## 5 Conclusions  
This research demonstrates the benefits of integrating IoT technology, BIMs, and VTs in the AEC industry, particularly within CAFM and CMMSs. The case study conducted on the BIMs and IoT-enhanced CELLS infrastructure serves as a practical example, highlighting how these technologies can be effectively implemented in real-world scenarios for CAFM. The literature review indicates that advanced research and real case examples provide evidence of effective connectivity between BIMs and IoT elements, as well as between VTs and IoT systems. The technical solution presented aims to close the connectivity gap between BIMs and VTs. This link is crucial, as it enables access to both real-time IoT and BIM data from a VT interface. Utilising VT as a central interface for CAFM users has the potential to significantly impact industry practices across several dimensions, which can be highlighted as follows:  
Figure 8: VT connected to live data and BIMs. 1. Virtual touring in space and time: CAFM users can utilise web-based intuitive interfaces to navigate through building assets, including interior, exterior, and chronological dimensions. If image capturing is well established in maintenance protocols, VT can serve as a tool for remote inspection, particularly when linked to IoT data monitoring. 2. Intuitive interface for IoT monitoring and remote control: VT can serve as the entry point for intuitively consulting IoT real-time databases for a given room. This enables CAFM users to perform IoT-related tasks involving both monitoring (status consultation) and remote control (status modification). Such services can enhance CAFM operations, enabling informed decision-making and predictive maintenance and leading to cost savings and improved service delivery. Quicker response times and better maintenance planning become possible through real-time data access via VT.
3. Rational use of BIMs: As discussed, the level of information required for BIMs is defined by the specific phase of a building's life cycle. As phases approach construction, geometrical and alphanumeric detail increases, transforming BIMs into large and complex data sets. As illustrated in Figure 1, the operation phase requires different types of information details that are not necessarily included in \"as-built\" BIMs, which will nevertheless be crucial for subsequent phases, including renovation and demolition. Moreover, updating BIMs to reflect daily minor transformations, such as equipment and furnishing changes, is costly and requires skills CAFM users typically do not possess. This article proposes an alternative to current practices (i.e., generating two types of BIMs: one for future renovation, the other for CAFM) by suggesting an interface serving two roles: (1) providing an intuitive access point to \"as-built\" BIMs, allowing non-skill users to navigate and inquire BIMs data; and (2) complementing BIMs by providing visual and minor-updating information on assets. 4. Navigation tool centralising building data: the integration of the aforementioned dimensions enables VTs to serve as key interfaces for data centralisation. By linking visual, monitoring, and building information data, users can access and manipulate information from a central point regardless of whether these data are stored in different databases and can be visualised through various platforms. By connecting three types of web-accessible information (i.e., real-time monitoring data, georeferenced pictures, and informed 3D models), the presented development facilitates the centralisation of information while providing an intuitive and user-friendly interface for inquiries. The integration of IoT, VT, and BIMs opens up new research opportunities aimed at simplifying the use of these technologies. This integration helps avoid data redundancy and rationalises storage space, data manipulation complexity, and Building Information Modelling requirements. Future research will face challenges, particularly concerning large-scale building implementations.