order to expand the usefulness of the MPS all the opinions of architects, contractors, engineers,
subcontractors, owners, and software developers were taken into consideration. The AIA National
Documents Committee has approved the approach, provided further development, and included it
into the new E202, an exhibit, in the fall of 2008.
Besides its 3-dimentional demonstration, a great deal of information can be associated with an
element in a BIM. The information can be achieved from a variety of people. As for instance,
while a 3-dimentional illustration of a wall is generated by the architect, the GC may offer a cost,
the HVAC engineer a U-value and thermal mass, an acoustical consultant an STC rating, etc. To
deal with this variety of input, the AIA Documents Committee came up with the concept of “Model
Component Author” (MCA), liable for formation of the 3-dimensional representation of the
component.
Level of Detail (LOD).
In the centre part of MPS there exist the LOD definitions. It is depictions of the steps, in the
course of which a BIM element can rationally progress from the lowest level of conceptual
estimate to the highest level of representational precision. Five levels were sufficient to define the
progression from conceptual through as-built. However, to allocate for future intermediate levels
the levels are termed as 100 through 500. In real meaning, the levels are as follows:
1100. Conceptual
200. Approximate geometry
300. Precise geometry
400. Fabrication
500. As-built
At LOD 100 the cost of a groundwork structure is an standard of 30 dollars per square foot and
that the building requires a foundation structure. Neither dimensions nor production processes
are recognized at this level of detail. At LOD 200 the rough location and indicative dimensions of
the foundation elements. At LOD 300, the structural analysis results are acknowledged indicating
that the real dimensions of the foundation elements are verified and that a decision concerning
the production system to be utilized (cast in place or prefab?) is prepared.

2. As the design extends, various elements of the model will step forward from one LOD to the next
at different rates. For instance, in the conventional phases, most elements must be at LOD 300
at the conclusion of the CD phase, and many will be moved to LOD 400 in the shop drawing
procedure throughout the construction phase. Some elements like paint will never be in use
beyond LOD 100, i.e., the layer of paint is not modeled in reality, but its cost and other properties
are connected to the suitable wall assembly.
With MPS moving from one project stage to the next is transformed escalating the level of detail
in one or more sections of your model specification. The ‘Owner’ concept permits for successful
management of work needed for completion of the required work. Identical and repeatable, the
MPS is redeployed on several projects (since each component is matchless, the progression on
specificity stays by and large the same).
Functionality of MPS in brief :-
• Define a "purpose-based model" so that you include elements for estimating and
scheduling
• Create Resource-loaded schedule by location that contains all the Methods and
Resources
• Devise a model-based flow-line schedule with the estimating data extracted from the
model
• With the cost-loaded schedule you can create cash-flow diagrams for the Owner
• With the location-based schedule and control chart connect to cost data, checking the
schedule status becomes an easy task
• Plot planned versus actual progress on EVA curve, highlighting schedule performance
indicators
With the application of BIM MPS is exceptionally helpful for any project, the profundity of
collaboration in IPD creates some sort of organized approach like this essential. Keeping this in
mind, the MPS is developed to deal with two principles of IPD:
1. The requirement “that phase outcomes – milestones and deliverables – be defined
succinctly” in order that team members “identify with the level of detail upon which they
should be functioning, and what decisions have (and have not) been finalized”.

3. 2. The idea of assigning tasks “on a best person basis, even when that differs from
traditional role allocations”
In an IPD project, with tasks assigned “on a best person basis,” it is likely that handoffs will occur
at various points in the design process. For example, the mechanical subcontractor may take
over as MCA for ductwork during the Detailed Design phase.
References:
http://www.aecbytes.com/feature/2008/MPSforBIM.html
http://www.vicosoftware.com/community/conceptual-estimate-and-the-
mps/tabid/87169/Default.aspx
Description:
This publication provides information on “How Model Progression Specification (MPS)
can simplifies Building Information Modeling process for owners, designers, and
builders”
Useful Links:
http://www.pinnaclecad.com/bimServices.html
http://www.pinnaclecad.com/index.html
Company Information:
Pinnacle Infotech Solutions is the market leader in the Building Information Modeling
industry. The company's core competency lies in solving complex problems in the AEC
domain. Pinnacle has been thrice selected among the top 50 IT innovators by Nasscom,
the premier trade body and the chamber of commerce of the IT-BPO industries in India.
Company Address:
Pinnacle Infotech.,
9950,Westpark Dr., Suite 205,
Houston, TX 77063
Website: http://www.pinnaclecad.com/
E-mail: pr@pinnaclecad.com
Contact Number:
Toll Free : 888 876 8783
Cell : 832 283 6628
Phone : 713 780 2135
Fax : 713 780 8784