Building Information Modelling in Tertiary Construction Project Management Education: A Programme-wide Implementation Strategy

This paper reports on the on-going development of teaching and learning supported by Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the undergraduate Construction Project Management Programme at the University of Technology Sydney. BIM is a model-driven approach to designing, constructing, operating and maintaining buildings and civil engineering facilities. The model that forms the core of the BIM approach is a smart, shared and computable three-dimensional model of the building or the civil engineering facility. At its heart, BIM and Virtual Construction Models (VCMs) are used to facilitate a more integrated and visual mode of teaching. The approach provides a new basis for developing problem based learning - one that has the potential to allow students to aggregate their learning around a central project whilst enabling problems to be scaled at different levels of complexity. This approach aims to better integrate and link individual subjects together as well as improve the development of core student attributes such as communication, understanding, decision making, collaboration and information gathering skills; very much mimicking the on-going technology driven transformation happening in industry. The VCMs aim to be regularly used in various formats as students progress through their undergraduate degree programme - and we adopt the term `vertical problems' to capture the way models and problem based learning are being utilised, where staff author `sub-plots' that utilise information models in a way that best suits their specific subjects, e.g. cost, time, quality, sustainability subject areas. To this end, the article reports on findings from the research, development and early implementation stages of a programme-wide teaching and learning proposition supported by BIM. This includes a typology that helps target varying degrees of model utilisation and diffusion in given subjects and transitional requirements for both staff and students

A Multi-dimensional Subcontractor Evaluation Framework for Nonconventional Housing Systems

For any building construction project, it is crucial at the outset to select an appropriate subcontractor to achieve the objectives in terms of affordability and quality. But selection of a competent subcontractor becomes even more important when it comes to housing-construction with non-conventional materials and technologies, as their implementation requires unique skills and proficiencies. In the first phase of this research, the subcontractor selection attributes were identified. Apart from literature review, divergent stakeholders of Indian real-estate value-chain were also surveyed for identification of subcontractor selection attributes. While some of the identified attributes are generic, others are specific towards selection of subcontractors for building construction with new materials and technologies. However, the identified attributes can be broadly classified into five categories: “technical experience”, “financial competency”, “resource adequacy”, “job quality and safety” and “local and other factors”. In the next phase of the research, a multidimensional framework was developed using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for evaluation of subcontractors based on the identified attributes. The developed framework can also be used as a decision making protocol for selection of subcontractors for non-conventional building construction. The developed framework was validated by implementing it for subcontractor selection in a residential project site where emerging construction technologies were being implemented

Integrating rules of modular coordination to improve model authoring in BIM

As the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) becomes pervasive and its level of application matures, the need to incorporate domain-specific knowledge in BIM authoring tools is also increasing. Rule-based scripts that assist and guide the modeller in model authoring are needed to enhance the level of usage of BIM. The authors developed a framework for incorporation of rule-driven domain knowledge into BIM authoring tools. With the objective of customizing the modelling process using a set of rules, the approach presented in this paper combines rules of modular coordination in prefabricated building with BIM. Modular coordination, a dimensional coordination system for sizing and placing building elements within a three-dimensional (3D) reference system, is translated into rules that are incorporated into the BIM authoring tool through object-level and process-level interventions. The study explores various options of parametric modelling for integration of identified modular coordination rules. The aim of integrating modular coordination rules is to assist the user during the modelling process. The proposed approach has the potential of reducing inconsistencies and time spent in modelling and documentation allowing the designer to spend more effort on value-adding design tasks. With the help of a case study and an experiment, capabilities of the proposed framework are demonstrated and validated

Evaluating Offsite Technologies for Affordable Housing

Availability of an attribute-based evaluation and selection system for offsite technologies is crucial for the adoption of these technologies in mass housing projects. Due to this gap, adoption of offsite technologies remains low in the Indian construction industry in spite of a huge requirement of 18.78 million housing units to be built by 2022. The traditional ‘sticks and bricks’ approach is not likely to fulfil this demand. Adoption of offsite technologies has to be looked into as an option to deliver the extensive requirement in the area of affordable housing. Rejection of technology by evaluating the first cost alone is not the desired strategy to evaluate these offsite technologies. To evaluate and adopt these offsite technologies in affordable housing segment, a holistic selection framework encompassing a set of attributes is needed. This paper identifies a holistic selection framework with a set of offsite specific attributes alongside a set of standard attributes that are mandatory and desired for the adoption of offsite technologies in the affordable housing. Simple scoring of attributes is utilized in devising the framework. This framework is tested and validated on a case study where offsite technologies are used

Utilising Building Component Data from BIM for Formwork Planning

Advancements in the computing realm have assisted the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry to progress significantly by automating several design tasks and activities. Building Information Modelling (BIM) authoring tools have played a significant role in automating design tasks and reducing the efforts required by the designer in redundant, repetitive or production-oriented activities. This paper explores one such approach that, with the help of BIM authoring tool and its Application Programming Interface (API), reduces the efforts expended on formwork design for concrete structures. The paper utilises the concept of using BIM data as input to compute the quantity of formwork, and generate visualisations and schedule of formwork. The developed approach first takes data input from semantic BIM to the API environment for computation and design of formwork systems, which is then placed within the BIM model, to generate visualisation and prepare schedules. The research work utilises a structural concrete wall as an example to demonstrate the presented approach. The approach will be influential in streamlining the formwork design process in the BIM environment and reducing efforts required by the designer and the planning engineer. Since the formwork elements are generated as 3-Dimensional (3D) solids and smart BIM elements, the generated model of formwork can be used for resolving clashes, scheduling, and resource planning

Parametric Modelling for Designing Offsite Construction

Increasing population and progressing economies around the world are generating huge demand for built assets. When this demand is dealt with conventional ‘sticks-and-bricks’ approach, it leads to usual delays, wastages, cost overruns, and quality issues, etc. Consequently, the traditional approach results in negative impacts on economic and social scenarios apart from being just unable to deliver required supply level of built assets. On the other hand, offsite construction techniques, when utilized appropriately, can significantly speed up the construction process and improve the quality of deliverables in addition to bringing in improved sustainability and better worker health and safety. But offsite practices are marred with a general perspective of its being cause of rigidity in the design processes and disproportional increment in coordination requirements. To address this perceived problem, the application of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been conceptualized for the design of a prototype in this research. Simpler ways of modularization and effective optimization of design through parametric modelling has been developed. The methodology coming out of this design exercise, which is of reporting values of parametric variables real-time, is promising in the sense of ensuring the general and flexible usage of offsite practices. Further as experienced during the BIM modelling exercise for the prototype, the design iterations can be accomplished in a more informed manner and optimization run in an automated fashion by using the Application Programming Interface (API) of BIM authoring tool by taking advantage of already defined key parameters. This paper addresses these important issues at the conceptual level and determines a roadmap for further research

Prioritizing BIM Capabilities of an Organization: An Interpretive Structural Modeling Analysis

The Indian Architectural Engineering and Construction sector is grappling with the adoption of BIM as is evident from a relatively low level of adoption. While there have been sufficient number of successful (and unsuccessful) project level implementations of BIM in India, the maturity level of the overall industry and its constituents remains relatively low. One of the challenges faced, especially at the organizational level, is an understanding and development of the organization's BIM capabilities. These capabilities need attention in terms of their effectiveness and hierarchy of implementation in order to overcome the challenges of adoption and increasing maturity levels in BIM usage. The inability to identify crucial BIM capabilities is one of the primary barriers to ineffective BIM implementation and slow adoption in India. The aim of this study is to investigate the dynamics of different BIM capabilities and to understand how these capabilities can be represented as a set of interrelated elements by adopting Interpretive Structure Modeling (ISM) technique Accordingly, a clear understanding regarding the nature of each BIM capability is developed that will help the organizations to plan the strategic implementation of BIM on any project and gain systematic, logical and productive results. Through the three-phased study, it was concluded that BIM capabilities namely visualization, energy and environment analysis, structural analysis, MEP system modelling, constructability analysis, and BIM for as-built were found to be the independent BIM capabilities having strong driving power but weak dependence power. Facilities management is a dependent BIM capability with weak driving power but strong dependence power. This study provides a roadmap to BIM implementers by highlighting the driving and dependence power of each BIM capability which is deemed useful for enhanced delivery of construction projects. Significant theoretical and practical implications are envisioned for both researchers and project managers through the findings of this study

Biocompatible microcapsules

Biocompatible microcapsules useful for transplanting foreign material into an animal body, and the method of their production, are described, wherein the microcapsules contain an outermost layer of water soluble non-ionic polymers such as PEO to create resistance to cell adhesion on the surface of the microcapsules.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Biocompatible microcapsules

Biocompatible microcapsules useful for transplanting foreign material into an animal body, and the method of their production, are described, wherein the microcapsules contain an outermost layer of water soluble non-ionic polymers such as PEO to create resistance to cell adhesion on the surface of the microcapsules.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Assessing determinants of PPP project performance: Applying AHP to urban drinking water sector in India

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the factors that affect the performance of projects being implemented on the public-private partnership (PPP) framework, with specific reference to urban drinking water sector in India. Design/methodology/approach: A listing of factors that have a bearing on project performance have been developed based on a review of the literature. Through a survey, seven factors that are relevant to the Indian context were determined. Interviews were then conducted across a cross-section of government agencies, financial institutions, development agencies, private sector entities and consultants to understand the relative importance of these attributes. The analytical hierarchy process was used to develop relative weights of these factors. Findings: Ranking and relative weights of the factors in descending order are stakeholder consent and support for water PPP projects (22.1 percent), appropriate project structure (17.4 percent), availability of realistic baseline information (16.2 percent), reasonable water tariffs (13.9 percent), public sector capacity (13.0 percent), well-developed market (9.5 percent) and water sector regulator (7.9 percent). Differences in perceptions amongst various stakeholder groups were also found. Research limitations/implications: Water sector has not matured, and with the advent of newer formats of implementation models, there could be significant changes in the sector. As the number of projects available for study is limited, this exercise can be undertaken periodically and updated in relation to experiences in other infrastructure sectors. Practical implications: This analysis provides inputs to policymakers and project proponents for structuring more sustainable urban drinking water PPP projects. Originality/value: Indian infrastructure PPP market is attracting increased attention from researchers, though not much emphasis is being given to urban drinking water sector. This paper aims to contribute toward filling this research gap. © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited