Challenges and Opportunities for Automating Physical Compliance on Construction Sites

The construction project lifecycle includes several compliance requirements that need to be checked at multiple levels and at different phases of the project. Inability to comply with these regulations due to lack of time and resources or human oversight can affect the project throughout its service lifecycle with the potential for severe outcomes. Following a number of high-profile failings and owing to the high stakes nature of compliance, digitalisation has been introduced in this field of construction over the past few decades to reduce mistakes and neglect. Although the compliance checking process in the design phase has seen significant digital advancement with artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing, the physical compliance checking process on construction sites still remains largely manual. This paper will present academic research on the industry challenges faced in automating site compliance checking process based on literature studies done in the past. The study highlights the need to address the different challenges and barriers of physical compliance from a more structured construct. The opportunities for process improvement, behavioural change, and technological intervention to improve or in some cases replace manual oversight were also explored. A thematic analysis was performed on the qualitative data of barriers to chronicle the list of challenges that need to be addressed. Findings from this study will help highlight the pressure points faced while conducting compliance checks at sites. This research aims to reduce the knowledge gap between the ailment of checking compliance on construction sites and the tools that can help fix the issue

Delivering long-term building performance: A user-centred approach

In recent years the drive for the delivery of sustainable built environments has resulted in a focus on energy efficiency (regulated energy) in order to reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate against climate change. However, as regulated-energy is decreased the proportional importance of un-regulated energy (small power etc.), which is heavily influenced by occupants, is predicted to increase. In addition there is a body of evidence linking occupant health, wellbeing and productivity to both occupant behaviour and the building environment and it has been suggested that predicted climate change has the potential to impact further on comfort, energy use and the wider building environment. In this context the short term focus on regulated energy efficiency, although not without merit, risks ignoring the influence of occupants and may impact upon occupant wellbeing, energy performance and ultimately long term building performance. Such a scenario could result in premature building obsolescence. This paper, building on a body of research by the authors (and others) and supported by a review of the relevant literature, suggests that while consideration near term regulated energy remains important, this alone may not deliver long term performance. The paper presents a theoretical model of long-term building performance, highlighting the need to consider the impact of occupant behaviour on energy use, the impact of the building environment on occupant wellbeing and the potential impacts of climate change. The paper suggests that a user focused approach to design considering long term performance and an active approach to building management is required

The impact of regulations on overheating risk in dwellings

Many new and emerging regulations and standards for buildings focus on climate change mitigation through energy and carbon reduction. In cool climates, such reductions are achieved by optimizing the building for heat retention. It is increasingly recognized, however, that some degree of climate change is now inevitable. New and existing buildings need to consider this to ensure resilience and an ability to adapt over time. In this context, the current approach to regulation that largely remains focused on the ‘point of handover’ may not be fit for purpose. This paper focuses on a ‘typical’ dwelling designed to a range of standards, representing current or emerging approaches to minimizing energy use, using a range of construction methods, where a number of adaptations are available to occupants. It considers, through the use of building performance simulation, how each configuration is likely to perform thermally over time given current climate change predictions. It is demonstrated that the current approach to assessing overheating risk in dwellings, coupled with the regulatory focus on reducing energy consumption, could result in significant levels of overheating. This overheating could, in the near future, present a risk to health and result in the need for significant interventions

Employing back casting principles for the formation of long term built asset management strategies - A theoretical approach

Purpose: Facilities managers have traditionally relied on forecasting approaches using the stock condition survey to predict maintenance and refurbishment needs against changing user requirements. However, the authors have previously shown that such an approach, whilst effective for short term planning, is unable to cope with the uncertainty and complex data sets required to develop long term plans (> 10 years), in particular the impact of future climate change (physical and legislative). This paper will present back casting as an alternative approach to support long term built asset management planning. Background: Back casting has been applied to sustainable transport management, energy planning and community climate change adaptation projects. The process in principle envisions a future state (end-point) set by stakeholders. Alternative ‘paths of approach’ are identified by looking backwards from the future state to the present. Each path is examined in turn to identify interventions (physical and/or operational) required in order for that path to achieve the end-goal. The stakeholder’s review each path and select the most appropriate for achieving the desired (end-point). This path is then integrated into the facilities (built asset) management strategy. Approach: The researchers worked with various stakeholders as part of an action research team to identify climate change adaptations that may be required to ensure the continued performance of the building and integrate these into a 60 year facilities management plan. Results: The paper superimposes back casting theory onto the adaptation process and explains how the theory supported long term facilities management planning. The paper also explains how the approach was used to provide confidence for the building owner to invest in the planned refurbishment of their built asset to improve its future performance and sustainability. Practical implications: The paper demonstrates the application of this approach through a case study example of a newly constructed £75 m educational building. A similar approach could be applied to other building types. Research limitations: This paper presents a theoretical model which needs to be validated using longitudinal data sets. Originality/value: This is the first paper to suggest the potential of back casting to inform long term built asset management strategies

A risk framework for the delivery of long-term performance through the large-scale energy focused retrofit of housing

The 2019 Climate Action Plan (Ireland) seeks to retrofit approximately 500,000 existing homes to attain a B2 Building Energy Rating by 2030. Although not without merit, this presents a number of risks. The authors, through a review of relevant literature and a survey of leading experts in the field of domestic retrofit, set out to explore if and how the implementation, execution, and performance of retrofit strategies that utilise a uniform approach to the retrofit of the decidedly non-uniform existing dwelling stock could create un-intended consequences. It is demonstrated how issues related to indoor air quality, comfort and overheating may occur due to the narrow focus of housing retrofit on regulated energy. It also established that the application of theoretical modelling can affect dwelling performance. These issues could have significant health and wellbeing impacts on occupants and, furthermore, could be exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. The research incorporates a risk assessment which examined the interdependent factors, including areas that require further research, that present a risk in large-scale deep retrofit. The findings have implications for the policy framework. Without action, there is a risk that the retrofitted dwellings of today become the ‘hard to treat’ dwellings of the future

FM, risk and climate change adaptation

Improving the sustainability of built assets in the light of uncertain futures is a major challenge facing the Facilities Management profession. A changing climate poses significant challenges to the performance of built assets in-use and could potentially render many built assets prematurely obsolete. How business clients plan for such changes formed the focus of a research project undertaken by the authors. This paper presents the findings of a 12 month Action Research project that sought to identify the impact of future climate change on the performance of a new £75m education building over the first 60 years of operation. The Action Research project involved a series of meetings and workshops between the building’s design team (Architects, Engineers and Cost Consultants) and the Client’s Facilities Management Department where the impact that a range of future weather scenarios could have on the buildings performance in-use were evaluated. Technical and operational adaptation solutions were developed for those scenarios that were deemed ‘high impact’ and selected interventions were integrated into the building life cycle as pro-active adaptation steps in the built asset management plan. This paper will describe the adaptation framework used to inform the development of the various scenarios/adaptation solutions and discuss the role of the Facilities Manager in the process. The paper concludes that the presence of the Facilities Management Department in the design team was critical to the development of viable climate change adaptation solutions

Construction Semantics and Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) Language Models

The article explores the impact of ChatGPT, a powerful language model developed by OpenAI, on the construction industry. ChatGPT, with its ability to provide contextually accurate responses to a wide range of queries, has the potential to enhance safety, scheduling, and knowledge dissemination in construction. While it shows promise in tasks like hazard recognition and project scheduling, the article emphasizes the need for cautious optimism and human oversight. The construction industry could benefit from ChatGPT\u27s digital assistance to boost productivity and address skills shortages, but it is essential to recognize the value of human expertise alongside AI advancements

The Infrastructure Metaverse Already Exists

The construction industry is currently undergoing a profound digital transformation, primarily driven by the innovative concept of digital twins. The United Kingdom\u27s National Digital Twin Programme (NDTp) stands as a visionary initiative striving to establish a cohesive digital ecosystem wherein all forms of infrastructure, both existing and newly constructed, are replicated in the digital realm. Digital twins are not merely static visual representations; they serve as the cornerstone for a comprehensive information management framework that enables real-time data sharing. This data-sharing capability spans the entire lifecycle of construction projects. What makes this technology particularly powerful is its capacity to facilitate advanced simulations, which are instrumental in assessing the implications of new constructions and even modelling potential natural disasters. The simulations can have a substantial impact on improving infrastructure performance, productivity, transparency, and resource efficiency. The A-EYE Control Tower project aligns its vision with the Digital Twin innovation, both striving to advance the construction industry into a new era characterised by data-driven decision-making. Their joint mission is to elevate construction productivity and foster transparency among stakeholders

Smart motorway innovation for achieving greater safety and hard shoulder management

Smart motorways are becoming more prevalent through technology-driven approaches such as active traffic management (ATM) systems, hard shoulder management (HSM) control systems and digital enforcement cameras. Such technologies are able to monitor and respond to fluctuating traffic conditions by altering the speed limit to smooth traffic flow, activate warning signs to alert users of hazards up ahead and permit the use of the hard shoulder, either permanently or at peak times. This paper investigates smart motorways as a way of reducing congestion achieving greater road safety and improving hard shoulder management. This research is one of the first which deals specifically with the topic of smart motorways, where much of the focus to date has been on smart cities alone. A questionnaire approach was undertaken with 124 members of the public relating to their knowledge of smart motorways. The results indicate that user knowledge of smart motorways was lacking in some areas and that there is an inclination to wilfully ignore some of the smart rules of the road which contrary to the intention of smart motorways, may increase the safety risk and CO2 emissions

Synergising BIM and Real-Time Data for Improved Efficiency: An Irish Case Study

The evolution of 3D visualisation and the Internet of Things (IoT) presents a substantial opportunity for integrating real-time data with Building Information Models (BIM) to improve its functionality and construction workflow efficiency. Integrating real-time data with BIM can enhance the digital representation of construction buildings’ physical and functional characteristics and provide recordable status of on-site operations. Nevertheless, the integration between Visualisation and IoT technologies with BIM remains in its preliminary stages and faces a myriad of technical and operational challenges. Furthermore, developing advanced solutions to facilitate this complex integration requires a considerable understanding of the viability and feasibility of merging BIM and real-time data sources. This paper presents the early development of a nationally-funded Irish case study deploying a combined camera and tracking solutions that enable the integration of BIM and real-time data through passive data capture. It aims to explore the potential benefits, challenges, and perspectives of integrating the disruptive A-EYE solution for real-time data BIM in Irish construction projects. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the BIM specialists of an Irish construction company to investigate the data-related challenges to As-built BIM updating. The qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis to explore their predispositions, expectations, demands, and motivations for utilising real-time data in updating BIM. The research results demonstrated a favourable perspective regarding integrating real-time data sources with BIM, enhancing the efficiency and quality of the As�built BIM development process