137 research outputs found
An innovative mobile application for construction programme managers
Construction programme management is a complex and information-intensive environment. The construction programme management team requires access to construction information in real-time and when needed. The current increasing use of mobile devices offers an opportunity to meet this need. The efficient management of construction programmes is one of the major factors for improving stakeholdersâ satisfaction. An innovative tool is needed in accessing the right information at the right time, especially when spontaneous and urgent decision-making is needed. To this end, the innovative use of a mobile device in delivering information and services to the management team in real-time and based on their current context offers significant benefits. This paper discusses context-aware computing, the enabling technologies for geolocation and the development of a prototype, mobile, context-aware application for construction programme management. The prototype system developed is based on the findings from an earlier study of user requirements which showed that the ability to provide relevant information and services at an appropriate time and at the most appropriate location has the potential to improve the monitoring and control of construction programmes. The prototype system demonstrates the provision of context-specific information and services to construction programme managers using a mobile device. The benefits and limitations of the proposed approach are discussed and conclusions drawn about the potential impact of enhanced information delivery for the efficiency of the construction programme managers
VRML Virtual Worlds - An Alternative to the Desktop Metaphor for GUI's?
Metaphors are commonly used by software developers in the creation of GUI's. This paper looks at the use of multi-user VRML to create virtual metaphors, developing a conceptual design tool that can be used intuitively with little or no training
A Semantics-Based Approach for Simplifying IFC Building Models to Facilitate the Use of BIM Models in GIS
Using solid building models, instead of the surface models in City Geography Markup Language (CityGML), can facilitate data integration between Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS). The use of solid models, however, introduces a problem of model simplification on the GIS side. The aim of this study is to solve this problem by developing a framework for generating simplified solid building models from BIM. In this framework, a set of Level of Details (LoDs) were first defined to suit solid building modelsâreferred to as s-LoD, rang-ing from s-LoD1 to s-LoD4âand three unique problems in implementing s-LoDs were identified and solved by using a semantics-based approach, including identifying external objects for s-LoD2 and s-LoD3, distinguishing various slabs, and generating valid external walls for s-LoD2 and s-LoD3. The feasibility of the framework was validated by using BIM models, and the result shows that using semantics from BIM can make it easier to convert and simplify building models, which in turn makes BIM information more practical in GIS
Towards a Semantic Grid Computing Platform for Disaster Management in Built Environment
Current disaster management procedures rely primarily on heuristics which result in their strategies being very cautious and sub-optimum in terms of saving life, minimising damage and returning the building to its normal function. Also effective disaster management demands decentralized, dynamic, flexible, short term and across domain resource sharing, which is not well supported by existing distributing computing infrastructres. The paper proposes a conceptual framework for emergency management in the built environment, using Semantic Grid as an integrating platform for different technologies. The framework supports a distributed network of specialists in built environment, including structural engineers, building technologists, decision analysts etc. It brings together the necessary technology threads, including the Semantic Web (to provide a framework for shared definitions of terms, resources and relationships), Web Services (to provide dynamic discovery and integration) and Grid Computing (for enhanced computational power, high speed access, collaboration and security control) to support rapid formation of virtual teams for disaster management. The proposed framework also make an extensive use of modelling and simulation (both numerical and using visualisations), data mining (to find resources in legacy data sets) and visualisation. It also include a variety of hardware instruments with access to real time data. Furthermore the whole framework is centred on collaborative working by the virtual team. Although focus of this paper is on disaster management, many aspects of the discussed Grid and Visualisation technologies will be useful for any other forms of collaboration. Conclusions are drawn about the possible future impact on the built environment
Knowledge management in development projects
The effective management of knowledge is now recognised
as a vehicle through which the construction industry
can address its need for innovation and improved business
performance. The failure to capture and transfer project
knowledge, which is usually buried in unread reports and
arcane filing systems, or lost because people move on, leads
to the increased risk of âreinventing the wheelâ, wasted
activity, and impaired project performance. Knowledge is
therefore considered vital in creating competitive advantage
in the new economy. Much of the growth in many
global firms has been credited to knowledge, as new
technologies and innovations are applied to the market and
workplace. Knowledge management is therefore increasingly
seen as an integral part of an organizationâs competitive
strategy as it facilitates continuous improvement through
learning and innovation. This is now increasingly recognised
by most sectors of industry, with many organisations
appointing a Knowledge Manager or Business Improvement
Manager, with responsibility for articulating and
implementing the organisationâs knowledge management
strategy. This paper argues that knowledge management is
equally important in development projects and advocates
the application of knowledge management practices to
these projects. It introduces the key phases in knowledge
management (creation, storage, sharing, modification, etc.)
and explores how these can be implemented in development
projects. The application of knowledge management
to development projects is expected to result in numerous
benefits including the transfer of lessons learned from one
project to another, improved transfer of knowledge between
developed countries and developing countries, and
better management of human resources. This paper starts
with a review of key knowledge management concepts, and
outlines some of the characteristics of development projects.
It then discusses the potential for knowledge management
in development projects and concludes with a summary of
the practical benefits to be gained
Industry perspectives of IT and e-commerce
In recent years several new IT-based technologies such as e-commerce have been
developed, which if applied to the construction industry can prove beneficial. Before the
implementation of new technologies and applications, it is essential to identify the factors
that the industry perceives as being the enablers and barriers to the uptake of these
applications for greater effectiveness. This paper presents the results of a survey
undertaken to establish the views of industry practitioners on the uptake of IT (and ecommerce
in particular) within the UK construction sector. The survey explored attitudes,
current usage, barriers and enablers amongst other things. The findings of the survey are
briefly discussed and outline ideas for more effective deployment of IT and e-commerce
in construction organisations presented. The paper also tries to outline some future
prospects for using e-commerce in the UK construction industry, based on responses to
the survey
The need for the creation of knowledge chains in construction
Performance improvement has been the subject of recent initiatives in the UK
construction industry as a result of complex internal and external factors. These
include demands from clients, investors and stakeholders for improvement and
changes in market conditions. The need for performance improvement has led to the
implementation of industry-specific key performance indicators (KPIs) and greater
awareness of the benefits of measurement in construction engineering organisations.
This paper presents and discusses findings based on the practical experiences of
leading construction engineering organisations in the UK. A significant proportion of
organisations are now using a range of financial and non-financial measures to assess
business performance, and a growing number are adopting the Excellence Model and
the Balanced Scorecard to facilitate a structured approach to implementing continuous
improvement strategies. The paper concludes with some practical considerations for
implementing performance measurement models
Preliminary case studies of knowledge flow in construction supply chains
A critical issue in Construction Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the effective
management of knowledge through the whole project lifecycle. This issue involves the
enhancements of the flow of knowledge within and between different sectors of
construction supply chain as well as the accumulation, coding, and storage of knowledge
in the organizations. A typical construction project is one-of-a-kind, temporary, and
involves different tasks which are held by different professional and trade disciplines of
construction supply chains. These different disciplines of the supply chain have to work
closely in an intense environment over a period of months or even years. The information
shared between these organizations varies from technical drawings and legal contracts to
purchase orders, project reports, and schedules. Moreover, project knowledge which has
to be shared within and between the organizations is interconnected and includes all the
knowledge about the end product. Within such a complex environment, the efficient flow
of project knowledge between all the sectors of construction supply chain will directly
improve all the SCM efforts. This paper presents the findings of preliminary case studies
on knowledge flow in construction supply chains. The supply chain management
approach and the main problems regarding the supply chain and the knowledge
management practices in two supply chains are discussed. It also presents the research
method to identify the knowledge requirements of different sectors of the construction
supply chains. It concludes that the application of a systematic approach to knowledge
management in construction supply chains will bring enhance knowledge flow and enable
these supply chains to become construction knowledge chains
Case study of knowledge management implementation in a medium-sized construction sector firm
The transient nature of project teams and the competitive environment in which construction organizations operate require an effective mechanism to manage and reuse the knowledge created in the projects without straining its resources. A methodology for âliveâ capture and reuse of project knowledge was developed for the purpose and encapsulated into a software tool. A study was conducted of a medium-sized UK-based construction sector firm to investigate the use the software tool as the central strand of its knowledge management (KM) framework. The tool was subsequently designed to integrate with a staff profile system and an e-forum. The new system was intended to bridge the communication gap between the companyâs geographically dispersed offices by connecting the people together and, hence, facilitating the timely sharing of both tacit and explicit knowledge. Top managementâs commitment was found vital in the successful implementation of knowledge management and the nurturing of the desired supportive knowledge-sharing culture. To get the most through the implementation of knowledge management, the various knowledge management practices and relevant information systems of a construction organization need to be strategically integrated to improve the location, capture, and sharing of critical knowledge
Architecture for implementing IFC-based online construction product libraries
Construction product information providers have responded to the demand for electronic delivery
by providing online access, CD-ROMs and DVDs but these solutions have limited usability and are generally
incapable of supporting prevalent and emerging industry practices. The product library implementations attempt
to replicate the functionalities of the paper versions, which serve for independent specification and procurement
but gives little thought to teams and tools integration through support for automated information exchange and
sharing. The IFC standard provides common terminologies, technologies, syntax and semantics necessary to
address present and future compatibility and integration issues, hence IFC-based implementation of product
libraries have good prospect for meeting the industry requirements. This paper reviews current product
information delivery methods and examines the applicability of the IFC and other standards. The requirements
for IFC-based construction product libraries are identified and an architecture for realising the requirements
was presented
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