Exploiting automated technologies for reduction of rework in construction housing supply chain

Housing has been experiencing significant rework within the supply chain. Rework has afflicted both cost and schedule of projects due to the complex environment, intricate activities and highly fragmented nature of housing supply chain. Housing supply chain generate immense data and share information with different parties, which contribute to multitude of countless challenges. As a result of rework, productivity and workflow of information in construction supply chain has been affected with a catalogue of problems for the past few decades. Automation in construction supply chain with novel technological and analytical strategies has aspired industry to improve the productivity and change the trajectory of traditional, manual and analogue way of processing. The aim of this study is to explore possible opportunities of employing new technologies and challenges involved in utilising automated technologies for minimising rework in housing supply chain. The research methodology is based on a review of literature to investigate automated technologies to eliminate rework in housing supply chain. A conceptual framework is proposed to determine the suitability of various technologies to fully automate housing supply chain and facilitate the reduction of rework in construction housing supply chain. All rights are reserved for Diamond Congress Ltd., Budapest, Hungary, except the right of the authors to (re)publish their materials wherever they decide. This book is a working material for the Creative Construction Conference 201

Developing a Virtual Reality- and Lean-based Training Platform for Productivity Improvement of Scaffolding Installation in Liquefied Natural Gas Industry

This thesis aims to integrate lean and work postures to simultaneously improve productivity and health and safety and develop a lean- and virtual reality-based platform for effective education and training in scaffolding installation in turnaround maintenance projects. It represents an effort to help on-site workers in the Liquefied Natural Gas industry identify waste activities and achieve a balanced improvement in both productivity and health and safety through improved training in a virtual platform

Integrating BIM and GIS in railway projects: A critical review

The railway plays a significant role in human life by providing safe, reliable, costeffective services, which are environmental and drive economic growth. Significant decisions are taken at early stage of rail projects which need effective tools to avoid rework and save time, cost and increase work efficiency. Indeed, the continuous upgrading of this sector is needed to respond to technological advances, environmental change and increased customer demands. Integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Geographic Information systems (GIS) is promising since the scope of BIM usually does not extend beyond the footprint of the “building”; it does not provide geospatial data. Therefore, integrating BIM with GIS provides a complete picture of the project. However, this integration is challenging especially in rail projects as they are amongst the most complicated projects and numerous parties are involved in making important decisions. This paper reviews the literature regarding integrating BIM with GIS systematically, with the aim of analysing the need for this integration and its benefits. The paper highlights a lack of a clear guideline for collaboration in the railway project lifecycle and indicates the need for research to focus on this issue as well as the possibility of applying integrated BIM with GIS as a potential solution to improve collaboration for better decision among project participants

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

Mitigating environmental characteristics with integrated design and automated construction approaches for AQH development

Industrialised Building Systems (IBS) implementation requires a systemic operational approach from conceptual design to implementation. In doing so, ensuring the movement of knowledge amongst the team members for a timely and within the budget implementation is a major concern because it impacts the long-term sustainability of the completed project. This study attempts to relate recent international findings to the Malaysian context, which recommended the need to look at the life span of property projects and proposing the development of tools and methodologies that could mitigate the knowledge-loss phenomenon. It found some similarities between housing development projects in USA with those of the local public projects. At the conclusion of this paper, it supports the recommendation for a systemic review of the local IBS delivery process by integrating 3D-CAD modelling during the housing development design process. The systemic IBS process is expected to promote a seamless transition towards 4D technology in the building phase

What the ‘green city’ is up to: Two lenses of criticism for the green facades of Oluf Bager Plaza in Odense, Denmark

Increasingly celebrated, often without questioning, “green architecture” calls for a substantiated discussion. This article explores how design critique can contribute to the thinking and practice around green architecture, particularly green facades, which are growing in number and significance. How can green facades be critically discussed, beyond the dominating glossy project presentations and quantitative measurements of technological and ecological aspects? This article studies the green facades in the architectural competition, Oluf Bager’s Plaza, 2016, in Odense, Denmark, using two traditions of critique: Noël Carroll’s art criticism, in which green facades are seen as part of a designed work that follows certain intentions, and Mary McLeod’s concept of architecture as public domain that requires critical attention towards broader cultural, social, and economic processes. The study shows that the projects for the new Oluf Bager’s Plaza strike a balance between different ambitions, mainly adjusting to the historical context, while also answering the paradoxical double aim of Odense to become a densely built yet green city. The assumption that green facades can bridge the gap between density and green-ness became an important premise for the project. Green architecture should therefore be critiqued from multiple angles, including the ideas, plans, politics, and economics that shape future cities

Deconstruction waste management through 3d reconstruction and bim: a case study

The construction industry is responsible for 50% of the solid waste generated worldwide. Governments around the world formulate legislation and regulations concerning recycling and re-using building materials, aiming to reduce waste and environmental impact. Researchers have also been developing strategies and models of waste management for construction and demolition of buildings. The application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an example of this. BIM is emergent technology commonly used to maximize the efficiency of design, construction and maintenance throughout the entire lifecycle. The uses of BIM on deconstruction or demolition are not common; especially the fixtures and fittings of buildings are not considered in BIM models. The development of BIM is based on two-dimensional drawings or sketches, which may not be accurately converted to 3D BIM models. In addition, previous researches mainly focused on construction waste management. There are few studies about the deconstruction waste management focusing on demolition. To fill this gap, this paper aims to develop a framework using a reconstructed 3D model with BIM, for the purpose of improving BIM accuracy and thus developing a deconstruction waste management system to improve demolition efficiency, effective recycling and cost savings. In particular, the developed as-built BIM will be used to identify and measure recyclable materials, as well as to develop a plan for the recycling process

MINIMISATION OF REWORK IN UK HOUSING CONSTRUCTION: CONTRIBUTION OF SUBCONTRACTORS

The housing supply chain includes a plethora of privately owned trades, and a high level of fragmentation is driven by a significant number of micro businesses in the UK housing construction. The construction industry has been recognised as one of the major industries with a high level of waste and rework, particularly among different contributors in housing construction. Rework is an endemic and chronic issue and has been recognised as a symptom that has afflicted the workflow process and the productivity in housing construction projects in the UK. Traditionally, the root cause of rework in the housing supply chain has been identified as a poor performance of subcontractors. However, there is very limited research into the elimination of rework in the housing supply chain. Subcontractors play an important role in delivering successful projects. There has been less attention paid to the importance role of subcontractors in housing supply chain, given the high level of fragmentation associated with the large number of subcontractors in housing development projects. The research method is based on a literature review, semi-structured interview, and questionnaire survey. A pragmatic sequential exploratory approach (i.e., the qualitative research followed by quantitative investigation) was used to address the research questions. For the qualitative research a semistructured interview was carried-out to gauge industry experts’ perspectives and understanding of the root causes of rework. A quantitative research method, using a questionnaire survey, was employed from wide range of practitioners within housing development projects. The finding of the study suggests and highlights the importance role of subcontractors for rework minimisation in housing construction projects. Also, several key findings that have emerged from the study include cooperative working to foster trust among subcontractors, collaboration improvement among practitioners, creating incentive mechanism, and learning mechanism, improving site management team, different strategies to minimise rework, employing offsite manufacturing techniques, using digital tools, and adopting communication tools to improve collaboration and minimise rework onsite. To help subcontractors achieve a sustainable rework minimisation practice, a best framework has been developed based on the findings from the study and evaluated by employing a focus group. The content of the study can be used by practitioners who are involved in housing development projects

What the ‘green city’ is up to:Two lenses of criticism for the green facades of Oluf Bager Plaza in Odense, Denmark

Increasingly celebrated, often without questioning, “green architecture” calls for a substantiated discussion. This article explores how design critique can contribute to the thinking and practice around green architecture, particularly green facades, which are growing in number and significance. How can green facades be critically discussed, beyond the dominating glossy project presentations and quantitative measurements of technological and ecological aspects? This article studies the green facades in the architectural competition, Oluf Bager’s Plaza, 2016, in Odense, Denmark, using two traditions of critique: Noël Carroll’s art criticism, in which green facades are seen as part of a designed work that follows certain intentions, and Mary McLeod’s concept of architecture as public domain that requires critical attention towards broader cultural, social, and economic processes. The study shows that the projects for the new Oluf Bager’s Plaza strike a balance between different ambitions, mainly adjusting to the historical context, while also answering the paradoxical double aim of Odense to become a densely built yet green city. The assumption that green facades can bridge the gap between density and green-ness became an important premise for the project. Green architecture should therefore be critiqued from multiple angles, including the ideas, plans, politics, and economics that shape future cities