Mass customizing prefabricated modular housing by internet-aided design

By collecting and evaluating clientis requirements with web technology, a methodology can be developed that can generate design options based on the clientis needs and available modular components in the market, and simulate the final design before beginning manufacturing. In this proposed model, a process of providing mass-customized prefabricated housing based on computer-aided design and a web-based product configuration system will be presented. How prefabricated housing design can be evolved from a mass repetitive production level to a mass customization level to meet variability and personality is the primary issue to be explored in this research.

Two Approaches to BIM: a Comparative Study

The ultimate goal of the BIM concept is to create a complete digital model of the building to insure the generation of an accurate bill of material and cost estimate along with coordinated drawings and details. This goal might need the contribution of various disciplines to provide the needed level of information. The development of capable specialized systems to model specific building elements will definitely challenge the all-purpose architectural CAD. The specificity of these systems will enable fulfilling the needs than a general purpose architectural BIM system. This will lead the industry into creating either a powerful fully integrated BIM system that can handle all required information, or a referential BIM system that depends on passing the information to other programs (and other people) that are capable of handling specific tasks more efficiently

From CAD to iAD - a Web-based Steel Consulting of Steel Construction in Architecture

Information technology has become so powerful that what is conventionally called CAD might evolve to iAD (Internet Aided Design) (Zhou 2000). For Internet applications in the AEC industry, most of the efforts and success have been concentrated on project management and collaboration, while in the design and engineering consulting area, limited progress has been made. At the same time, contemporary development has not changed the nature of the fragmentation of the AEC industry. Based on previous research of surveys of development of Internet applications in the AEC industry (Zhou 2001), and the proposal of conceptual model of Internet-based engineering consulting in architecture (Zhou2002), we try to apply these theories and concepts into a specified area, steel construction consulting for architects. In previous research, first of all, we defined the contents and scope of steel construction consulting and their potential application. Second, we proposed a solid working model covering structure organization, audience, services provided and technology. In this research, a web-based application will be out by prototyped by conducting a conceptual design consulting in steel structure in order to show the whole process of how this Internet-based consulting model works

Integrating Mass Customization with Prefabricated Housing

The paper will give an overview of mass customization concepts and how they can be applied to prefabricated modular housing. By collecting and evaluating clientis requirements with web technology, a methodology can be developed that can generate design options based on the clientis needs and available modular components in the market, and simulate the final design before beginning manufacturing. In this proposed model, a process of providing masscustomized prefab housing based on computer-aided design and a web-based product configuration system will be presented

From CAD to IAD: a Working Model of the Internet-based Engineering Consulting in Architecture

Information technology has become so powerful that what is conventionally called CAD might evolve into iAD (Internet Aided Design) in the near future (Zhou 2000). For Internet applications in the AEC industry, most of the efforts and success have been concentrated on project management and collaboration, while in the design and engineering consulting area, limited progress has been made. During the period of Internet development, the nature of the fragmentation of the AEC industry has not been changed. Based on previous research of surveys of development of Internet applications in the AEC industry (Zhou 2001), and the study of information technology both available today and in the near future, we propose a general abstracted model of an Internet-based consulting system by integrating a variety of disciplines and functions of design and construction processes. This model will cover a range of design phases, such as, information gathering, automatic remote consultation, specific problem solving, and collaboration. Finally, in future follow up research, we will apply the proposed model to steel construction in architectural design, and develop a prototype simulation by selecting one type of structural system