Building Information Modelling and Asset Management: Semantic and Syntactic Interoperability

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has the potential to improve the design, construction and operation of assets using a standardised machine-readable information model. Despite the rapidly increasing adoption of BIM in design and construction stages, the adoption of BIM for Operation and Maintenance (O&M) is still relatively weak. While there are multifaceted challenges behind that weak adoption, there are recurring themes of the poor data integration between BIM and existing Asset Management (AM) systems and of how to structure BIM models for use in the O&M phase. Reflecting on that interoperability challenge, this research aims to provide a methodology to design, develop and transfer the information required to support O&M from BIM models. To achieve the research aim, firstly a critical review of the literature was undertaken to develop a conceptual framework of the interoperability aspects for BIM implementation in AM. The proposed conceptual framework would facilitate the transfer of information from BIM models to AM tools through the development of a specific Model View Definition (MVD) and a Revit Plug-in. The MVD and Revit Plug-in are developed based on a taxonomy of the required data and based on a cross-mapping between the different standards and guidelines used in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operation (AECO) industry. To achieve these aspects, semi-structured interviews and focus group are adapted to identify the required information and an effective cross-mapping between the standards where ontologies are utilised to publish and share machine-readable inter-Linked Data on the web. On the other hand, a prototyping approach is employed for the MVD and the Revit Plug-in development, while a case study method is used for evaluating the developed concepts and prototypes. The developed capabilities can enable facility managers to semantically link the BIM objects to the maintenance records in the Semantic Web during the O&M phase in order to provide a BIM environment without the specific BIM authoring application. Due to the assets’ heterogeneity, this research provides an interoperability solution for the data exchange of assets that consume energy from the BIM systems to the AM systems during the handover stage. Although the stated contributions of this research are anchored on assets that consume energy only, the outputs can still be updated and adapted to cover all of the operable and maintainable building assets

BIM and asset management (AM) interoperability towards the adoption of digital twins

Digital Twin (DT) is seen as the new shift paradigm for digital transformation in the post-pandemic-built environment sector. Learning from the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) for Asset Management (AM), there are recurring themes that the interoperability challenge is the key barrier to firstly overcome. The absence of a critical overview of issues and research related to BIM-AM interoperability, is hindering the achievement of sustainable and effective integration between the two systems. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to review and analyse the trends and overview of the BIM-AM interoperability publications, identifies and classifies the major research topics on BIM-AM interoperability and finally, proposes future research interoperability directions for DT initiative adoption. To achieve the research aim, a systematic review of the work done to achieve interoperability using a wide range of digital technologies published between 2010 and 2020 related to the interoperability challenges between BIM, and AM and real-time data sources was conducted

Construction Safety Ontology Development and Alignment with Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)

A pronounced gap often exists between expected and actual safety performance in the construction industry. The multifaceted causes of this performance gap are resulting from the misalignment between design assumptions and actual construction processes that take place on-site. In general, critical factors are rooted in the lack of interoperability around the building and work-environment information due to its heterogeneous nature. To overcome the interoperability challenge in safety management, this paper represents the development of an ontological model consisting of terms and relationships between these terms, creating a conceptual information model for construction safety management and linking that ontology to IfcOWL. The developed ontology, named Safety and Health Exchange (SHE), comprises eight concepts and their relationships required to identify and manage safety risks in the design and planning stages. The main concepts of the developed ontology are identified based on reviewing accident cases from 165 Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) and 31 Press Releases from the database of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the United Kingdom. Consequently, a semantic mapping between the developed ontology and IfcOWL (the most popular ontology and schema for interoperability in the AEC sector) is proposed. Then several SPARQL queries were developed and implemented to evaluate the semantic consistency of the developed ontology and the cross-mapping. The proposed ontology and cross-mapping gained recognition for its innovation in utilising OpenBIM and won the BuildingSMART professional research award 2020. This work could facilitate developing a knowledge-based system in the BIM environment to assist designers in addressing health and safety issues during the design and planning phases in the construction sector

BIM-linked data integration for asset management

Purpose. This study investigates the transfer of information from the BIM models to either conventional or advanced asset management platforms using Linked Data. To achieve this aim, a process for generating Linked Data in the asset management context and its integration with BIM data is presented. Methodology. The research design employs a participatory action research (PAR) approach. The PAR approach utilised two qualitative data collection methods namely; focus group and interviews to identify and evaluate the required standards for the mapping of different domains. Also prototyping which is an approach of Software Development Methodology (SDM) is utilized to develop the ontologies and Linked Data. Findings. The proposed process offers a comprehensive description of the required standards and classifications in construction domain, related vocabularies and object-oriented links to ensure the effective data integration between different domains. Also the proposed process demonstrates the different stages, tools, best practices and guidelines to develop Linked Data, armed with a comprehensive use case Linked Data generation about building assets that consume energy. Originality/value. The Linked Data generation and publications in the domain of AECO is still in its infancy and it also needs methodological guidelines to support its evolution towards maturity in its processes and applications. This research concentrates on the Linked Data applications with BIM to link across domains where few studies have been conducted

Dataset of characterised construction safety risks and related treatments

The Safety Risk Library [1] is a structured database [2] that integrates knowledge drawn from multiple sources to address the problem of information disaggregation in the construction industry. This knowledge base maps construction safety risk scenarios to treatment suggestions that help designers implement the concept of prevention through design. In the context of the Safety Risk Library, risk scenarios are characterised by six data categories based on a formalised ontology [3]. To build the first iteration of the Safety Risk Library, nine different risk scenarios were identified and mapped to relevant risk treatments in focus groups. Subsequently, the Safety Risk Library was pilot tested in six construction projects, and user feedback and input were used to expand the list of risk scenarios and treatment prompts. Additionally, public press releases reporting construction accidents were analysed to identify and characterise risk scenarios, which were then mapped to appropriate treatment suggestions and included in the Safety Risk Library. This dataset can assist construction industry stakeholders in identifying, characterising, communicating and mitigating safety risks in construction projects. It can also be integrated into building information modelling environments to assist designers to implement prevention through design

BIM-based construction safety risk library

This paper presents a digital tool and Safety Risk library to assist designers in their health and safety work in BIM digital environments. Addressing an industry need for improved knowledge sharing and collaboration, the BIM Safety Risk library tool aligns with a Prevention through Design (PtD) approach that links safety risks to treatments via different risk scenarios. Motivated by continuing sub-optimal health and safety management processes, the research employs a conceptual framework rooted in construction guidance: structuring data via a 7-stage ontology to improve designer knowledge of issues and give access to an expanding safety knowledge base (the BIM Safety Risk Library). The tool facilitates tacit and explicit knowledge sharing in visual environments, enabling the construction industry to benefit from their health and safety data while providing an interactive learning tool for designers. The structuring of data also opens up possibilities for other digital advances (e.g. via automatic rule checking)

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Digital information technologies for prevention through design (PtD): A literature review and directions for future research

Purpose With the rapid development of digital information and modelling software applications for construction, questions have arisen about their impact on construction safety. Meanwhile, recognition that designers can help reduce risks involved in construction, operation and maintenance via a prevention through design (PtD) approach (also known as design for safety) highlights the significance of digital technologies and tools to PtD. Thus, this paper aims to provide a systematic review of a wide range of digital technologies for enhancing PtD. Design/methodology/approach A five-stage systematic literature review with coding and synthesis of findings is presented. The review covers journal articles published between 2000 and 2020 related to the applications of various digital technologies, such as building information modelling (BIM), 4D, databases, ontologies, serious games, virtual reality and augmented reality, for addressing safety issues during the design phase in construction. Findings Analysis of the articles yielded a categorisation of the digital applications for PtD into four main areas: knowledge-based systems; automatic rule checking; hazard visualization; and safety training for designers. The review also highlighted designers’ limited knowledge towards construction safety and the possibility to address this by using gaming environments for educating designers on safety management and using artificial intelligence for predicting hazards and risks during design stage in a BIM environment. Additionally, the review proposes other directions for future research to enhance the use of digital technologies for PtD. Originality/value This paper contextualises current digital technology applications for construction health and safety and enables future directions of research in the field to be identified and mapped out