Since 2016, the BIM Innovation Capability Programme (BICP) has captured the capability of the Irish construction industry and the higher education institutes response to the increased requirement... Show More

Since 2016, the BIM Innovation Capability Programme (BICP) has captured the capability of the Irish construction industry and the higher education institutes response to the increased requirement for BIM on construction and engineering projects. One of the primary responsibilities of the BICP research team was to collate data to assist the National BIM Council of Ireland in the formulation of a National BIM Roadmap. To assist the council with this task, the BICP research team applied five macro BIM maturity conceptual models to assess Ireland's BIM maturity. The application of the models has helped identify the key policies' outputs and the macro maturity components that were used to identify deliverables within the now-published Irish roadmap. The results from the models were further utilised to develop a managing-complex-change matrix. The matrix has helped identify the necessary ingredients for a successful digital transformation programme for Ireland's construction industry for the period 2018-2021. The results from both studies have provided crucial information in highlighting areas that will need to be addressed if Ireland is to continue its current momentum in promoting the use of BIM within the Irish construction industry.

On a global scale, the construction sector is considered to have a high degree of decentralised information. In the Dominican Republic, the construction industry represents the most significant... Show More

On a global scale, the construction sector is considered to have a high degree of decentralised information. In the Dominican Republic, the construction industry represents the most significant economic activity in the country. Smart devices and the Internet of Things create an opportunity to enhance the exchange of information in the construction sector. This article reports on the empirical findings of an investigation focused on the implementation of smart devices in the AEC sector. Findings address the status of digitalisation in the construction sector of the construction industry as well as main utilisations of smart devices. The findings are based on semi-structured interviews with fifteen professionals from nine construction organisations. The article concludes that smart devices increase efficiency in the construction industry of Dominican Republic by adding mobility, ubiquitous data access, and digitalisation of paperwork.

The present study follows the progress of the level of development (LOD) specification from its inception in 2005 to its latest updates in 2018, a total of 42 guidelines from North America and... Show More

The present study follows the progress of the level of development (LOD) specification from its inception in 2005 to its latest updates in 2018, a total of 42 guidelines from North America and Europe are reviewed. To organise the presented literature and to provide a comprehensive framework of LOD implementation within the information delivery manual (IDM), a LOD grounded theory-based taxonomy is introduced. The variables that constitute this taxonomy are BIM purpose, Stage, Role, Classification System, Attribute, Graphical information, Scale, LOD and Net benefits. The result of this exercise is a comprehensive view of the LOD construct impact on project performance which can be studied as a cumulative framework, where new research on the constructs can be added. Therefore, this allows a point towards the direction where further work is needed within the field of LOD-IDM implementation, such as the study of its use for data management among other uses.

This article presents a framework for the implementation of BIM in organizations on a strategic level in Egypt. Earlier analysis of the Egyptian construction market was carried to measure the BIM... Show More

This article presents a framework for the implementation of BIM in organizations on a strategic level in Egypt. Earlier analysis of the Egyptian construction market was carried to measure the BIM maturity of organizations. The assessment was required to study where the Egyptian market stands when it comes to BIM knowledge. This was done as a prior step to create an implementation plan. After aligning BIM goals with the current BIM status, recommendations are highlighted in order to create a roadmap for BIM implementation in organizations. A modeling tool was selected to represent the created roadmap. The modeling tool was selected in order to facilitate the implementation of the roadmap in the Egyptian construction industry. The model is created using Integrated Definition (IDEF0) diagrams as a functional modeling tool. The model is made accessible for industry practitioners to use it as a prior step for BIM implementation planning.

Current data models for representing, exchanging, and storing utility networks often meet the needs of specific domains only, i.e. they do not consider the integration of different network systems... Show More

Current data models for representing, exchanging, and storing utility networks often meet the needs of specific domains only, i.e. they do not consider the integration of different network systems, mutual relations between networks and the embedding into 3D urban space. These important prerequisites for urban analyses and simulations are met by the CityGML extension Utility Network ADE. Originally developed for disaster management, this article presents the further development of the ADE by new and revised concepts that result from an extensive analysis of relevant use cases. A catalogue of requirements is presented, current data models are evaluated against these requirements, and the recent developments and refinements of the ADE are explained in detail. This includes the concepts of inter-feature links and network links, the linking of network components with city objects, the modelling of functional characteristics, a refined network components module, and a new electricity network package. In addition, an overview of projects that successfully have applied the ADE is provided.

Although severely altered, the urban subsurface is the base of the natural system, and is crucial for a stable, green, healthy, and liveable city. It is also the technical space, the engine room of... Show More

Although severely altered, the urban subsurface is the base of the natural system, and is crucial for a stable, green, healthy, and liveable city. It is also the technical space, the engine room of the city where vital functions such as water, electricity, sewers, and drainage are located. This hybrid state needs to be recognized when designing resilient and durable (subsurface) infrastructure within urban renewal projects, so as to properly employ the parameters of both natural and technical systems. Interdisciplinary work is needed in order to be able to link natural systems (a) the water cycle, (b) soil and subsurface conditions, (c) soil improvement technology, and (d) opportunities for urban renewal (e.g. urban growth or shrinkage) in an efficient way. The importance of implementing “boundary spanning” when doing interdisciplinary work that deals with the effects of climate change is a widely recognized method, and has been an object of study in the city of Rotterdam in the past decade. The particular need for a “distributed agency” became clear during several research projects dealing with climate change, because it enables different actors to contribute to the development of the project at different phases. The representation of the city as both a natural and technical construction has been tested through the use of 2D and 3D information, which has played a significant role in enabling designs to incorporate the dimension of the subsurface. 2D and 3D information needs to anticipate different scales of specific planning and/or design phases, and they must also address various topics of the subsurface. For each phase of urban development, the distributed agency between 2D and 3D information is investigated and reflected upon. Conclusions are then drawn on the relationship between 2D and 3D information, and how it could relate in a productive, boundary spanning act that is inclusive of the subsurface. Based on these potential connections, the design of a new concept which implements boundary spanning as a facilitator is presented.

This article proposes an approach to improve the deployment of ground penetrating radar (GPR) in the field to detected and locate urban infrastructures. It consists of exploiting geographic data... Show More

This article proposes an approach to improve the deployment of ground penetrating radar (GPR) in the field to detected and locate urban infrastructures. It consists of exploiting geographic data layers, database management systems, and a WebGIS, allowing users to handle GPR data within a georeferenced environment is developed based on a platform called GVX, providing users with four features, being (1) map integration, (2) geo-annotations and points of interest interaction, (3) radargram georeferencing, and (4) georeferenced slice visualization. Experiments with two categories of users, expert and non-expert GPR practitioners, have been performed. Based on the users' evaluation, the approach is valuable and can significantly improve GPR deployment. It helps users when discovering unmapped underground objects, delimiting the survey area, and interpreting GPR complex datasets. Overall, the approach optimized time and facilitated the spatial notion between GPR profiles and 3D meshes with map resources, allowing users to produce reliable maps, conforming to geospatial standards (CityGML).

3D city model construction adopting OGC standards is the need of the hour for many countries. Research is heading towards effective methods for data collection for the 3D city model development... Show More

3D city model construction adopting OGC standards is the need of the hour for many countries. Research is heading towards effective methods for data collection for the 3D city model development process and disseminating all 3D city objects data of a specific user choice of region, through OGC web services. The current research work aims at building 3DCity LOD1 models using 2D geospatial data, disseminating the 3DCity objects information through OGC web services for a geographic region, building an ADE for modelling critical infrastructure such as electric lines, water pipes, etc., and modelling 2D critical infrastructure data in 3D CityGML model using the ADE. Models can be visualized using any CityGML visualizer like FME, Aristoteles, etc. The CityGML model is validated using OGC CityGML schema validator. Sample region based WFS results are shown along with the WFS performance test using a web services benchmark. CI ADE is validated through writing powerlines geospatial feature into CityGML model.

This article presents an investigation of the gravity hill phenomena by analysing its geospatial data. Wadi Al Baida located in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia has been taken as a case study. Wadi Al Baida... Show More

This article presents an investigation of the gravity hill phenomena by analysing its geospatial data. Wadi Al Baida located in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia has been taken as a case study. Wadi Al Baida is listed as one of the sites in the world where the said phenomena exists, but the site has been famous for any sort of magnetic force because the vehicles move uphill and on flat road without any engine power on. The topography of the valley is studied by using the geospatial data of the area and by creating Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) based on Point Kriging method of gridding. The results show that the area has natural slope and there is a significant difference in the elevations of the start and the end point of the valley. A longitudinal profile is also generated to validate the results obtained by DEMs and it is found that the road has an average slope of 2.6% which makes the vehicles and rolling objects move on their own due to the force of gravity. Also, the concept of gravity hill has been explained with the help of a diagram which is easy to understand by the readers.

Bridge information modeling (BrIM) has widely become an efficient tool in the bridge engineering and construction industry. It has been used in pre-fabrication, obtaining accurate quantity surveys... Show More

Bridge information modeling (BrIM) has widely become an efficient tool in the bridge engineering and construction industry. It has been used in pre-fabrication, obtaining accurate quantity surveys, and creating accurate shop drawings. This article presents the utilization of bridge information modeling (BrIM) in determining the optimum construction methods of concrete bridges in bridge projects in Egypt using systematic procedures taking into account: bridge physical properties, construction cost, and site conditions. Bridge information modeling (BrIM) has proven to be an effective tool in determining the optimum construction methods of concrete bridges. The proposed BrIM approach is capable of obtaining feasible construction methods and associated construction costs based on bridge physical characteristics.

Given sizable capital projects in Hong Kong are using BIM from January 2018 on and site safety continues to be a concern for the local construction stakeholders. It is timely to investigate the... Show More

Given sizable capital projects in Hong Kong are using BIM from January 2018 on and site safety continues to be a concern for the local construction stakeholders. It is timely to investigate the potential of using BIM for construction safety. This research reveals the potential of using BIM for site safety is strong (85% supported), indicating Hong Kong should engage specific projects to test effectiveness of using BIM for safety, including implementation of safety management system and/or process of risk assessment.

A significant amount of energy is consumed by buildings due to ineffective design decisions with little consideration for energy efficiency. Yet, performance parameters should be considered during... Show More

A significant amount of energy is consumed by buildings due to ineffective design decisions with little consideration for energy efficiency. Yet, performance parameters should be considered during the early design phase, which is vital for improved energy performance and lower CO2 emissions. BIM, as a new way of working methodology, can help for performance-based design. However, it is still infancy in architectural practice about how BIM can be used to develop energy efficient design. Thus, the aim is to propose a strategic framework to guide architects about how to do performance-based design considering the local values and energy performance parameters. The research adopts a multi case study approach to gain qualitative and quantitative insights into the building energy performance considering the building design parameters. The outcome is a new design approach and protocol to assist designers to successfully use BIM for design optimization, PV technology use in design, rules-based design and performance assessment scheme reflecting local values.

This article examines the effects of the adoption of 3D printing technology (3DPT) applications on the operational performance of entrepreneurs' companies in terms of time, cost, quality... Show More

This article examines the effects of the adoption of 3D printing technology (3DPT) applications on the operational performance of entrepreneurs' companies in terms of time, cost, quality, competitiveness, and management processes. For this purpose, a study model based on the relevant previous studies was proposed. The data for this research was collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire given to 161 respondents. The target respondents were those employed in entrepreneurial companies in Jordan, and the data was analysed using multiple regression techniques. The findings indicate that the extent of 3DPT being adopted by entrepreneurial companies in Jordan should be considered moderate at this stage. Further, all integrated operational performance indicators (time, cost, quality, competitiveness, and management processes) were significantly influenced by the adoption of 3DPT; the most important performance indicators were found to be time, cost, and quality due to the business environment context found in Jordan.

The current paper proposes a multi-criteria decision methodology to determine the most reliable supplier for green buildings. The selection of a supplier for the construction of green buildings... Show More

The current paper proposes a multi-criteria decision methodology to determine the most reliable supplier for green buildings. The selection of a supplier for the construction of green buildings should meet different criteria due to the specifics of the materials used, a predetermined budget, and fixed deadlines. The proposed methodology is based on localization of possible suppliers around the building project up to an acceptable distance. The methodology can use different methods based on utility function to perform the selection. This methodology could be integrated as a separate module for logistics in the determination of supplier selection.

BIM has been initiated in developing countries in recent years. It is a fact that adopting BIM has a large cost from the initiation of the implementation of the projects. This is the main reason... Show More

BIM has been initiated in developing countries in recent years. It is a fact that adopting BIM has a large cost from the initiation of the implementation of the projects. This is the main reason that, in the company perspective, BIM methodology is not well-known at the beginning of a project, during the adaptation stage. Therefore, the transition to such a new system is quite costly, especially in terms of software licenses and personnel training. On the other hand, after some period of time, BIM starts to impact the progress of the projects in a positive way, such as the project becomes more transparent and more visible, as well as more manageable and controllable. So, the main outcome is the company starts to complete projects within a shorter duration and lower cost by using BIM. At the initial stage, BIM implementation investment is quite high, however in later stages these costs become more affordable. The main issue is quantifying effects and inserting to the evaluation of the investment. In this study, we proposed an interview analysis to conclude the keypoints of BIM adoption.