Improving Communication of Scheduling Information of Earthworks using 4D Visualisation Model in Road Projects

Innovative visualization technology applied to construction simulation and optimization has the potential to improve communications and coordination amongst the project stakeholders. In this context and in the drive for innovation in construction management, this paper introduces a framework of a 4D prototype for the automatic generation of visual terrain surfaces during earthwork construction processes. The framework has been designed and developed by integrating road design data, quantities of cut and fill, productivity models, algorithms for modelling terrain profiles and a road profile visualiser. The paper details the prototype of 4D visualization model (4DVM) that has been designed and developed in this research using innovative methodology where 4D models of terrain surfaces are generated based on coordinate data and the productivity of earthwork. The model has been demonstrated with a case study that was used to validate the model. The 4DVM is intended to assist project planners/construction managers in logical decision making processes for construction scheduling and resource planning. It will also improve the communication gap amongst the construction team and consequently improve site coordination and operation

IMPROVING COMMUNICATION OF SCHEDULING INFORMATION OF EARTHWORK CONSTRUCTION PROCESS USING 4D VISUALISATION MODEL IN ROAD PROJECTS

ABSTRACT Innovative visualization technology applied to construction simulation and optimization has the potential to improve communications and coordination amongst the project stakeholders. In this context and in the drive for innovation in construction management, this paper introduces a framework of a 4D prototype for the automatic generation of visual terrain surfaces during earthwork construction processes. The framework has been designed and developed by integrating road design data, quantities of cut and fill, productivity models, algorithms for modelling terrain profiles and a road profile visualiser. The paper details the prototype of 4D visualization model (4DVM) that has been designed and developed in this research using innovative methodology where 4D models of terrain surfaces are generated based on coordinate data and the productivity of earthwork. The model has been demonstrated with a case study that was used to validate the model. The 4DVM is intended to assist project planners/construction managers in logical decision making processes for construction scheduling and resource planning. It will also improve the communication gap amongst the construction team and consequently improve site coordination and operations. KEYWORDS Earthwork operations, innovative methodology, road profile generation, schedule communication, 4D visualization model (4DVM)

Effectiveness of 4D construction modeling in detecting time-space conflicts of construction sites

This research investigated whether 4D construction model effectively helps project participants on construction sites in detecting time-space conflicts in the schedule. Previous researchers on construction space management typically modeled space requirements for equipment and paths for material and focused primarily on static or dynamic layout planning. Some researchers regarded time-space conflicts as an essential aspect of construction space management. They demonstrated the use of 4D modules in time-space conflict analysis. Although these 4D prototypes have been successful in tackling time-space conflict analysis, they have been validated with only post-hoc analysis of construction projects. Also, various currently commercially available 4D visualization softwares do not take into account the workspace required during the construction of a component unless space is modeled as a separate component into the CAD application. Therefore, without modeling space as a component in the 3D model it is necessary to assess whether 4D visualization can be effectively used on construction sites to detect time-space conflicts in the schedule. In order to fulfill the research goal an experiment was conducted. A 4D construction model of an ongoing project was developed. Project participants were introduced to two different graphic representations of the schedule; namely, an overlay drawing - the conventional method used on site to detect conflicts and the 4D construction model. Analysis of the results compared the performance of the participants in detecting time-space conflicts in the schedule using the two methods. The experiment produced empirical evidence that a 4D construction model may be effective on construction sites in detecting time-space conflicts in the schedule

4D Building Information Modelling With Augmented Reality on Mobile Devices to Support Construction Management: Applications and key performance criteria from a stakeholder perspective

This research addresses the gap between construction project management and the 3D visualization of construction sequence. Typically project managers use software that presents construction stages as 2D Gantt charts, where the X axis represents time and the Y axis represents the construction activity. These are then typically cross referenced to either 2D or 3D construction drawings. The potential of linking construction sequencing charts and critical paths to Building Information Models is well established. So called ‘4D BIM’ applications such as Synchro enable the linking of three dimensional information and Gantt charts. There is also precedent in virtual reality simulations, such as the AR4BC project by (Woodward, Hakkarainen, & Rainio, 2010) and the desktop VR simulation applications for teaching construction management (Nikolic, 2006). From these and other precedents it is observed that 4D BIM is orientated towards the final stages of design where models are complex and not optimized, while full VR applications are typically not available in practice. Moreover, recent availability of augmented reality applications for mobile devices opens up new ways to integrate 4D BIM into project management. As part of initial discussions with consultants, a mock-up of an AR application running on a tablet that would enable on - site visualization was demonstrated. Given positive feedback, prototype applications were developed using the Unity interactive 3D authoring platform, which provides real time interaction between a Gantt chart and a 3D model. The final AR application uses a plan drawing as the marker and the user can switch between isometric and first person cameras to review construction sequencing, with the aim of identifying potential sequencing issues and / or clashes in the design while on site. The prototype interface and functionality have been evaluated through a series of structured interviews with building industry professionals. The results of these interviews have been analysed and from this, key performance criteria and guidelines for further development have been identified. This thesis illustrates the potential of AR on mobile devices for construction management, documents the design and implementation of a prototype application and articulates issues for further research from the perspective of key building industry stakeholders

Construction safety and digital design: a review

As digital technologies become widely used in designing buildings and infrastructure, questions arise about their impacts on construction safety. This review explores relationships between construction safety and digital design practices with the aim of fostering and directing further research. It surveys state-of-the-art research on databases, virtual reality, geographic information systems, 4D CAD, building information modeling and sensing technologies, finding various digital tools for addressing safety issues in the construction phase, but few tools to support design for construction safety. It also considers a literature on safety critical, digital and design practices that raises a general concern about ‘mindlessness’ in the use of technologies, and has implications for the emerging research agenda around construction safety and digital design. Bringing these strands of literature together suggests new kinds of interventions, such as the development of tools and processes for using digital models to promote mindfulness through multi-party collaboration on safet

Material Thermal Inputs of Iowa Materials for MEPDG, 2011

The thermal properties of concrete materials, such as coeffi cient of thermal expansion (CTE), thermal conductivity, and heat capacity, are required by the MEPDG program as the material inputs for pavement design. However, a limited amount of test data is available on the thermal properties of concrete in Iowa. The default values provided by the MEPDG program may not be suitable for Iowa concrete, since aggregate characteristics have signifi cant infl uence on concrete thermal properties

Using 4D BIM in the Retrofit Process of Social Housing

There is a large stock of solid wall homes in the UK presenting poor thermal insulation and low energy performance. Although the UK Government has supported improvement efforts in the area, the identification of appropriate technical solutions that effectively improve the existing stock remains a challenge. BIM offers opportunities for building performance optimisation, through improved design and simulation. This research investigates how BIM could improve the retrofit process for social housing. This paper describes a research project looking into the use of BIM to develop what-if scenarios for retrofitting existing ’no-fines’ solid wall homes. The scenarios enable the analysis of alternative solutions considering costs, energy performance and user disruption. More specifically, this paper focuses on the use of 4D models to evaluate disruption for end users. The research process includes simulations, meetings, interviews, documents, and observations. Results indicate that the development of 4D BIM models supports a better understanding of the retrofitting process on site, enabling the definition of production processes with as minimal disruption as possible for users, whilst still delivering energy-oriented and cost effective solutions