Integration of building information modelling (BIM) and sensor technology: A review of current developments and future outlooks

© 2018 Association for Computing Machinery. ACM. Building Information Modelling1 (BIM) is revolutionising the practicalities of current construction field, sensor technology is essential for enabling BIM to extend beyond the domain of software into the physical domain of building construction and operation; however, no prior in-depth review has focused on the integration of BIM and sensor technology. This paper provides a brief review to evaluate and clarify the state-of-art for the integration of BIM and sensor technology. A systematic review approach was adopted. The result reveals that although much research has conducted, there are gaps and scope for further work, namely: (a) More consideration of the cost of sensors needs to be taken; (b) More commercial applications should be developed; (c) Higher accuracy of positioning and tracing is needed; (d) More applications in structural design could be expanded

BIM-based surface-specific solar simulation of buildings

Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy is rapidly growing as an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. PV panels can harvest the solar power and turn it into a clean source of electricity. Traditionally, PV panels are only used on the rooftops of buildings. However, with the emergence of building-integrated solar panels in recent years, other surfaces on the building façade can be considered for the installation of PV panels. Given that different panels have different cost and performance profiles, it is of a cardinal importance to properly design the PV panels on the building facades to ensure a maximum benefit-cost ratio. Existing simulation and optimization methods do not discriminate between different types of surfaces of the building and treat the building envelope as a set of polygons. This can result in under- or over- design since there is a strong relationship between the type of the surfaces and the type of PV panels that can be attached to them or integrated with them. The advent of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in recent years has provided a rich platform for object-based evaluation and analysis of buildings. Nonetheless, currently, BIM is not used for a detailed and surface-specific simulation of building surfaces. In this research, a BIM-based method is developed for a detailed simulation of a building envelope using its surface properties. A prototype is developed using Dynamo visual programming platform to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method, and a case study is presented for a building in Montreal, Canada. In the light of the result of the case study, it can be concluded that the proposed method is promising in terms of providing the input for a comprehensive planning of the solar panel layout

Vision and advocacy of optoelectronic technology developments in the AECO sector

Purpose This research presents a literature review of laser scanning and 3D modelling devices, modes of delivery and applications within the architecture, engineering, construction and owner-operated (AECO) sector. Such devices are inextricably linked to modern digital built environment practices, particularly when used in conjunction with as-built building information modelling (BIM) development. The research also reports upon innovative technological advancements (such as machine vision) that coalesce with 3D scanning solutions. Design/methodology/approach A synthesis of literature is used to develop: a hierarchy of the modes of delivery for laser scan devices; a thematic analysis of 3D terrestrial laser scan technology applications; and a componential cross-comparative tabulation of laser scan technology and specifications. Findings Findings reveal that the costly and labour intensive attributes of laser scanning devices have stimulated the development of hybrid automated and intelligent technologies to improve performance. Such developments are set to satisfy the increasing demand for digitisation of both existing and new buildings into BIM. Future work proposed will seek to: review what coalescence of digital technologies will provide an optimal and cost effective solution to accurately reconstructing the digital built environment; conduct case studies that implement hybrid digital solutions in pragmatic facilities management scenarios to measure their performance and user satisfaction; and eliminate manual remodelling tasks (such as point cloud reconstruction) via the use of computational intelligence algorithms integral within cloud based BIM platforms. Originality/value Although laser scanning and 3D modelling have been widely covered en passant within the literature, scant research has conducted an holistic review of the technology, its applications and future developments. This review presents concise and lucid reference guidance that will intellectually challenge, and better inform, both practitioners and researchers

METRIC SURVEY AND BIM TECHNOLOGIES TO RECORD DECAY CONDITIONS

The paper proposes a method able to describe, classify and organize information assets concerned with Architectural Heritage, through the use of integrated survey procedures, mainly based on Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS). The point clouds are then imported into the Building Information Modeling (BIM) software to start with the modeling phase. With regard to this issue, in the last period Building Information Modeling is emerging as the most reliable method to manage architectural design and building processes. Literature supplies both theoretical approaches and several practical applications. However, very little researches are devoted to BIM applied to historical architecture, even if some initial results indicate the actual HBIM (Historic/Heritage BIM) as a possible instrument for the design of an intervention aimed at the conservation of the Cultural Heritage. The focus of the research is the creation of parametric objects representing the preservation status of materials and building components: 3D modeling of decays in the BIM platform ensures to enrich the related database with graphic, geometric and alphanumeric data that can be effectively used to design and manage future interventions. The added value consists in its capability to associate new parameters that describe both the state of conservation of the materials and the detailed description of interventions needed to restore the building. The analyzed case study belongs to Ferrovie dello Stato (the main Italian Railways company) and it is part of the maintenance area, which was originally constituted by a roundhouse containing 51 sheltered railroad tracks and two big sheds

3D Reconstruction of Indoor Corridor Models Using Single Imagery and Video Sequences

In recent years, 3D indoor modeling has gained more attention due to its role in decision-making process of maintaining the status and managing the security of building indoor spaces. In this thesis, the problem of continuous indoor corridor space modeling has been tackled through two approaches. The first approach develops a modeling method based on middle-level perceptual organization. The second approach develops a visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) system with model-based loop closure. In the first approach, the image space was searched for a corridor layout that can be converted into a geometrically accurate 3D model. Manhattan rule assumption was adopted, and indoor corridor layout hypotheses were generated through a random rule-based intersection of image physical line segments and virtual rays of orthogonal vanishing points. Volumetric reasoning, correspondences to physical edges, orientation map and geometric context of an image are all considered for scoring layout hypotheses. This approach provides physically plausible solutions while facing objects or occlusions in a corridor scene. In the second approach, Layout SLAM is introduced. Layout SLAM performs camera localization while maps layout corners and normal point features in 3D space. Here, a new feature matching cost function was proposed considering both local and global context information. In addition, a rotation compensation variable makes Layout SLAM robust against cameras orientation errors accumulations. Moreover, layout model matching of keyframes insures accurate loop closures that prevent miss-association of newly visited landmarks to previously visited scene parts. The comparison of generated single image-based 3D models to ground truth models showed that average ratio differences in widths, heights and lengths were 1.8%, 3.7% and 19.2% respectively. Moreover, Layout SLAM performed with the maximum absolute trajectory error of 2.4m in position and 8.2 degree in orientation for approximately 318m path on RAWSEEDS data set. Loop closing was strongly performed for Layout SLAM and provided 3D indoor corridor layouts with less than 1.05m displacement errors in length and less than 20cm in width and height for approximately 315m path on York University data set. The proposed methods can successfully generate 3D indoor corridor models compared to their major counterpart

Deploying 3D scanning based geometric digital twins during fabrication and assembly in offsite manufacturing

Verifying geometric compliance in offsite manufacturing (OSM) is key for ensuring adequate fit-up, structural integrity, building system performance, and assembly alignment on site. The use of a geometric digital twin (gDT) from 3 D scanning can be used to digitize an assembly to detect and resolve potential problems in a prescient manner. The contribution of this article is the development of a framework for deploying and comparing three distinct gDT approaches for use during fabrication and assembly in OSM: (1) a scan-vs-BIM approach, (2) a scan-to-BIM approach and (3) a parametric BIM updating approach. Results from a commercial building project show that scan-vs-BIM is the most accurate approach, parametric BIM updating produces the most semantically rich gDT, and scan-to-BIM is a middle-tiered option, striking a balance between representational accuracy and semantic enrichment. This study concludes that future research should develop a hybrid solution of these gDT approaches and additional more accurate measurement technologies for optimal deployment in OSM

PBL methodologies: BIM and 3D scanning applied to teaching in construction engineering projects

La creciente necesidad de los egresados universitarios de la educación técnica para lograr una formación integral, completa y actualizada en el uso de las tecnologías actuales y equipos avanzados, así como la adquisición de competencias relacionadas con la capacidad colaborativa y la interrelación entre disciplinas, requiere la revisión de metodologías de enseñanza y aprendizaje a estudiantes universitarios.La presente investigación recoge el estudio realizado en una asignatura de tercer curso del Grado en Edificación de la Universidad de Sevilla, sobre un total de ochenta y dos alumnos, pertenecientes a dos cursos académicos. Implementa un innovador sistema de aprendizaje, aplicando los principios de evaluación continua, fomentando el trabajo colaborativo, la participación en propuestas, y el impacto en su formación derivada de la propia experimentación con equipos tecnológicos avanzados y sistemas BIM (Building Information Modelling) presentes en el trabajo profesional contemporaneo. , con verificación de resultados, siguiendo siempre el método de aprendizaje basado en la resolución de problemas del ABP.Los resultados de este estudio indican que la comprensión e implementación de la metodología BIM y el uso de una herramienta de escaneo 3D, combinados con la metodología basada en el PBL son de gran utilidad para el desarrollo de proyectos en el campo de la ingeniería de edificación . Los datos obtenidos tras las encuestas en relación a la valoración de los alumnos sobre su aprendizaje son muy positivos y una gran mayoría de ellos afirma que tras este curso han aprendido a trabajar colaborativamente, y les ha ayudado a superar el miedo a trabajar con BIM. y herramientas de escaneo 3D

PBL methodologies: BIM and 3D scanning applied to teaching in construction engineering projects

The rising need among university graduates for technical education to achieve comprehensive, complete, and up-to-date training in the use of current technologies and advanced equipment, as well as the acquisition of skills related to collaborative abilities and the interrelationship between disciplines, requires the review of teaching and learning methodologies to university students. The current research includes the study carried out in a third-year subject of the Degree in Building at the University of Seville, on a total of eighty-two students, belonging to two academic years. It implements an innovative learning system, applying the principles of continuous assessment, encouraging collaborative work, participation in proposals, and the impact on their training resulting from their own experimentation with advanced technological equipment and BIM systems (Building Information Modelling) present in contemporary professional work, with verification of results, always following the PBL problem-solving-based learning method. The results of this study indicate that the understanding and implementation of the BIM methodology and the use of a 3D scanning tool, combined with the methodology based on the PBL are very useful for the development of projects in the field of building engineering. The data obtained after the surveys in relation to the students' assessment of their learning are very positive and a large majority of them state that after this course they have learned to work collaboratively, and it has helped them to overcome the fear of working with BIM and 3D scanning tools