Enhancing BIM Methodology with VR Technology

Building information modeling (BIM) is defined as the process of generating, storing, managing, exchanging, and sharing building information. In the construction industry, the processes and technologies that support BIM are constantly evolving, making the BIM even more attractive. A current topic that requires attention is the integration of BIM with virtual reality (VR) where the user visualizes a virtual world and can interact with it. By adding VR, the BIM solution can address retrieving and presenting information and increasing efficiency on communication and problem solving in an interactive and collaborative project. The objective of this chapter is to report the improvement of BIM uses with the addition of interactive capacities allowed by VR technology. A bibliographic and software research was made to support the study

Modelo integrado de descriçâo geométrica de tabuleiros de pontes

A forma de um tabuleiro de pontes é obtida por sobreposiçâo de diversas componentes morfológicas que actuam em simultâneo. A configuraçâo resultante é, pois, normalmente complexa. Num projecto de pontes, este facto reflecte-se numa considerável morosidade na execuçâo de fases relacionadas com a representaçâo do tabuleiro. Propôe-se um processo descritivo que possibilita a criaçâo de uma base de dados geométrica do tabuleiro. Esta base, constituindo um modelo exacto da forma do tabuleiro, contém a informaçâo necessària à definiçâo automática de distintos modelos geométricos do tabuleiro necessários na elaboraçâo de um projecto. Sâo apresentados os modelos relativos à sua representaçâo através de planos, secçôes e perspectivas. Demonstrase ainda como efectuar a transposiçâo da forma real da estrutura para uma malha discretizada, por recurso directo à base descritiva. A metodologia desenvolvida foi implementada num programa computacional dirigido ao tabuleiro em caixâo unicelular, uma das soluçôes estruturais mais utilizadas. O programa constitui um apoio importante ao projecto nas fases de concepçâo, análise e execuçâo da documentaçâo gráfica.Peer Reviewe

The 7D BIM Model Used in the Estimation of the Useful Life of Façade Materials

The Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology is supported on the concept of centralizing, in a parametric virtual model, all information related with the project, the construction and the overall lifecycle of a building. The building maintenance and management activities, requires the development of working facilities planned in an early project phase. The maintenance planning has been improved supported in BIM, as it allows professionals to easily retrieve, add and update the database of the BIM model. The definition of adequate maintenance strategies requires knowledge regarding the durability of the materials, mainly the degradation perdition of the materials. The present work is focused on the estimation of the useful lifetime of materials usually applied on the finishing of traditional building facades and terraces. Based on the knowledge of durability of the selected materials a Dynamo script was created allowing to obtain an estimation value concerning the degradation perdition of the materials. Other Dynamo script was developed oriented to the visualization of the degradation level of the materials. This innovative approach intends to support the maintenance engineers to make assertive decisions concerning the maintenance activity. In this study Dynamo programming improved BIM-FM systems integration, providing a positive contribution in construction maintenance context

BIM Academic Training Course to Enhance Construction Professional’s Skills

The implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology in the construction industry has been covering wide applicability with recognized benefits in designing, constructing and operating buildings. A recent short course organized in the University of Lisbon, actualized with the most relevant achievement based in master research, was offered to professionals of the industry, namely architects and civil engineers coming from diverse engineering areas, environment, construction, maintenance, consult and patrimonial enterprises and also from public organizations such as city councils. The proposed action covers the areas of construction (conflict analysis, planning and materials take-off), structures (interoperability, analyses and transfer of information between software) and the most recent Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) topic. The course aims to contribute to the dissemination of the potential of BIM in the areas of designing, construction and refurbishing of historical buildings. The participants followed the course with great interest and satisfaction, formulating several questions directed to the particular activity of each of the attendees

Modelo integrado de descriçâo geométrica de tabuleiros de pontes

A forma de um tabuleiro de pontes é obtida por sobreposiçâo de diversas componentes morfológicas que actuam em simultâneo. A configuraçâo resultante é, pois, normalmente complexa. Num projecto de pontes, este facto reflecte-se numa considerável morosidade na execuçâo de fases relacionadas com a representaçâo do tabuleiro. Propôe-se um processo descritivo que possibilita a criaçâo de uma base de dados geométrica do tabuleiro. Esta base, constituindo um modelo exacto da forma do tabuleiro, contém a informaçâo necessària à definiçâo automática de distintos modelos geométricos do tabuleiro necessários na elaboraçâo de um projecto. Sâo apresentados os modelos relativos à sua representaçâo através de planos, secçôes e perspectivas. Demonstrase ainda como efectuar a transposiçâo da forma real da estrutura para uma malha discretizada, por recurso directo à base descritiva. A metodologia desenvolvida foi implementada num programa computacional dirigido ao tabuleiro em caixâo unicelular, uma das soluçôes estruturais mais utilizadas. O programa constitui um apoio importante ao projecto nas fases de concepçâo, análise e execuçâo da documentaçâo gráfica.Peer Reviewe

Visual simulation of Civil Engineering activities: Didactic virtual models

Three-dimensional geometric models have been used to present architectural and engineering works, showing their final configuration. But, when the clarification of a detail or the constitution of a construction step in needed, these models are not appropriate because they do not allow the observation of the construction activity. Models that could present dynamically changes of the building geometry are a good support on education in civil engineering domain. Techniques of geometric modeling and virtual reality were used to obtain interactive models that could visually simulate the construction activity. The applications explain the construction work of a cavity wall and a bridge. These models allow the visualization of the physical progression of the work following a planned construction sequence, the observation of details of the form of every component of the works and support the study of the type and method of operation of the equipment applied in the construction. The models present distinct advantage as educational aids in first-degree courses in Civil Engineering. The use of Virtual Reality techniques in the development of educational applications brings new perspectives to the teaching of subjects related to the field of civil construction

Modelo integrado de descriçâo geométrica de tabuleiros de pontes

A forma de um tabuleiro de pontes é obtida por sobreposiçâo de diversas componentes morfológicas que actuam em simultâneo. A configuraçâo resultante é, pois, normalmente complexa. Num projecto de pontes, este facto reflecte-se numa considerável morosidade na execuçâo de fases relacionadas com a representaçâo do tabuleiro. Propôe-se um processo descritivo que possibilita a criaçâo de uma base de dados geométrica do tabuleiro. Esta base, constituindo um modelo exacto da forma do tabuleiro, contém a informaçâo necessària à definiçâo automática de distintos modelos geométricos do tabuleiro necessários na elaboraçâo de um projecto. Sâo apresentados os modelos relativos à sua representaçâo através de planos, secçôes e perspectivas. Demonstrase ainda como efectuar a transposiçâo da forma real da estrutura para uma malha discretizada, por recurso directo à base descritiva. A metodologia desenvolvida foi implementada num programa computacional dirigido ao tabuleiro em caixâo unicelular, uma das soluçôes estruturais mais utilizadas. O programa constitui um apoio importante ao projecto nas fases de concepçâo, análise e execuçâo da documentaçâo gráfica

BIM short course for construction industry professionals = Curso corto en BIM dirigido a los profesionales de la industria de la construcción

The Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology is currently the main work platform in the construction industry, and all sectors have been enhancing its applicability. The demonstration of the benefits registered in the development of various activities motivates the great interest. affirmed by architects, engineers and managers, in knowing its concept and the scope of its applicability. Recently, higher education technical schools have been following this interest, introducing changes into their curricular programs and also offering short courses to construction industry professionals. In recent years, the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Lisbon, Portugal, has organized courses concerning BIM with the aim of meeting the professionals’ needs. To this end, the most recent short course offered to the technical community covered aspects, from the parametric modelling concept to the analysis of the interoperability capacity of the software. The text presents the course program - concept, practice, structures and construction - and the assessment of the degree of satisfaction of participants, based on their pre-course expectations and interest they had in attending the course. It can be concluded that the school and the industry should continue to collaborate in order to reinforce the efficiency of the construction sector.ResumenLa metodología Building Information Modelling (BIM) es actualmente la principal plataforma de trabajo en la industria de la construcción, y todos los sectores han estado potenciando su aplicabilidad. La demostración de los beneficios registrados en el desarrollo de diversas actividades motiva el gran interés, verificado por arquitectos, ingenieros y gestores, por conocer su concepto y el alcance de su aplicabilidad. Las escuelas técnicas han estado siguiendo este interés, introduciendo cambios en sus programas curriculares y ofreciendo también cursos cortos a profesionales de la industria de la construcción. El Departamento de Ingeniería Civil de la Universidad de Lisboa, Portugal, ha estado organizando cursos sobre la cuestión BIM, en una perspectiva de lograr las necesidades de los profesionales. En este caso, el curso corto más reciente ofrecido a la comunidad técnica abarca varios aspectos, desde el concepto de modelado paramétrico hasta el análisis de la capacidad de interoperabilidad. El texto presenta el programa del curso (concepto, práctica, estructuras y construcción) y la evaluación del grado de satisfacción de los participantes, confrontado con sus expectativas e interés en asistir al curso. La escuela y la industria han estado colaborando para potenciar la eficiencia del sector de la construcción

8D BIM Model in Urban Rehabilitation Projects: Enhanced Occupational Safety for Temporary Construction Works

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a relevant booster to the modernization of construction. The adoption of digital technologies positively contributes to more agile and integrated processes in all phases of the building life-cycle, namely with regard to project management activities. The implementation of BIM has been predominant in new building projects, but the current market cycle of the rehabilitation or refurbishing of existing buildings offers new opportunities of application to be explored. This paper explores such opportunities, namely with regard to the temporary construction works involved in urban rehabilitation projects with the preservation of the façades of the original buildings. It specifically addresses the impacts of the modeling efforts of steel frames and structures needed to temporarily support façades, after the demolition of the old buildings, and until the original façade is reintegrated into the structural elements of the new building. In a BIM context, an 8D model is created to explore BIM capabilities in enabling more efficient occupation safety and health coordination and management activities in building rehabilitation projects, namely in improving and validating the demolitions and construction methods and sequencing, the scheduling of construction works, and the mandatory occupational risk prevention documents for the construction site. The development of the research was supported on the use of the available BIM software: Revit, to model the façade and the temporary steel structural system; Microsoft Project, to schedule the construction works; Navisworks, to perform clash detection analyses and enable visual simulations for occupational risk, and its identification and mitigation. The study intends to contribute to the dissemination of BIM capabilities to improve occupation safety and health in construction, namely in rehabilitation projects involving temporary structures while contributing with innovative perspectives toward higher maturity in BIM implementation and use in the construction sector

BIM in Structural Project: Interoperability Analyses and Data Management

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a methodology supported on technological evolution achievements, and consists of a set of processes and tools that allows the creation of a digital three-dimensional model. The model centralizes information, in an organized database, facilitating the data access and the exchange between the collaborators and enterprises along all life cycle of a building. The study is focused on the application of BIM within the framework of a structural design, identifying the benefits and limitations verified in the process and indicating strategies allowing to improve the quality of the project and construction. A structural BIM model of a study case was created; using BIM based platforms, followed by its transfer to the calculation software, where the structural analysis and design were carried out. After, using the structural BIM model complemented with the reinforcements, several applications and tasks were performed, namely, the coordination and collaboration procedures, detection of conflicts analyses, production of dynamic drawings, budget estimation and environmental impact simulation of the structural framework concerning the CO2 emission. In the structural domain, the interoperability is the main problem that must be understood and the present study contributes to clarify the recurrent limitations. The research also presents the capacity of BIM methodology of using the database of the BIM model to achieve several types of tasks that normally are associated to the structural design. The study demonstrates the significant improvement in the quality of the structural design and the wide applicability of the BIM model, when compared with the current traditional sequential and fragmented process