The integration of lessons learned knowledge in Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Lessons learned systems are vital means for integrating construction knowledge into the various phases of the construction project life cycle. Many such systems are tailored towards the owner organisation’s specific needs and workflows to overcome challenges with information collection, documentation and retrieval. Previous works have relied on the development of conventional local and network/cloud-based database management systems to store and retrieve lessons gathered on projects. These lessons learned systems operate independently and have not been developed to take full advantage of the benefits of integration with emerging building information modelling (BIM) technology. As such construction professionals are faced with the shortcomings of the lack in efficient and speedy retrieval of context-focused information on lessons learned for appropriate utilization in projects. To tackle this challenge, we propose the integration of lesson learned knowledge management in BIM in addition to existing 2D-8D modelling of project information. The integration was implemented through the embedding of non –structured query system, NoSQL (MongoDB), in a BIM enabled environment to host lessons learned information linked to model items and 4D modelling project tasks of the digitised model. This is beyond existing conventional text-based queries and is novel. The system is implemented in .NET Frameworks and interfaced with a project management BIM tool, Navisworks Manage. The demonstration with a test case of a federated model from a pre-design school project suggests that lessons learned systems can become an integral part of BIM environments and contribute to enhancing knowledge reuse in projects

BIM : new rules of measurement ontology for construction cost estimation

For generations, the process of cost estimation has been manual, time-consuming and errorprone. Emerging Building Information Modelling (BIM) can exploit standard measurement methods to automate cost estimation process and improve inaccuracies. Structuring standard measurement methods in an ontologically and machine readable format for a BIM software can greatly facilitate the process of improving inaccuracies in cost estimation. This study explores the development of an ontology based on New Rules of Measurement (NRM) for cost estimation during the tendering stages. The methodology adopted is Methontology, one of the most widely used ontology engineering methodologies. To ensure the ontology is fit for purpose, cost estimation experts are employed to check the semantics, descriptive logicbased reasoners are used to syntactically check the ontology and a leading 4D BIM modelling software is used on a case study building to test/validate the proposed ontology

Technologies for digital twin applications in construction

The construction industry is facing enormous pressure to adopt digital solutions to solve the industry's inherent problems. The digital twin has emerged as a solution that can update a BIM model with real-time data to achieve cyber-physical integration, enabling real-time monitoring of assets and activities and improving decision-making. The application of digital twins in the construction industry is still in its nascent stages but has been steadily growing over the past few years. A wide variety of emerging technologies are being used in the development of digital twins in diverse applications in construction but it is not immediately clear from the literature which ones are key to the successful development of digital twins, necessitating a systematic literature review with a focus on technologies. This paper aims to identify the key technologies used in the development of digital twins in construction in the existing literature, the research gaps and the potential areas for future research. This is achieved by conducting a systematic review of studies with demonstrative case studies and experimental setups in construction. Based on the observed research gaps, prominent future research directions are suggested, focusing on technologies in data transmission, interoperability and data integration and data processing and visualisation

A BIM-based framework for construction project scheduling risk management

The management of risks has been at the heart of most construction projects. Building Information Modelling (BIM) provides opportunities to manage risks in construction projects. However, studies about the use of BIM in risk management are sketchy with a lack of a systematic approach in using BIM for managing risk in construction projects. Based on existing risk models, this study investigated and developed a BIM-based framework for the management of construction project scheduling risk. Although, the frameworks were developed by mining risk management processes from Synchro and Vico, both being amongst leading 4D/5D BIM software systems, they can inform risk management in BIM projects that are supported by 4D/5D BIM software systems that contain risk management modules. The frameworks were validated for their syntactic and semantic correctness