Model-Based Systems Engineering and Through-Life Information Management in Complex Construction

Part 1: Building Information ModelingInternational audienceWith increasing maturity in model-based design and construction, a concomitant increase in the need for system-based methodologies and toolsets to support systems integration, requirements management, verification and validation and configuration management is evident if model-based information is to serve the operations of complex buildings and civil infrastructure projects. There is much to learn from best practices reported in complex discrete manufacturing. In particular, closed-loop product lifecycle management (PLM), systems engineering (SE) and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) are key to systems approaches to digital complex construction delivery and the reuse of model-based information for operations and maintenance (O&M). The paper reviews related research and investigates the role of the V-model in the development process, discussing its significance to structuring a through-life approach to information management. A discussion of Erasmus’ PLM aligned V-model is presented, and missing links in current BIM-enabled environments are identified relative to requirements engineering, verification and validation, and configuration management. The paper closes with a discussion of the gaps in supporting model-based tool ecologies and lack of a central structuring infrastructure, as well as the deficiencies in current process and data standards. Closing with the identification of a future research agenda

Responses of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) to growth in naphthalene-contaminated sand: xenobiotic stress versus water stress

The adaptations of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) arising from growth in naphthalene-contaminated sand (0.8 g kg−1 sand dry weight (dw)) were investigated in the contexts of xenobiotic stress and water stress. The transfer of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) across the root endodermis was investigated using the hydrophobic Nile red stain as a PAH homologue. Nile red was applied to the epidermis of a living root to visualise uptake into the root through the transpiration stream, and the distance travelled by the stain into the root tissues was investigated using epi-fluorescence microscopy (Nikon Eclipse 90i). The results showed that the Nile red applied to the roots grown in naphthalene-contaminated sand was unable to penetrate the roots beyond the endodermis, whereas those grown in ‘clean’ sand showed evidence of uptake into the xylem vessels beyond the endodermis. Furthermore, partial collapse was observed in the cortex of naphthalene-treated roots, suggesting drought stress. Interestingly, the treated plants showed visual resilience to drought stress whilst the leaves of the control plants showed signs of wilting