The Roots of Bim

Today's architectural and civil engineering design is almost inconceivable without collaborative tools. Build¬ing Information Modeling supports this with a set of collaboratively usable data. The roots of this concept go back in the past, thus the present paper attempts to depict some of the milestones in its evolution

A BIM gyökerei

A mai építészeti és építőmérnöki tervezés szinte elképzelhetetlen együttműködést biztosító eszközök nélkül. Az épületinformáció-modellezés ezt támogatja, együttműködően alkalmazható adatok halmazával. E fogalom gyökerei a múltba nyúlnak vissza, erről próbál néhány mérföldkövet ismertetni jelen kutatás

A Research Review on Building Information Modeling in Construction―An Area Ripe for IS Research

This article presents a review of the research on Building Information Modeling (BIM) in construction, with the aim of identifying areas in this domain where IS research can contribute. The concept of BIM comprises an infrastructure of IT tools supporting collaborative and integrated design, assembly, and operation of buildings. This integrated construction approach, with all stakeholders editing or retrieving information from commonly shared models, requires major changes to well-established processes, organizational roles, contractual practices, and collaborative arrangements in the construction industry. Through a review of 264 research articles on BIM, we found that this research spans a wide area of technological and organizational topics, of which many have a clear resonance to focal areas in IS research. Our analysis shows that IS, to some extent, serves as a reference discipline and that theories used in IS research are also informing contemporary BIM research. The following areas in need of further IS research were identified: studies on the relationship between BIM’s functional affordance and human agency, adoption and use of BIM for inter-organizational collaboration, the influence of organizational culture on BIM practices, the capabilities of BIM for transforming industry practice, and identifying the business value of BIM. Considering that a well-established knowledge base in IS research can be drawn upon for studying these issues, combined with the exciting potential of BIM for transforming a major industry such as building construction, we conclude that BIM is an area ripe for IS research

Moving e-governance beyond borders: analysis of cross-border cooperation between Estonia and Finland

This thesis aims to analyse contemporary cross-border cooperation in the field of public sector digitalisation and e-governance. Using Estonia and Finland as exemplary examples of state digitalisation cases, the study adds to the existing literature on e-governance. Furthermore, it considers the emerging need for cross-border interoperability in government solutions. The central research questions of collaboration, interdependence and digitalisation image are supplemented with the recent developments in politics as well as inside the European Union. Research input provided by current and former public officials has led to the concluding analysis. Despite the success stories of both countries in digitalisation, the current cross-border collaboration requires further structure and political will in becoming the exemplary cross-border model for others to follow.https://www.ester.ee/record=b5439316*es

A knowledge management system to optimise comfort throughout the building life-cycle

Comfort is, in essence, satisfaction with the environment, and with respect to the indoor environment it is primarily satisfaction with the thermal conditions and air quality. Improving comfort has social, health and economic benefits, and is more financially significant than any other building cost. Despite this, comfort is not strictly managed throughout the building lifecycle. This is mainly due to the lack of an appropriate system to adequately manage comfort knowledge through the construction process into operation. Previous proposals to improve knowledge management have not been successfully adopted by the construction industry. To address this, the BabySteps approach was devised. BabySteps is an approach, proposed by this research, which states that for an innovation to be adopted into the industry it must be implementable through a number of small changes. This research proposes that improving the management of comfort knowledge will improve comfort. ComMet is a new methodology proposed by this research that manages comfort knowledge. It enables comfort knowledge to be captured, stored and accessed throughout the building life-cycle and so allowing it to be re-used in future stages of the building project and in future projects. It does this using the following: Comfort Performances – These are simplified numerical representations of the comfort of the indoor environment. Comfort Performances quantify the comfort at each stage of the building life-cycle using standard comfort metrics. Comfort Ratings - These are a means of classifying the comfort conditions of the indoor environment according to an appropriate standard. Comfort Ratings are generated by comparing different Comfort Performances. Comfort Ratings provide additional information relating to the comfort conditions of the indoor environment, which is not readily determined from the individual Comfort Performances. Comfort History – This is a continuous descriptive record of the comfort throughout the project, with a focus on documenting the items and activities, proposed and implemented, which could potentially affect comfort. Each aspect of the Comfort History is linked to the relevant comfort entity it references. These three components create a comprehensive record of the comfort throughout the building lifecycle. They are then stored and made available in a common format in a central location which allows them to be re-used ad infinitum. The LCMS System was developed to implement the ComMet methodology. It uses current and emerging technologies to capture, store and allow easy access to comfort knowledge as specified by ComMet. LCMS is an IT system that is a combination of the following six components: Building Standards; Modelling & Simulation; Physical Measurement through the specially developed Egg-Whisk (Wireless Sensor) Network; Data Manipulation; Information Recording; Knowledge Storage and Access.Results from a test case application of the LCMS system - an existing office room at a research facility - highlighted that while some aspects of comfort were being maintained, the building’s environment was not in compliance with the acceptable levels as stipulated by the relevant building standards. The implementation of ComMet, through LCMS, demonstrates how comfort, typically only considered during early design, can be measured and managed appropriately through systematic application of the methodology as means of ensuring a healthy internal environment in the building

Knowledge interaction between manufacturers and research organisations for building product innovations: an exploratory case study

This thesis adds to research on construction innovation through exploring and describing knowledge interaction between product manufacturers and research organizations. A few publications deals with manufacturers’ innovation activities on their own terms, although products are broadly recognised to have major impacts on the performance of the entire built environment. The research was conducted in a multilevel theoretical framework integrating the perspectives of systems of innovation, knowledge processes in manufacturing industries and knowledge interaction between companies and public research organizations. Ten product innovations were selected for a multiple case study. Cross-case synthesis was applied as the analysis technique of qualitative research data. The main themes in exploring and describing the knowledge interaction were found as to be a) development and use of research-based knowledge in product innovations, b) accumulation and diffusion of research-based knowledge and b) context and channels of knowledge interaction. The principal motivation for the knowledge interaction was found to be the need to know how a novel product would perform in its intended use in buildings, and how it should be designed and manufactured to meet the overall requirements. The regulations to design and use novel products were, however, often developed in parallel or after a technical invention. The objectives of joint innovation activities also reflected also the market expectations and governmental strategies. The thesis thus emphasized the dynamics of relationships between institutions and various actors within a system of construction innovation. A system of construction innovation is, however, not sufficient to uncover all the aspects of the knowledge interaction and even less the context of manufacturers’ innovation activities. This is due to the division of the real estate and construction sector into competing value chains that exist in accord with basic framing materials. Manufacturers have ties to basic industries that are also important sources of product innovations. The industrial associations reflect this situation, as well as specialization of research and education. As a conclusion, approaches to the technology innovation systems were proposed for further research. The research identified similarities between the innovation processes of building product manufacturers and those of other manufacturing sectors. It is noteworthy however, that innovation activities were organised in several cases according to principles of concurrent engineering already decades ago. It was also observed that relationships between research and practice are of mutual benefit

Pictorial characterization of eight coleoptera families with forensic interest

Tese de mestrado, Biologia Humana e Ambiente, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2016Desde tempos remotos, os insetos têm suscitado um interesse no ser humano, o que se pode confirmar através da observação de artefactos de civilizações antigas como os Egípcios, Chineses, Maias e Aztecas. Estas obras de arte, como pinturas e esculturas, frequentemente associavam determinados insetos não só à morte mas também à reincarnação e vida pós-morte. A aplicação de conhecimentos entomológicos em investigações criminais tem uma história bastante extensa e bem documentada. Começando no primeiro caso registado da aplicação da entomologia na resolução de um homicídio na China Medieval, a utilização desta ciência como uma ferramenta forense tem vindo a percorrer um longo caminho repleto de contribuições científicas provenientes dos quatro cantos do mundo. No entanto, foi a investigação do homicídio de um recém-nascido em França no final do século XVII que marcou o início da entomologia forense moderna e que contribuiu para a publicação da notável obra de Mégnin “La Faune des Cadavres: Application de l’Entomologie à la Médicine Légale”. A partir de então, esta ferramenta forense foi desenvolvida principalmente através de contribuições de investigações científicas durante os anos das grandes guerras e a sua completa aceitação só foi possível devido ao trabalho conjunto de académicos e forças de segurança. Os insetos podem fornecer importantes informações em investigações forenses não só em casos de homicídios como também em casos de negligência tanto de seres humanos como de animais domésticos ou selvagens, por exemplo, em jardins zoológicos. Adicionalmente, numa área complementar designada entomotoxicologia, conjugam-se os conhecimentos da entomologia e da toxicologia para responder a diversas questões, como a possibilidade da presença de substâncias tóxicas no cadáver, em casos de homicídio, suicídio ou mortes acidentais. A entomologia forense pode igualmente ser utilizada em casos de investigação de pragas tanto num âmbito imobiliário como alimentar. Contudo, a utilização dos conhecimentos entomológicos em investigações de homicídios é, possivelmente, a mais mediatizada, principalmente pelos meios de comunicação social e cinematográficos. Uma vez que contribuem para a decomposição do cadáver, os insetos constituem evidências cruciais. Assim sendo, quando é descoberto um cadáver, os insetos possibilitam o conhecimento de diversos parâmetros que, em certos casos, seriam impossíveis de descobrir utilizando outros campos do saber, nomeadamente as técnicas médico-legais, como é o caso da temperatura corporal. Os insetos que colonizam o cadáver permitem não só estimar o intervalo pós-morte (IPM) através dos seus padrões de desenvolvimento e sucessão, como também poderão auxiliar na descoberta do local do crime primário nos casos em que há a suspeita de que o cadáver foi movido postmortem. Contudo, a primeira grande etapa é a recolha, no local do crime, de todos os vestígios entomológicos e sua correta identificação. No entanto, este potencial forense dos insetos só pode ser totalmente reconhecido se se realizarem extensos estudos a fim de compreender melhor não só a sua biologia e funcionamento enquanto seres vivos, como também a sua bioecologia, ou seja, as interações que estes realizam com o meio à sua volta. Contudo, a aplicação de tais estudos a investigações é um processo que necessita de ser realizado com caução uma vez que, estando distribuídos globalmente, os insetos apresentam diferenças de comportamento. Adicionalmente, existem fatores que são relevantes e que necessitam de uma cuidada análise, como é o caso das condições meteorológicas. Sabe-se que a temperatura e humidade são importantes fatores que determinam a velocidade de desenvolvimento dos insetos. O processo de decomposição, apesar de ser uma ocorrência contínua no tempo, pode ser dividido em fases que são marcadas por diferenças significativas que ocorrem no cadáver. Esta divisão, que facilita a sua análise, é, por vezes, realizada diferentemente consoante o investigador mas, frequentemente, considera-se que todo o processo de decomposição é composto por cinco fases diferentes: fase fresca, fase de inchaço, fase de decomposição ativa, fase de decomposição avançada e, por fim, a fase seca. Estas etapas são frequentemente protagonizadas por um conjunto de fauna entomológica que auxilia a investigação e que, nos casos em que a morte ocorreu há mais de 72 horas, tornam-se evidências cruciais. Apesar de muitos insetos visitarem cadáveres em decomposição, as ordens que mais relevância têm no âmbito da entomologia forense são a Diptera (moscas) e a Coleoptera (escaravelhos). As moscas são conhecidas por serem os primeiros colonizadores de cadáveres e são, sem dúvida, as mais utilizadas em casos em que conhecimentos de entomologia forense são requeridos. Ao chegarem ao cadáver, depositam os seus ovos que, após eclodirem, originam larvas que se vão alimentar dos tecidos em decomposição. Estas passam por várias fases larvares, demarcadas pelas diferenças em tamanho, e, quando prontas, pupam por um período variável de tempo. Quando completo o processo de metamorfose dentro da câmara de pupação, adultos emergem, prontos para iniciar um novo ciclo. Uma das técnicas mais utilizadas em entomologia forense é a utilização das fases de desenvolvimento larvar das moscas para a estimativa do IPM. Este método tem, no entanto, uma série de condicionantes que necessitam de cuidada atenção, como é o caso da temperatura e humidade a que as larvas estão expostas. Estas variáveis podem alterar significativamente o tempo de desenvolvimento uma vez que estes insetos são poiquilotérmicos, condicionando assim a estimativa do IPM. Outro método utilizado para estimar o IPM é a sucessão entomológica de insetos no cadáver. Sabendo que diferentes fases de decomposição atraem diferentes espécies de insetos, a utilização deste padrão único de sucessão pode ser bastante útil, especialmente em casos em que o IPM é mais longo. O trabalho pioneiro de Mégnin, que descreveu a existência de oito ondas de colonização de cadáveres ao longo das cinco fases de decomposição, é ainda nos dias de hoje, amplamente referido quando se utiliza esta técnica. Em casos em que é necessário utilizar estes conhecimentos o cadáver já se encontra, frequentemente, em estados de decomposição mais avançados e as moscas deixaram de ser os seus principais colonizadores, passando a ser os escaravelhos os artrópodes mais relevantes. Apesar de poderem estar presentes nas fases iniciais de decomposição (frequentemente como predadores de fases larvares de outros insetos), os escaravelhos encontram-se mais associados a fases tardias deste processo e, muitas vezes, as únicas evidências entomológicas em casos nas quais a morte ocorreu há meses ou até anos. Apesar de ser uma ferramenta válida e estabelecida no âmbito das ciências forenses, a entomologia forense é ainda pouco utilizada em Portugal. No entanto, a realização de estudos científicos cujo principal objetivo é a compreensão das interações entre insetos e cadáveres tem sido uma importante contribuição para o desenvolvimento desta ciência em Portugal. Este estudo centra-se em oito famílias de coleópteros presentes em Portugal, fortemente relacionadas com casos de entomologia forense: Carabidae, Cleridae, Dermestidae, Histeridae, Nitidulidae, Scarabaeidae, Silphidae e Staphylinidae. O seu principal objetivo é utilizar imagens para caracterizar morfologicamente as espécies mais representativas dessas famílias. Para tal, foram utilizados espécimes previamente capturados em armadilhas com isco ou em carcaças de animais provenientes de diversas zonas de Portugal: Serra da Estrela, Sertã, Campo Grande e Aroeira. Estes espécimes foram recolhidos utilizando armadilhas do tipo “pitfall” e “malaise” e, após a sua captura., preservados em álcool 70%. Seguidamente, montaram-se os exemplares em alfinetes entomológicos e procedeu-se à sua observação utilizando um estereomicroscópio. Com o auxílio de chaves dicotómicas e galerias fotográficas, procedeu-se à sua identificação e seleção de características diagnosticantes que foram posteriormente fotografados num segundo estereomicroscópio com melhor definição. O registo fotográfico obtido foi então utilizado para a construção de chaves pictóricas interativas e caracterizações fotográficas, disponíveis online (www.csicoleoptera.weebly.com). Esta é uma importante ferramenta de auxílio em investigações com os mais variados quesitos uma vez que permitirá uma fácil e rápida identificação de grupos relevantes por técnicos forenses sem experiência em entomologia.Since ancient times, humans have shown a unique interest in insects, which can be seen in artworks of ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Chinese, Mayans and Aztecs. These works of art, like paintings and sculptures, often associate certain insects not only with death but also with the reincarnation and afterlife. Despite of the fact that criminal investigations arouse the most curiosity within the scope of forensic entomology, this science can be used to deal with a wide range of other investigations. Neglect cases in civil investigations are also known to use this tool to answer several questions. Another known and well developed area is the entomology of stored products. In the last years, the union of toxicology and entomology created another field of work within forensic entomology: entomotoxicology. This recent tool is very useful to know if, at the time of death, toxic substances were present in the body. Insects can provide significant information in death investigations because of their contribution to corpse decomposition. As so, if a dead body is discovered, insects can help in the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI). However, to apply entomological knowledge to criminal investigations is essential not only to have information regarding insects’ bioecology that is valid for the geographic place where the body was found but also to accomplish an accurate identification of the species found on the corpse. The focus of this study lies in eight Coleoptera families present in Portugal, strongly related to forensic entomology cases: Carabidae, Cleridae, Dermestidae, Histeridae, Nitidulidae, Scarabaeidae, Silphidae and Staphylinidae. Its main goal is to use pictures to characterize morphologically the most representative genus and species belonging to these families using specimens previously caught in baited traps or on animal carcasses. To proceed with this analysis, the diagnostic structures of the specimens are described and photographed using optical microscopy and the data obtained was used to build pictorial interactive keys and characterizations, available online (www.csicoleoptera. weebly.com). This will allow an easy identification of relevant groups for forensic technicians without expertise in entomology

Financing sustainable cities in South Africa

Although directives exist with respect to promoting sustainable development, financial strategies to cater for collective sustainable development, along with an increasing population, need to be formulated relevant to metropolitan and urban areas. This study determined the infrastructure investment basis of a sustainable city to investigate various funding mechanisms resulting in the design of a model for the financing of sustainable cities. For the study, first the various infrastructure investment alternatives were established from the literature, and thirteen themes and their relevant interventions were identified. Tangible and intangible methods of assessment were then identified as ways to calculate the acceptability of an intervention. A case study based on a hypothetical city was developed to determine the infrastructure investment base. Initially, only one intervention of a theme was populated and then confirmed by city development experts. Thereafter, all the themes were populated, and the acceptability of the interventions were determined. This provided an overview of the investment base of a sustainable city. The investment base facilitated deriving applicable tools and instruments to finance it. As a result, possible finance alternatives were derived for each of the identified themes. Although most of the financing of sustainable cities revolved around public sector finance, the private sector also played an important role for the financing of sustainable cities. Based on the investment base for sustainable cities and the resultant financing thereof, a model for the financing of sustainable cities was developed. The model consisted of four components. Firstly, the model included an application of financing tools and instruments relevant to the identified themes of sustainable city development. Secondly, the model included the application of financing tools and instruments with respect to an immediate interventionist focus, a facilitative focus, a gradual intervention and an enabling intervention. Thirdly, the model included financing tools and instrument types in terms of incentive, opportunity, punitive and mandatory interventions. Fourthly, the model included the application of financing tools and instruments with respect to scale in terms of a city-wide application, sector-wide application, urban application or suburban application. In addition, the model included the application of financing tools and instruments and their relation to addressing poverty within the city context. Although the public sector will always remain the key initiator behind infrastructure development, various mechanisms of financing, along with applicable financing partners and the basis of investment, are required to address future sustainable cities. This study may potentially form the basis of that platform

Rakentamisen määrätietojen hallinta tietomallihankkeessa

For several decades the construction industry has been developing building information models in various research projects. This research concentrates on examining the utilization of the building information modeling in quantity take-off. Previous studies have covered this at relatively general level and there is no detailed scientific knowledge about utilization of the building information modeling in quantity take-off. The goal of this study is to record the quantitative data from the quantity take-off implementation, which the results are based on.The construction information technology works as a main theoretical framework for this study. The motivation for this study is based on several years of observations made in building projects, where quantity information was produced repetitively during the construction process. The study examines two hypotheses: the building information modeling techniques can be used to reduce overlapping work in quantity take-off and standardized practices can serve the practical needs in a verified manner so that the duplicate work is reduced.This research uses a case-study method to approach real world problems. A case study is descriptive and explanatory in nature. The theoretical starting points are examined through literature, research, data models and quantity take-off instructions. In the empirical part residential building projects are used as case subjects. The empirical part has three point of views: quantity take-off solutions, quantity take-off processes and the procurement quantity take-off. In quantity take-off part the data was collected from 20 construction projects and procurement quantity take-off part had three case projects. In this research the building information models are considered to be a tool to produce quantity information to different stakeholders in the construction project. Software specific technical details are not included to the themes for the research. A specific building object (drywall) was used as an example object of the quantity take-off process.In the empirical part was observed that the quantity estimation work was reduced over 50% when using the building information model tools compared to an approach without any building model tools. This result is achieved for the example object and for the whole building the quantity take-off time can be reduced 20%.The study presents an operating model: transparent quantity take-off management (LMH), which connects the cognitive needs of the quantity takeoff and data modeling tools to a mutually supportive entity. The purpose of the LMH is to improve the utilization of the data model quantity information in quantity take-off process and also in other construction processes.Further studies are needed to investigate how throughout procurement phase the actual bill of materials can be integrated to the quantity data present in the data models. Additionally better integration mechanisms should be developed to transfer the quantity data of digital building models between different software packages.Jo useampien vuosikymmenten ajan tietomallintamista ja tietomalleja on tutkittu ja kehitetty rakennusalan eri tutkimushankkeissa. Tämä tutkimus syventyy tarkastelemaan tietomallin hyödyntämistä määrätiedon tuottamisessa. Aikaisemmat tutkimustulokset selittävät tätä suhteellisen yleisellä tasolla eikä meillä täten ole tutkimusperusteista yksityiskohtaista tietoa tietomallien hyödyntämisestä määrätietojen tuottamiseen. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on tuottaa kvantitatiivista dataa ja ymmärrystä määrälaskennan toteutuksesta eri toimintatavoilla, jossa päämielenkiinnon kohteena on tietomallien hyödyntäminen.Rakentamisen tietotekniikka on tämän tutkimuksen pääasiallinen teoreettinen viitekehys. Tutkimuksen motiivina on useiden vuosien aikana käytännön kohteista tehdyt havainnot, joissa määrätietoja tuotettiin monta kertaa uudestaan rakentamisprosessin aikana. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan kahta hypoteesia: tietomallin avulla voidaan vähentää päällekkäistä työtä määrätiedon tuottamisessa sekä vakioidut toimintatavat voivat palvella käytännön tarpeita todennetulla tavalla niin että päällekkäinen työ vähenee.Tutkimus on tyypiltään case-tutkimus ja se on luonteeltaan selittävää ja kuvailevaa. Tutkimuksen teoreettisia lähtökohtia tarkastellaan kirjallisuuden, tutkimusten ja tietomalli- sekä määrälaskentaohjeistuksien kautta. Empiirisessä osassa case-kohteina käytettiin asuinkerrostalohankkeita. Tutkimuksen empiirisessä osuudessa on kolme näkökulmaa: määrälaskennan ratkaisut, määrälaskennan toimintatavat ja rakennustuotantoa palvelevan hankintamäärätiedon tuottaminen. Määrälaskennan empiirisessä osassa aineistona käytettiin 20 case-hanketta ja rakennustuotantoa palvelevassa hankintamäärätiedon osassa caseina oli kolme hanketta. Tietomallia käsitellään tässä tutkimuksessa työkaluna. Tutkimuksessa ei raportoida ohjelmistoteknisiä yksityiskohtia. Tutkimuskohteena käytetään yhtä rakennusosaa, joka on kevyt metallirankainen levyväliseinä.Tutkimuksen empiirisessä osassa havaittiin, että työtehtävien välillä tehtävää päällekkäistä työtä on noin 30 - 80 % prosenttia. Työmäärä on säästettävissä hyödyntämällä tietomallia määrätiedon tuottamisessa sekä sillä, että tuotannon materiaalihankintavaiheessa ei tarvitse enää tehdä määrämittaustyötä. Lisäksi tuloksissa esitetään, että määrälaskennan kokonaisaika yhdessä rakennushankkeessa vähentyisi noin 20 %.Tutkimuksessa esitetään toimintamalli, läpinäkyvä määrätiedonhallinta (LMH), joka yhdistää määrätiedon tuottamisen tiedolliset tarpeet sekä tietomallin työkaluna toisiaan tukevaksi kokonaisuudeksi. LMH:n tarkoituksena on parantaa tietomallista tuotetun määrätiedon hyödyntämistä osana reaalimaailman määrälaskentaprosessia sekä tuotetun määrätiedon suoraa jatkohyödyntämistä rakentamisen eri prosesseissa.Lisätutkimusta tarvitaan siitä, miten tuotannon hankintavaiheen materiaalimäärät saadaan tietoteknisesti integroitua tietomallista saatavaan määrätietoon. Lisäksi tulisi tutkia ja kehittää tietomalleissa olevan määrätiedon siirtymistä automatisoidummin koneluettavasti eri ohjelmistojen välillä