An ontological approach for a recommendation system of a requirement tool: the case of a national standard framework for hospital design

There is a need to facilitate cross-project learning in hospital projects. To do this, the Swedish national healthcare project frame and database, PTS (Program for Technical Standard), has been created to provide a framework for Swedish regions when conducting hospital projects. However, the fragmented information currently available and overall structure makes it difficult to embed knowledge and requirements for cross-project learning. In this paper we use an ontological framework to review the current structure of PTS and also propose a conceptual information-structure for machine readable functional and spatial requirements that can be utilized in a recommendation system for hospital room layout

Effectiveness of Virtual Team for Improving Communication Breakdown in IBS Project Delivery Process

Technological innovation and globalization force the organizations collaborate across time, culture, and geographical boundaries. It becomes one of the ordinary practices to the construction sector and has given rise to the concept of global teams known as a virtual team. Virtual team drives by advance technology to solve the communication issues and perceived as an effective, efficient, and creative team structure. Effective communication is an essential process to develop project success in the construction Industrialised Building System (IBS) project. However the implication of the fragmented approach in the IBS project development process was reflected in the lack of communication between multidisciplinary project teams cause various problem such as lower performance and a higher turnover of staff. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the effects of communication, subject to different project stage and to identify the key factors to enhance virtual team communication processes between the practitioners

Client's presence during design. A study on roles, practice and visual management

From earlier studies we know that communication between clients and the design team can be difficult and needs and wishes of the client are not always understood. Studies related to integrated design processes, cooperative work approaches and collocation support a better cooperation between the client and the design team. Furthermore, visualisation is known for being supportive of sharing information and knowledge embedded in practice. The aim of this article is to explore how the physical presence of the client and application of visual means influence practices for sharing information and collaboration toward realizing the client’s needs and wishes in the final design. The research applies a multiple case study of three qualitative cases in an Integrated Design Team (IDT) setting. All three cases were followed throughout the entire design process, where the design teams were semi-collocated. Based on empirical data we found the following: (1) the physical presence of the client in a IDT environment influences (i) the relationship between the client and the IDT, (ii) and the client's role towards being an active member during the design process. (2) The client applies a traditional way of sharing their information in contrast to the work practice and potential for visualization within the IDT (3) There exists potential for increasing the use of visual means and possibilities of visual management to enable the understanding of the client’s needs and wishes in an IDT

Critical success factors of collaborative approach in delivering sustainable construction

The essential aspect of sustainability in construction lead the complexities and involvement of multi parties in the construction project as well as its process. Conflicts of interests may appear in the process. Collaborative approach is essential for supporting decision making in delivering sustainable construction. This research identifies the collaboration critical factors. Scatter plot of mean and standard deviation analysis is done to rank the criticality of each collaboration factors in delivering sustainable construction. Eventually, factor analysis is done to identify the similarities between all the factors. There are twelve (12) factors identified from previous studies. Among all the collaboration factors, coordination among project stakeholders is identified as the most critical in delivering sustainable construction and followed by sharing responsibilities and mutual support. Based from factor analysis, five new factors of collaborative approach have been found

Requirements Management Interface to Building Product Models

In current AEC practice client requirements are typically recorded in a building program, which, depending on the building type, covers various aspects from the overall goals, activities and spatial needs to very detailed material and condition requirements. This documentation is used as the starting point of the design process, but as the design progresses, it is usually left aside and changes are made incrementally based on the previous design solution. These incremental small changes can lead to a solution that may no longer meet the original requirements. In addition, design is by nature an iterative process and the proposed solutions often also cause evolution in the client requirements. However, the requirements documentation is usually not updated accordingly. Finding the latest updates and evolution of the requirements from the documentation is very difficult, if not impossible. This process can lead to an end result, which is significantly different from the documented requirements. Some important requirements may not be satisfied, and even if the design process was based on agreed-upon changes in the scope and requirements, differences in the requirements documents and in the completed building can lead to well-justified doubts about the quality of the design and construction process..

Association of Researchers in Construction Management

From earlier studies we know that communication between clients and the design team can be difficult and needs and wishes of the client are not always understood. Studies related to integrated design processes, cooperative work approaches and collocation support a better cooperation between the client and the design team. Furthermore, visualisation is known for being supportive of sharing information and knowledge embedded in practice. The aim of this article is to explore how the physical presence of the client and application of visual means influence practices for sharing information and collaboration toward realizing the client's needs and wishes in the final design. The research applies a multiple case study of three qualitative cases in an Integrated Design Team (IDT) setting. All three cases were followed throughout the entire design process, where the design teams were semi-collocated. Based on empirical data we found the following: (1) the physical presence of the client in a IDT environment influences (i) the relationship between the client and the IDT, (ii) and the client's role towards being an active member during the design process

EVALUATION OF EXTREME COLLABORATION WITH BIM MODELING FOR THE TEACHING OF BUILDING PROJECTS

La modelación de información de edificios (BIM) ha emergido como una plataforma digital para proyectos de edificación, que pretende facilitar la cooperación entre especialidades. Por otro lado, la colaboración extrema es una metodología surgida en la industria aeroespacial y orientada al trabajo conjunto entre profesionales. Este artículo presenta una iniciativa experimental con estudiantes de Arquitectura e Ingeniería, destinada a evaluar las capacidades de modelación cooperativa en la enseñanza de proyectos de edificación. Lo anterior se llevó a cabo mediante el desarrollo intensivo de un pabellón de exhibición de automóviles por un grupo de alumnos de distintas carreras trabajando en el mismo lugar; elaborando el diseño y presentación de arquitectura, estructura, instalaciones eléctricas análisis energético-ambiental, y presupuesto de construcción. El trabajo fue ejecutado en cuatro sesiones, con una reunión inicial y final; en una sala con un mesón central, computadores en red, programas BIM y pantallas perimetrales. Se realizaron cuestionarios de entrada y salida, y entrevistas a los participantes, además de análisis del proceso con investigadores y expertos. La experiencia demostró alta efectividad en la producción y desarrollo del proyecto, aunque con tensiones grupales y limitaciones de diseño. Los estudiantes valoraron el trabajo colaborativo, y sugirieron trabajar de manera desfasada algunas especialidades y designar un encargado de la coordinación del proceso, así como definir mayormente resultados esperados y operación conjunta. Por lo que se sugiere aplicar estas condiciones para desarrollar modelación BIM con colaboración entre especialistas en los proyectos de edificación. Palabras Clave: Diseño integrado, enseñanza colaborativa, modelación de información en edifcios.Building information modeling (BIM) has emerged as a digital platform for building projects, which facilitates cooperation between specialties. On the other hand, extreme collaboration is a methodology, arising in the aerospace industry, for joint work among professionals. This article presents an experimental initiative with Architecture and Engineering students to evaluate these capabilities in building projects. This was done by means of an intensive development of a car exhibition pavilion; elaborating the design and presentation of architecture, structure, electrical installations, energy-environmental analysis, and construction budget. The work was carried out in four sessions, with an initial and final meeting; in a room with a central desk, network computers, BIM programs, and perimeter screens. Input and output questionnaires were carried out, as well as interviews with the participants, and analysis of the process with researchers and experts. The experience demonstrated high effectiveness in the production and development of the project, although with group tensions and design limitations. The collaborative work was valued primarily, suggesting the outdated programming of some specialties and coordination of the process, as well as defining mostly expected results and joint operation. Therefore, it is suggested to apply these conditions to integrate BIM modeling with collaboration between building project specialists. Keywords: Integrated design, collaborative teaching, building information modelling

Un enfoque basado en ontología para la gestión integrada del medio ambiente y de la seguridad y la salud en obra

Article publicat originalment a "Revista ingeniería de construcción", vol. 27, núm. 3, Desembre 2012, p. 103-127. ISSN 0716 - 2952. http://www.ricuc.cl/index.php/ric/article/view/417/pdfEste artículo tiene como objetivo favorecer la implementación de sistemas integrados de gestión ambiental y de seguridad salud en empresas constructoras, centrándose en el subsistema de control de los impactos ambientales y los riesgos de seguridad y salud en obra. La gran compatibilidad que presentan los requerimientos vinculados al control operacional establecidos en la normas ISO 14001:2004 y OHSAS 18001:2007 así como las interacciones existentes entre impactos ambientales y riesgos de seguridad y salud (Gangolells et al., 2009, Gangolells et al., 2010) han motivado el desarrollo de una ontología que permite construir un modelo integrado para el control operacional en obras de construcción. La aproximación desarrollada está fuertemente influenciada por la metodología de Noy y McGuiness (2001) y modela los conceptos clave y las relaciones del dominio de forma estructurada, extensibe, flexible, reutilizable y compartible. Esta aproximación basada en ontologías ha sido implementada mediante Protégé 3.4 beta y correctamente evaluada utilizando cuestiones de competencia, verificaciones internas y entrevistas de validación con expertos. Este artículo desarrolla la primera aproximación que permite representar, compartir, reutilizar y gestionar el conocimiento relacionado con el control operacional integrado en obra de las incidencias medioambientales y de seguridad y salud y sienta las bases para poder superar la mayoría de las barreras que las empresas constructoras deben afrontar durante el proceso de implementación de un sistema de gestión integrada.Postprint (published version