Experiential Learning of Using Digital Tools in Construction Management Education

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) is gradually reshaping the entire construction industry. It is not an option that skills and abilities in a wide range of digital technologies should be part of the construction management curriculum. The sheer lack of skills and expertise in the shift to digital construction is related to the insufficiency of hands-on activities using various digital tools. This study outlines the experience learning of utilising digital tools in construction management education. The purpose of this article is to investigate the extent to which Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) influences students' perceptions of digital tools. The student association in the construction management programme offered at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) designed and organised a hands-on workshop activity approach to address the issue of lack of proficiency in using digital tools such as Autodesk Revit (BIM system), Microsoft Excel (Quantity Take-Off). The method begins with a basic grasp of digital tools for construction-related applications. Then, step by step, explores the computer interface ribbons, shortcuts, and associated tabs. The proposed method is examined in faculty computer laboratories by employing practical learning for both digital tools (i.e. Revit and Excel) in either creating a three-dimensional (3D) BIM Model or the capacity to calculate material amounts. Based on the assessment results, the strategy helps students master the digital tools and implement such activities in their official course module

BIM in teaching — lessons learned from exploratory study

Building Information Technology bears promise to bring integration into fragmented AEC industry, as well as large potentials for optimization and management of building performance along life cycle. However, the adoption in Central Europe is much slower than in the USA or Scandinavia; the designers and planners are sceptical about BIM benefits. In order to build up capabilities and thus support BIM adoption in the practice, BIM skills have be built up already in university teaching. This endeavour is the central aim of the BIM_sustain project accomplished at the Vienna University of Technology. In winter term 2012/13 and winter term 2013/14 we accomplished interdisciplinary BIM-supported design labs with student participants from architecture, civil engineering and building science. The teams used different modelling and simulation software constellations for building design and analysis. The software-constellations were evaluated in terms of BIMinteroperability, and the design process was documented by means of time and activity assessment, surveys on team performance, process satisfaction and technology acceptance and focus group interviews. In this paper we will present the results of the evaluation of both courses and analyse the differences resulting from the different course design in the two consequent terms. The first course was dominated by the issue of interfaces, whereas the second course, where better functioning software combinations in terms of data transfer were used, was dominated by the issues related to the collaboration and teamwork. Our results are not only informative for the configuration of interdisciplinary BIM-supported university teaching, but can be derived for the practice as well, especially in the areas of project management, software usage, modelling conventions or incentive systems

Towards the integration and automation of the design process for domestic drinking-water and sewerage systems with BIM

The use of building information modelling (BIM) in construction projects is expanding, and its usability throughout building lifecycles, from planning and construction to operation and maintenance, is gaining increasing proof. In the design of domestic drinking-water and sewerage systems (DDWSSs), BIM focuses on coordinating disciplines and their design. Despite studies promoting BIM environments for DDWSSs that take into account the regulatory frameworks of corresponding countries, these efforts do not include the use of parametric tools that enhance the efficiency of the design process. Therefore, engineers still use conventional 2D design, which requires many rounds of iteration, and manual work is also generally still used. In this research, we developed and validated an intuitive methodology for solving a specific DDWSS problem, using a design science research method (DSRM) as an applied science approach. This was addressed by developing an artefact and validating it through two case studies. The obtained solution combines BIM models and parametric tools to automate the manual activities of the traditional design method. This article aims to bring abstract BIM concepts into practice and encourage researchers and engineers to adopt BIM for DDWSSs.This research was funded by Proyecto VRIEA-PUCV, grant number 039.427/2021, and the Grants for the Promotion of Research in the Department of Civil and Building Engineering, UCLM. This research was also funded by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness provided through the research project BIA2013-47290-R, BIA2017-86811-C2-1-R and BIA2017-86811-C2-2-R. All these projects were funded with FEDER funds.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Game-like interactive environment using BIM-Based Virtual Reality for the Timber Frame Self-Build Housing Sector

BIM, gamification, and Virtual Reality applications are more often used to serve the interests of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA). This paper presents a comprehensive study to exploit these technologies’ innovative approaches and capabilities. The study is specifically adopted to implement small and medium-size architectural and construction practices with a limited budget and time dedicated to visualisation creation. The collected evidence proved that a game-like platform combined with BIM could provide simplified data delivery to a client, leading to customer satisfaction, confidence and increased sales. The designed workflow and templates were tested in the case study of a small self-build construction company. The staff was trained to provide BIM data correctly and use supplied game templates. The case study demonstrated that automation of the VR House Configurator creation is achievable. The study’s outcome is an integrated solution to regenerate BIM models in the game environment and utilise the house configurator’s organised furniture library and costing interface. Furthermore, the usability tests confirmed the applicability, practicability, and validity of the developed framework and tools to deal with the revealed challenges in the self-build sector. Finally, the research provided a fresh approach for the companies in the sector, a step-by-step guide for implementing the innovative changes, and detailed descriptions of the methodologies and workflows

Visual pattern recognition as a means to optimising building performance?

Visual pattern recognition as a means to optimising building performance

The effect of building form on cooling load in hot and humid climate

High energy consumption correspondingly starts from an inefficient use of energy. The communities are increasingly concerned towards a better usage of energy for more comfortable life in future. Since past decades the standard of living has improved, people tend to expect a better comfort level which they consider the usage of air conditioning system is a must. The design of a building is required to provide comfort and efficient energy usage. The research objectives are to study the concept and influence of building form and geometry, investigate the cooling load in building space and to explore building form strategies in decreasing the cooling load. The research investigates the development and relationship of basic geometrical building form in lowering cooling load of a medium five-storey building. The manifestation of different thermal behaviour of each basic form was based on different volume, height and surface. The study manipulates the variables in three steps. The first step is the exploration and understanding of basic forms having the same height level, volume and different surface. The second step is investigating further on basic form by having different height levels but same overall volume. The final step explores the same volume, height level and surface area of the geometric forms. The study was conducted using computer simulation analysis program Autodesk Ecotect 2011. The outcome of the research reveals that compact shape and lower ratios of surface to volume result in lower cooling loads. The building with a different floor height but same overall volume shows the effect of lowering the cooling load. The increase number of floor zones will give lower cooling load. Experimentation of the basic forms reveals that an exposed surface area plays a huge role in lowering cooling load. Compact arrangement of spaces in a building also gives impact towards cooling load. The result of simulation model analysis shows the orientation aspect is less significant with 0.5 to 0.6 % difference towards lowering the cooling load compared to the exposed surface area of the form that shows 5 up to 19 % difference of cooling load from each geometry form. This research is significant in helping to accumulate the information regarding building form behaviour. Based on the result, the manipulation of exposed surface of the basic building form will reduce the cooling load

Can the Application of the Visual Programme Tool Dynamo Assist in Streamlining Current COBie Requirements for Design Professionals

information exchange (COBie) is still a misunderstood and miscommunicated topic. Despite the free distribution of supporting information, many errors remain in its practical application. This study explores strengthening COBie design practices, reducing computational expense by data automation and streamlining the workflow process without the need for designer’s total immersion into COBie theory. Synergies between Autodesk Revit and Dynamo BIM were the chosen software utilised to achieve such a goal. A literature review is first employed to provide a current overview from academic and industry sources, with the principles of design science the chosen methodology in the development, implementation and evaluation of a solution orientated research strategy. Data was gathered via questionnaires from eight Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) engineering firms in Ireland who currently have a demand for COBie design deliverables. This paper reports a general lack of awareness for the open source COBie Testing software tool and a misconception as to exact COBie for Design deliverables. Results indicate considerable time saving across separate projects for six COBie parameters identified for streamlining due to inefficient workflows. Testing COBie data was fully verified in accordance with the international standard NBIMS v3 using the COBie Quality Control Reporter, making it compliant for Facilities Management software use

OpenBIM-Tango integrated virtual showroom for offsite manufactured production of self-build housing

As a result of progressive use of BIM in the AEC sector, the amount of diverse project information is increasing rapidly, thus necessitating interoperability of tools, compatibility of data, effective collaboration and sophisticated data management. Media-rich VR and AR environments have been proven to help users better understand design solutions, however, they have not been quite advanced in supporting interoperability and collaboration. Relying on capabilities of openBIM and IFC schema, this study posits that this shortcoming of VR and AR environment could be addressed by use of BIM server concept allowing for concurrent multiuser and low-latency communication between applications. Successful implementation of this concept can ultimately mitigate the need for advanced technical skills for participation in design processes and facilitate the generation of more useful design solutions by early involvement of stakeholders and end-users in decision making. This paper exemplifies a method for integration of BIM data into immersive VR and AR environments, in order to streamline the design process and provide a pared-down agnostic openBIM system with low latency and synchronised concurrent user accessibility that gives the “right information to the right people at the right time”. These concepts have been further demonstrated through development of a prototype for openBIM-Tango integrated virtual showroom for offsite manufactured production of self-build housing. The prototype directly includes BIM models and data from IFC format and interactively presents them to users on both VR immersive and AR environments, including Google Tango enabled devices. This paper contributes by offering innovative and practical solutions for integration of openBIM and VR/AR interfaces, which can address interoperability issues of the AEC industry