The Application of Web 2.0 Technologies as an Experimental Method of Teaching Remote Sensing at DIT, Ireland

This paper describes the implementation of an experimental method of delivery for a module of remote sensing material to second year students on the BSc (Hons) in Geomatics at the Dublin Institute of Technology. The project began as a reaction to poor levels of student engagement and unsatisfactory grades, as well as the requirement to focus more on real-world type problems due to the implementation of a work-placement semester for third year students. Both pedagogical considerations (movement towards formative feedback, interactivity and group-based work) and the effect of technological drivers, such as the popularity of the internet in general and Web 2.0 tools in particular, led to the design of a two-part project where students engaged in group-work and individual research to explore remote sensing and close range photogrammetry concepts. The students found the new delivery and assessment to be generally successful with 78% recommending that the new format should be retained for future delivery. However, both the students and the lecturer involved envisage a number of changes, particularly in relation to group size and time management, for future deliveries

Delivering Energy Savings for the Supply Chain Through Building Information Modelling as a Result of the Horizon 2020 Energy BIMcert Project

The global buildings sector is now responsible for 40% of final energy consumption as well as accounting for 33% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. This has resulted in a growing urgency to address energy and emissions from buildings and construction, to meet restrictive 2020 targets as specified by the European Union (EU). To achieve these targets a number of funding initiatives have been put in place through Horizon 2020 with a focus on BIM, due to it having the potential to rapidly produce energy outputs that enable design teams to analyse and compare the most cost-effective, energy-efficient options. However, despite the recorded benefits that BIM can bring to the design, there is still a lack of understanding of how it can be used on site by the supply chain to impact energy savings directly. In order to address this industry-wide concern a Multi-International consortium, bid, won and then launched the Horizon 2020 Energy BIMcert project in March 2018 with the goal to educate all areas of the supply chain in the use of BIM, so as to achieve better energy efficiency during the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of an asset. An online platform will be launched in September 2019, which will deliver blended training that combines theory, practice, and eLearning that will enable workers to train more effectively. This paper will explore the initial stages of this project and will focus on how the findings from a survey and series of workshops conducted within the member states of the Energy BIMcert consortium has helped establish the training needs of the industry. These findings were cross-referenced with a state-of-the-art literature review on BIM pedagogy, which has resulted in the formation of the curriculum and learning outcomes for a number of BIM focused training units. Further to this, the paper will discuss how the delivery of the blended training and associated materials will affect current energy saving targets

Improving the Sustainability of the Built Environment by Training its Workforce in More Efficient and Greener Ways of Designing and Constructing Through the Horizon2020 BIMcert Project

The construction industry consumes up to 50% of mineral resources excavated from nature, generates about 33% of CO2 present in the atmosphere and is responsible for 40% of total global energy through both construction and operation of buildings. The realisation that current pervasive construction practices now face globalization, sustainability, and environmental concerns, as well as ever-changing legislation requirements and new skills needed for the information age has resulted in technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) becoming a key enabler in navigating these barriers. To assist in overcoming these barriers, a number of funding initiatives have been put in place through Horizon 2020 with a focus on BIM, due to it having the potential to rapidly produce energy outputs that enable design teams to analyse and compare the most costeffective, energy-efficient options. One of these initiatives, the BIMcert project, aims to educate all areas of the supply chain in the use of BIM, to achieve better energy efficiency during the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of an asset. The goal is to develop more efficient and relevant training programme materials that integrate concepts of sustainability and renewables with practical application and integration with technology. The first stage of this project involved a detailed and exhaustive process that was used to establish the proposed curriculum, methodologies, concepts, and pilot training material. This paper will explore stage 2 of the BIMcert Project were a series of workshops across the consortium’s jurisdictions were used for the rigorous evaluation of pilot training material. The paper will also discuss how the developed training material has assisted in improving the sustainability of the built environment by training its workforce in more efficient and greener ways of designing and constructing through the use of BIM processes

A review of approaches to solving the problem of BIM search: towards intelligence-assisted design

Due to the growing adoption of BIM and the rising popularity of cloud computing, BIM models are increasingly stored in central cloud repositories or Common Data Environments. Effective management and exploitation of these models creates the requirement for BIM retrieval systems. Thus far, the BIM industry has utilized general-purpose, text-based search techniques that operate on BIM metadata. This paper highlights the need for a domain-specific BIM search engine and reviews various approaches to address the problem of BIM search. Three main approaches were identified as context-, geometry-, and content-based BIM retrieval. For a comprehensive BIM retrieval system, all three approaches need to be utilized. Literature about geometry- and content-based retrieval was scarce, and about context-based retrieval was almost non-existent. Context-based retrieval is a special approach that is relevant here due to the project-based and goal-oriented nature of architectural design and needs support from stakeholders in the AECO industry

What Lessons Can Be Learned From The Delivery Of The First Building On The Grangegorman Campus Using Building Information Management (BIM)?

There is an acceptance that BIM, via data management, can be integrated with FM to reduce costs during the Operations and Maintenance stage of a project. However, what has not been documented is the ‘on the ground’ reality which can be reviewed as a lessons learnt exercise to improve the implementation of BIM FM for future projects. This case study sets out to explore the realities of a client’s adoption of BIM based upon the actual experience of the Greenway Hub. Rather than relying on anecdotal evidence the research was based upon the real practices and experiences of the Dublin Institute of Technology’s (DIT) own project team who were tasked with the delivery of BIM and were recorded via interview and 4th Generation Evaluation. The outcomes were cross-referenced against the literature and it was found that the experience aligned well with similar “first project” situations in other educational and public sector projects. Important findings included the need for BIM training to be delivered to end users at a level appropriate to their ultimate needs, for early and frequent engagement between the project delivery team and the end users, and for the temporary appointment of an experienced BIM FM champion to represent the client, to mentor the Institute’s own staff and to oversee the development of the Institute’s BIM Implementation Plan and associated strategies

Skills Matter – up-skilling across construction stakeholders for emerging roles

The EU’s Climate Target Plan To 2030 (European Union 2020b) of achieving at least 55% reduction in Green House Gas emissions from 1990 levels, delivering towards a climate-neutral economy by 2050, requires systems-level change in the way we design, construct, and operate our built assets. Funding initiatives, such as co-ordinated by BUILD UP Skills, aim to deliver upskilling to the market but targets set by the European Skills Agenda may not be reached at current achievement levels. This paper presents the results of one completed and the progress of one ongoing Horizon 2020 funded project, BIMcert and ARISE, respectively. Learning from both projects demonstrate that bite-sized (micro-credential), justin- time, recognised training that is supported by digital platforms, gamification, and quality face-to-face interventions have the potential to support better delivery toward delivery against climate targets. Additional focused initiatives targeted at attracting school-leavers, at increasing female and diverse participation in the sector, and at retraining the aging workforce are proposed as potential ways to broaden the impact of the projects described in the research

Economic analysis of productivity in the Irish Construction sector

Important strides to enhance productivity in the construction sector have been taken by both industry and Government in recent years. However, a collaborative, sectoral wide strategy to drive further increases in productivity is required, with the coordinated participation of all stakeholders across the full life cycle of a project. This report, commissioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), produced by KPMG and Future Analytics Consulting Ltd. (FAC) and peer reviewed by TU Dublin, aims to understand and address the reasons for low levels of productivity in the Irish construction sector and identify specific recommendations and actions that can be undertaken to address these issues. All research was undertaken in 2019

Educational Programmes for Spatial Information Sciences in the Technological University of Dublin

The ever increasing spatial information needs of society, the rapid development of new surveying technologies, and the global demand for appropriately qualified surveyors, have triggered a radical re-evaluation of geomatics education worldwide. Significant enhancements have been made to the educational programmes in the spatial information science discipline in the Technological University of Dublin’s (DIT) during the last decade including the provision of a BSc in Geomatics and various masters’ programmes to cater for the increasingly specialised needs of the Geographic Information sector in Ireland

Enhancing Educational Programmes for Geomatics in Ireland

The growing spatial information needs of society, the rapid development of new surveying technologies, and the global demand for appropriately qualified surveyors, have triggered a radical re-evaluation of Geomatics education in Europe. Although significant enhancements to DIT’s educational programmes have been made during the last decade, the provision of new opportunities for learners and innovative changes to existing paradigms of training and education are required. This paper addresses some of the issues confronting educators in DIT, and presents some of the strategies for their enhancement and implementation

An Exploration of Lean and BIM synergies with a focus on SMEs in Construction

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) account for 99.7% of the Irish Construction Industry and contribute to 68% of all employment in the sector. These organisations now find themselves facing the challenge of returning to productive business post the Covid 19 shutdown. More than ever, SMEs must modernise and adapt their business models to embrace new ways of working, such as Lean Construction and Building Information Modelling (BIM), in the absence of clear business incentives. It has proved difficult to persuade SMEs to change their ways of working due to limited finances, internal resources and above all, the cultural shift required to embrace new ways of working. The vast bulk of Irish construction SMEs are accustomed to working in a sector that produces low product quality, budget overruns, and substantial construction waste. When partnered with lean construction, BIM can address many of these issues, as the two processes can work together to target and eliminate waste while streamlining the value stream. The primary goals of lean construction are to maximise value and minimise waste. Therefore, BIM can be seen as a lean tool that helps eliminate waste and, at the same time, increases business opportunities and promotes sustainability. This paper will explore the synergies between Lean and BIM in the context of construction SMEs through a literature review. The findings will address a number of barriers to entry for SMEs, focusing on how digital technologies, such as BIM can complement lean construction in targeting major types of wastes. Some of the barriers identified include financial and legal concerns, lack of implementation strategies/guides, knowledge retainment, training impendiments, software and hardware restrictions, as well as employee resistance