Virtual reality-based cloud BIM platform for integrated AEC projects

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has demonstrated the need for integrating collaborative design teams’ “project data”, to not only help coordinate the design, engineering, fabrication, construction, and maintenance of various trades, but also facilitate project integration and interchange. Numerous potential benefits have inspired several countries to consider the implications of implementing BIM Level 3 (Cloud) as an innovative way of further enhancing the design, management and delivery process, ergo - a paradigm shift towards Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). Amongst the myriad of the available innovative approaches, web-based platforms are particularly beneficial for integrating visualisation components to give continuous sharing of relevant information for geographically dispersed end users. This study presents a game environment supported by a web-based Virtual Reality cloud platform for integrated AEC projects. This paper further explains the adapted Unified-Software-Development-Process of specifying this cloud computing platform, which employed iterative phases of Elaboration, Construction and Transition. This study presents new understanding and insight into the causal drivers and influences associated with successful decision-making design in non-collocated design teams. Research findings form a stepping-stone for developing new relationship models in collaborative environments, particularly gaming interfaces

Performance assessment of innovative framing systems through building information modeling based energy simulation

While many residential contractors, architects, and home-buyers today are concerned about the environment and interested in sustainable construction technologies, the perceived higher initial costs of innovative materials and methodologies and a lack of life-cycle cost and performance data present significant barriers in the implementation of such techniques. Research regarding an integrated design process has suggested that performance based decision making is key to the successful implementation of sustainable building practices. Therefore, a need exists for the development of whole building design and evaluation models to allow decision making in all phases of a building project. This research seeks information regarding residential framing systems and the corresponding expected energy performance, as well as to present a case-study utilizing the integration of building information modeling and energy simulation. The primary goals of this research are 1) assess the ability of BIM integrated energy simulation modeling to accurately predict the energy performance of a building and 2) compare the predicted energy performance for four different residential framing systems through the integration of BIM, energy simulation and performance monitoring. These research goals will be accomplished through a case-study approach utilizing the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center’s showcase home, known as the LaHouse, which serves as a display of sustainable construction materials and technologies. This research focuses on the integration of design software Autodesk® Revit Architecture with energy simulation modeling. Models based on the LaHouse were created in Autodesk® Revit Architecture and will be used to simulate the energy utilization of four different framing systems: insulated concrete forms, structural insulated panels, advanced framing and standard framing, all of which were used in the construction of LaHouse. The energy utilization obtained by the performance monitoring systems installed in the LaHouse Garage will be compared with simulation results

Exploring New Directions for the Transformation of the Built Environment in Nigeria: The Role of Building Information Modeling

Building Information Modelling (BIM) offers an alternative and better method of handling information for integrated project delivery approach to that of the traditional fragmented method of collaboration in the built environment. This paper is aimed at assessing the awareness and the prospects of adopting BIM in the professional Architectural practices in Nigeria using Akure as a case study. The rate of urbanisation and transformation of the built environment in the face of globalisation, calls for a new direction in the processing and handling of building information. This is particularly necessary as the current business model is inadequate for maximum productivity. The field investigation focused on determining the current business model of selected Architectural practice as well as assessing their awareness of Building Information Modelling and whether or not professionals are going to adopt it soon. The findings showed that the method of collaboration among professionals remain fragmented, the use of 3D software and even BIM software is limited to just 3D visualization and plan details. The study revealed that despite a good number of respondents already conscious of the benefit of using a BIM tool; their overall approach to project delivery remains fragmented. Awareness of the concept of BIM was a little above average among respondents but BIM implementation in professional practice is very low. It was discovered that challenges faced by respondents in the adoption of BIM is predicated on the attitudinal disposition of other professionals with whom they work and exchange building information with. These professionals do not work with BIM and coupled with inadequate knowledge of staff in the adoption of BIM workflow. The paper concluded that Building Information Modelling (BIM) has greater advantage than the existing traditional practice involving 2D drafting. BIM also has the inherent ability to foster integrated project delivery by creating a common platform for all professionals to work simultaneously on a project thereby minimising costly design and construction errors. Keywords: Architectural practices, Building Information Modelling (BIM), collaboration, construction, urban transformations

The use of BIM for sustainable design in Slovenia

In the following thesis, we discussed aspects of sustainable design in construction. We\ud presented the principles and indicators of sustainable construction, recognized by the\ud profession. We introduced the concept of integrated planning, which is a relatively new\ud approach to designing of the buildings using BIM. Integrated design is embraced in the BIM\ud design itself, as a holistic approach to building construction, as will be described below. We\ud also described how the software actually verifies environmental aspects such as the\ud orientation of the object, the shape of the building, daylight, energy analysis, collecting rain\ud water and materials.\ud In the practical part of the thesis, we first define the location of the building. Accordingly, we\ud adjusted the type of construction, which should be from environmentally friendly materials\ud that are suitable and efficient for use in Slovenia. Wrapping of the buildng and foundations\ud were adapted to wooden supporting structure, we took into account also the size and\ud intended use of the building. Through the programs we have determined the optimum\ud orientation of the object. This was followed by construction of the object in ArchiCAD BIM\ud software program. We have created a building information model, where we performed\ud energy analysis. The results were compared with results which we got out with program\ud called Knaufinsulation Energy. Finally, the analysis of illumination in specific area, we\ud performed in the program called Velux. With this we demonstrated the potential use of\ud computer tools as to assist in the planning of buildings with minimum burden on the\ud environment, and taking into account the user's comfort

Epälineaarinen rakenneanalyysi toiminnallisessa palossa - suunnitteluohjelmien yhteensovittaminen

The design of structures in fire has traditionally been based on ISO standard curves. For more accurate design, methods that simulate the real fires possible for the building in case should be preferred. Natural fire design concept is a collection of this kind of methods presented in literature and used in real construction projects. Natural Fire Design environment (NFD-environment) is a "software toolbox" aimed to integrate computer programs needed for performance-based structural fire safety engineering into one design environment easily accessible for structural engineer using natural fire design methods in real projects. NFD-environment has been developed in co-operation of Ruukki and Tampere University of Technology. Purpose of this master's thesis project was to extend non-linear structural finite element analysis capabilities of the environment by integrating structural analysis software Vulcan into it. Analysing structure with linear finite element method and then reducing the resistance of members and joints according to the temperature reached in fire is a sufficient method, when structure is statically determined. For statically undetermined structures, non-linear finite element analysis is needed. Vulcan, being a special software to analyse structures in fire, is suitable for this kind of analysis. It could be integrated in the design environment by programming data transfer links with the building information modelling software and fire dynamics simulation software used in the NFD-environment. Additional development was made also by creating algorithms to linearise and group temperature curves in order to speed up calculation time. The key result of this thesis is a more advanced planning environment for structures in natural fire. Non-linear finite element analysis makes calculation of statically undetermined structures accurate, and temperature curve processing reduces the calculation time cost of non-linear analysis

BIM and sensor-based data management system for construction safety monitoring

Purpose This research aims to investigate the integration of real-time monitoring of thermal conditions within confined work environments through wireless sensor network (WSN) technology when integrated with building information modelling (BIM). A prototype system entitled confined space monitoring system (CoSMoS), which provides an opportunity to incorporate sensor data for improved visualization through new add-ins to BIM software, was then developed. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was undertaken to compare and contrast between the performances (over a time series) of various database models to find a back-end database storage configuration that best suits the needs of CoSMoS. Findings Fusing BIM data with information streams derived from wireless sensors challenges traditional approaches to data management. These challenges encountered in the prototype system are reported upon and include issues such as hardware/software selection and optimization. Consequently, various database models are explored and tested to find a database storage that best suits the specific needs of this BIM-wireless sensor technology integration. Originality value This work represents the first tranche of research that seeks to deliver a fully integrated and advanced digital built environment solution for automating the management of health and safety issues on construction sites. </jats:sec

An Automated Verification Workflow for Planned Lighting Setups using BIM

The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) methods is becoming more and more established in the planning stage, during the construction, and for the management of buildings. Tailored BIM software packages allow to handle a vast amount of relevant aspects, but have so far not been covering specialized tasks like the evaluation of light distributions in and around a 3D model of a building. To overcome this limitation, we demonstrate the use of the open-source IFC format for preparing and exchanging BIM data to be used in our interactive light simulation system. By exploiting the availability of 3D data and semantic descriptions, it is possible to automatically place measurement surfaces in the 3D scene, and evaluate the suitability and sustainability of a planned lighting design according to given constraints and industry norms. Interactive visualizations for fast analysis of the simulation results, created using state-of-the-art web technologies, are seamlessly integrated in the 3D work environment, helping the lighting designer to quickly improve the initial lighting solution with a few clicks

Forming a unified information platform for managing a life cycle of a building object

The problem of full-fledged information modeling of the life cycle of the construction project and a single view of the object, including the stages of its construction and operation, is very relevant today and does not have a complete solution. The subject of the article: the organization of the software environment for managing the project life cycle processes on an integrated information platform. The article analyzes the main directions of information modeling in the construction industry; a comparative analysis of IT-systems BIM (Building Information Model or Modeling) and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management system) performed; explored the possibilities of modernization of the design environment and the integration of different applications; revealed the functionality of BIM technologies necessary for the development of the programming environment for the life cycle of a building object. The article shows that the most promising way to solve problems is the integration of Western and Russian technologies using the BIM model on the PLM platform. A technological IT platform should be developed that describes a process model based on a single data source with the possibility of effective interaction of all building subsystems and project participants and allows integrating data into third-party systems

On the design, evaluation and performance of an energy efficient solar house with integrated photovoltaics

The design, construction and performance monitoring of an energy efficient house with integrated photovoltaics is considered. Unlike conventional housing, the house design combines energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies into one building structure. The objective of the study was to investigate the feasibility of using energy efficient solar designs to regulate indoor thermal environment, and determine thecost effectiveness and environmental benefits of such housing designs. The use of ordinary photovoltaic panels as a building element for South Africa’s latitude and meteorological conditions was also investigated. The house model was designed using Autodesk Revit architecture and Ecotect building simulation software. Electrical performance was analyzed using RETScreen and PVDesignPRO software. In addition to passive solar design features and clerestory windows, the design has solar water heaters for hot water supply. The designed energy efficient building integrated photovoltaic (EEBIPV) house was built at the University of Fort Hare. A 3.8 kW BIPV generator was mounted on the north facing roof in such a way that the solar panels replace conventional roofing material. A data acquisition system that monitors thermal and electrical performance was installed. The grid independent house has been occupied since February 2009 and its winter indoor thermal efficiency improved from 70 to more than 78% after ceiling installation. Models for indoor thermal performance and BIPV energy and exergy contributions were developed. The avoided energy consumption from the grid has potential to reduce carbon emissions by 12.41 tons per annum. The total building cost per m2 of floor area compares favourably with the cost of commercial middle-to-upper income domestic housing units without energy efficiency measures and building integrated photovoltaics. The research output provides a good framework for the integration of passive solar designs, natural ventilation and lighting, solar water heaters and building integrated photovoltaics into new and existing housing units.Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 201