Improving the delivery of building performance using building information modelling (BIM)

Purposefully-designed buildings are complex by nature, because they are host to a variety of human activities that require them to perform adequately and be well suited to their intended functions. Building ‘performance’ has been an area of major research interest, so that efficient buildings are constructed that operate effectively to support the functional purposes for which they are being used. It is a complex concept that has been difficult to measure and incorporate into building design. Many methods and approaches have been developed to assess ‘performance’ for the purpose of addressing the gap between predicted – and actual – performance. However, it is acknowledged that these methods/approaches lack accuracy, are time consuming and do not provide a holistic view of the complex procedures and processes involved during the design and physical construction of the building. Building Information Modelling (BIM) provides a new way of integrating information technology within the construction industry. Its capability as a digital platform has supported managing, sharing and exchanging interdisciplinary information between multi-disciplinary stakeholders. BIM has supported some aspects of assessing building ‘performance’ by emphasising energy consumption, sustainable design and building behaviour. BIM technology excels in situations that have quantitative-based aspects, which often are derived from those involved in the building delivery process. However, the design of successful buildings-in-use, through concepts like building performance, requires incorporating information from multiple perspectives, which requires going beyond the consideration of the characteristics that are quantitative. This investigation aimed to explore how BIM can enhance the delivery of better construction performance for buildings. A case-study research method was used in this research where data was gathered using semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis, and feedback reports iii from the building delivery team, facility management team and building occupants. The research journey was developed through three case studies where one case study influenced the direction of the next case study. Initial findings showed that ‘space’ as one of the building aspects was used as a reference concept for building performance because it provided a way for situating different meanings of building performance by different stakeholders. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the findings for each case study. The key finding from the case studies showed that there is a gap between data and experience. ‘Systems thinking’ analysis was used to investigate this gap, as it concerns the complexity, the handling of information modelling and supports addressing ‘softer’ human aspects. It showed that the reason for the gap between data and experience is that different stakeholders see the parts and the whole differently. Soft systems analysis was then used to explore this gap, as it provides a holistic approach to the situation being investigated. The use of this approach allowed the opportunity to understand the problems and possible conflicts within a particular situation. Wilson’s approach of ‘soft systems’ was also used, as it goes beyond conceptual models to information categories, which can support bridging the gap between data and experience. An overview of the problem, emphasising its complexity through proposed themes is presented. The delivery of building performance requires richer representation that acknowledges the significance of different parts in a construction project and how they influence stakeholders. Using the information requirements identified through soft systems analysis, a ‘space strategy model’ was proposed, which suggests that space designs in BIM should, in Zuboff’s concept, be informated in order to identify the significance of different parts of a the build and build design, and support richer cognition of emergent characteristics that influence different experiences within a building project

Metal oxides as photocatalysts

AbstractMetal oxides are of great technological importance in environmental remediation and electronics because of their capability to generate charge carriers when stimulated with required amount of energy. The promising arrangement of electronic structure, light absorption properties, and charge transport characteristics of most of the metal oxides has made possible its application as photocatalyst. In this article definition of metal oxides as photocatalyst, structural characteristics, requirements of the photocatalyst, classification of photocatalysts and the mechanism of the photocatalytic process are discussed

Value Management Integration for Whole Life Cycle: Post COVID-19 Strategy for the UK Construction Industry

Value management (VM) and its integration in the whole life cycle (WLC) have become huge concepts for construction projects to provide additional value of an asset for the end user or client. However, the role of VM and its integration as part of the WLC in a construction project remain reactive, and highly impacted by nature of the project, and this has become more challenging with the epidemic impact of COVID-19. This research aims to investigate the mechanisms that delivers value management as part of the “re-invent” strategy proposed by the Construction Leadership Council in the UK government to improve WLC for buildings. In addition to existing secondary data from the literature, primary data were attained using a focus group with six quantity surveyors from different cost consultancies in the UK to gather qualitative evidence using their experiences, perceptions, and key challenges they face when integrating VM. Findings revealed that value management is primarily being used as a cost-cutting tool, the majority of quantity surveyors lack knowledge of what it encompasses, hence the industry needs a more proactive strategy towards it. Analysis revealed that value management is primarily implemented as a cost-cutting solution, key stakeholders (e.g., facility managers) need to be integrated, and there is no standardised process to incorporate value management in projects. The study proposes a four-dimensional (governance and policies, sustainability, industry’s best practice, and innovation and technology) strategy to facilitate more holistic considerations of value management post COVID-19. Future work looks into evaluating the strategy proposed while acknowledging different procurement routes

Perceiving space from multiple perspectives for buildings using BIM

The way that space is being perceived during the building design stage affects the way it is delivered. This becomes more complex when considering not only the geometric view of space, but also the building as a whole with all its uses. It is recognised that different users have different needs particularly as regards their use of space. It is proposed that building information modelling (BIM) can accommodate different perspectives on space held by the building design team, facility management team and building occupants. This paper investigates various views on the way that space is perceived from different perspectives. Data have been attained from a university building under construction in the United Kingdom using interviews with the building design team, and questionnaires with the facility management team and building occupants. The collected data demonstrate the complexity of space including the effect of 2D and 3D views on perceptions. The paper concludes with highlighting these different perspectives emphasizing the need for collaboration. Further work is needed to explore different space algorithms, which can accommodate these different perspectives in the BIM model. The paper provides an initial basis towards understanding the problematic nature of space from a holistic approach and its implications of the way it is being perceived