Building information modeling for facility managers

A Decision Support System (DSS) can help facility managers to improve building performance, occupants’ comfort, and energy efficiency during the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) phase. These DSSs are normally data-intensive and have specific data requirements. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has the potential to advance and transform facilities O&M by providing facility managers with a digitalized virtual environment that allows them to retrieve, analyze, and process such data. However, the implementation of BIM in O&M phases is still limited. The majority of issues in the BIM-O&M context lie in the interoperability between different software that requires different data structures and formats. In a BIM environment, there are issues associated with extracting, storing, managing, integrating, and disseminating data so that interoperability is assured. Considering the aforementioned aspects, the aim of this thesis is to enable interoperability between BIM models and the DSSs for building performance aspects such as building condition, maintenance, and occupants’ comfort. This integration automatizes the data transfer process which can assist Facility Management (FM) team in properly establishing the necessary measurements to moderate the negative consequences on buildings and thereby improve their performance and occupants’ comfort. The approach can also provide FM teams with an effective platform for data visualization in a user-friendly manner that can assist in integrating digital insights into FM decision-making processes and converting them into positive strategic actions. The proposed approach is validated in existing software as a case study. It is possible to demonstrate the applicability of this approach by ensuring that its interactions and outcomes are feasible using case studies. Case studies also identify how much the task efficiencies are in comparison with the manual method, helping facility managers to optimize operation strategies of buildings in order to enhance their performance. Verification tests are also performed on the information exported from a software program. The results demonstrate an efficiency increase in high-quality FM data collection for different kinds of DSS, reducing the time and effort that the FM team spends on searching for information and entering data. A Dynamo script is designed to allow administrators to include as much information as they wish in BIM models. Moreover, a novel approach is proposed to create a new category in BIM to assist public and business administrations with managing assets efficiently. In addition, building performance aspects can also be analyzed using the proposed method of integrating occupants' feedback into BIM models. By implementing the proposed approach, FM teams are able to correctly establish measurements which can be applied to mitigate the negative effects on buildings, thus improving their performance and enhancing their occupants’ comfort. Besides, the proposed approach enables BIM to be a more useful tool for visualization by using the most appropriate charts and formatting.Un Sistema de Soporte de decisiones (SSD) puede ayudar a los gestores de edificios a mejorar su rendimiento, su eficiencia energética y el confort de sus ocupantes. Para el buen funcionamiento de los SSD se requieren muchos datos. El Building Information Modeling (BIM) permite mejorar la gestión de las operaciones y el mantenimiento de los edificios al proporcionar un entorno virtual digitalizado que permite recuperar, analizar y procesar los datos requeridos por los SSD. Sin embargo, la implementación de BIM en las fases de Operación y Mantenimimento (O&M) aún es escasa. La mayoría de los problemas en el contexto de BIM-O&M radican en la interoperabilidad entre diferentes programas que requieren diferentes estructuras y formatos de datos. En un entorno BIM, existen problemas asociados a la extracción, el almacenamiento, la gestión, la integración y la difusión de datos para garantizar la interoperabilidad. Teniendo en cuenta los aspectos antes mencionados, el objetivo de esta tesis es facilitar la interoperabilidad entre los modelos BIM y los SSD relacionados con el rendimiento de los edificios, su estado de conservación y el confort de los ocupantes. Esta integración automatiza el proceso de transferencia de datos que puede ayudar a los gestores de edificios a establecer correctamente las medidas necesarias para mejorar su rendimiento y el confort de sus ocupantes. Esta integración también va a proporcionar a los gestores de edificios una plataforma eficaz para la visualización de datos de una manera fácil de usar que puede ayudar a integrar resultados de los SSD y convertirlos en acciones estratégicas. Para demostrar la aplicabilidad y la eficiencia de este integración, ésta se valida a través de casos de estudio. También se realizan pruebas de verificación sobre la información exportada en los diferentes sistemas. Los resultados demuestran un aumento de la eficiencia en la recopilación de datos de alta calidad para diferentes tipos de DSS, lo que reduce el tiempo y el esfuerzo que los gestores de edificios dedican a buscar información e introducir datos en la diferentes aplicaciones. Un script de Dynamo está diseñado para permitir que los gestores incluyan tanta información como deseen en los modelos BIM. Además, se propone un enfoque novedoso para crear una nueva categoría en BIM para ayudar a las administraciones públicas y empresariales a gestionar los activos de manera eficiente. Además, los aspectos del rendimiento del edificio también se pueden analizar utilizando el método propuesto de integrar los comentarios de los ocupantes en los modelos BIM. Al implementar el enfoque propuesto, los gestores de edificios pueden establecer correctamente las medidas que se pueden aplicar para mitigar los efectos negativos en los edificios, mejorando así su rendimiento y el confort de sus ocupantes. Además, la integración propuesta permite que BIM sea una herramienta más útil para la visualización mediante el uso de los gráficos y las opciones de formato más apropiados, guiando a la toma de decisiones para gestionar los edificiosPostprint (published version

User-Centric BIM-Based Framework for HVAC Root-Cause Detection

In the building operation phase, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) equipment are the main contributors to excessive energy consumption unless proper design and maintenance is carried out. Moreover, HVAC problems might have an impact on occupants’ discomfort in thermal comfort. Hence, the identification of the root cause of HVAC problems is imperative for facility managers to plan preventive and corrective maintenance actions. However, due to the complex interaction between various equipment and the lack of data integration among Facility Management (FM) systems, they fail to provide necessary information to identify the root cause of HVAC problems. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a potential solution for maintenance activities to address the challenges of information reliability and interoperability. Therefore, this paper presents a novel conceptual model and user-centric framework to determine the causes of HVAC problems implemented in BIM for its visualization. CMMS and BMS data were integrated into BIM and utilized by the framework to analyze the root cause of HVAC problems. A case study in a university building was used to demonstrate the applicability of the approach. This framework assists the FM team to determine the most probable cause of an HVAC problem, reducing the time to detect equipment faults, and providing potential actions to solve them.This research received funding from the Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) from Generalitat de Catalunya (2019 FI_B00064).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Investigando o efeito da assimetria de informação nas variáveis financeiras que afetam os títulos

In this study, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to study the effect of information asymmetry on financial variables affecting the securities in companies operating in the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2013 to 2017. The main objective of this research is to identify the various aspects of information asymmetry on financial variables affecting the securities of companies listed on Tehran Stock Exchange and secondary objectives provide a new approach for the development of financial variables affecting the information asymmetry of companies, evaluate the effective financial variables and determine the most important information asymmetry indices among companies in the Stock Exchange. The present research is practical in terms of the purpose, and methodology of the research is descriptive and correlational type. This study is comprised of three hypotheses. To test the hypotheses, the econometric model using panel data has been used for model estimation and hypotheses testing. At first, the Chow test has been used to determine the type of model used in combined data. According to the results, the estimation method of fixed effects for the first and second models and estimation method of random effects for the third model were adopted. Then, the fixed effects in first model and random effects in second model were chosen by using the Hausman test between the fixed effects and random effects models in the first and second models, and the multiple linear regression test has been used in combination form (year- company). The results of this study showed that there is negative and significant relationship between information asymmetry and the rate of return on assets, the ratio of price to earnings per share, and stock price change. The obtained results still remain valid through controlling the variables of control. Ultimately, the results of research hypotheses led to the confirmation of first, second and third hypotheses.En este estudio, se realizó un análisis exhaustivo para estudiar el efecto de la asimetría de información sobre las variables financieras que afectan a los valores en compañías que operan en la Bolsa de Teherán durante 2013 a 2017. El objetivo principal de esta investigación es identificar los diversos aspectos de la asimetría de información sobre variables financieras que afectan los valores de compañías cotizadas en la Bolsa de Teherán y objetivos secundarios proporcionan un nuevo enfoque para el desarrollo de variables financieras que afectan la asimetría de información de las empresas, evalúan las variables financieras efectivas y determinan los índices de asimetría de información más importantes entre las empresas en el Bolsa. La presente investigación es práctica en términos del propósito, y la metodología de la investigación es descriptiva y de tipo correlacional. Este estudio se compone de tres hipótesis. Para probar las hipótesis, el modelo econométrico que utiliza datos de panel se ha utilizado para la estimación del modelo y la prueba de hipótesis. Al principio, la prueba de Chow se ha utilizado para determinar el tipo de modelo utilizado en los datos combinados. De acuerdo con los resultados, se adoptó el método de estimación de efectos fijos para el primer y segundo modelo y el método de estimación de efectos aleatorios para el tercer modelo. Luego, los efectos fijos en el primer modelo y los efectos aleatorios en el segundo modelo se eligieron usando la prueba Hausman entre los modelos de efectos fijos y de efectos aleatorios en el primer y segundo modelo, y la prueba de regresión lineal múltiple se usó en forma combinada (año - empresa). Los resultados de este estudio mostraron que existe una relación negativa y significativa entre la asimetría de la información y la tasa de rendimiento de los activos, la relación entre el precio y las ganancias por acción y el cambio en los precios de las acciones. Los resultados obtenidos siguen siendo válidos mediante el control de las variables de control. En última instancia, los resultados de las hipótesis de investigación condujeron a la confirmación de la primera, segunda y tercera hipótesis. Neste estudo, foi realizada uma análise abrangente para estudar o efeito da assimetria de informação nas variáveis financeiras que afetam os valores mobiliários nas empresas que operam na Bolsa de Valores de Teerã no período de 2013 a 2017. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa é identificar os diversos aspectos da assimetria informacional sobre variáveis financeiras que afetam os valores mobiliários de empresas listadas na Bolsa de Valores de Teerã e objetivos secundários fornecem uma nova abordagem para o desenvolvimento de variáveis financeiras que afetam a assimetria de informação das empresas, avaliam as variáveis financeiras efetivas e determinam os índices de assimetria de informação mais importantes entre as empresas. Bolsa de Valores. A presente pesquisa é prática em termos de finalidade e a metodologia da pesquisa é do tipo descritivo e correlacional. Este estudo é composto por três hipóteses. Para testar as hipóteses, o modelo econométrico usando dados em painel foi usado para estimativa de modelo e teste de hipóteses. Inicialmente, o teste de Chow foi usado para determinar o tipo de modelo usado nos dados combinados. De acordo com os resultados, adotou-se o método de estimação de efeitos fixos para o primeiro e segundo modelos e o método de estimação de efeitos aleatórios para o terceiro modelo. Então, os efeitos fixos no primeiro modelo e efeitos aleatórios no segundo modelo foram escolhidos usando o teste de Hausman entre os modelos de efeitos fixos e de efeitos aleatórios no primeiro e segundo modelos, e o teste de regressão linear múltipla foi usado em combinação -company). Os resultados deste estudo mostraram que existe uma relação negativa e significativa entre a assimetria de informação e a taxa de retorno dos ativos, a relação preço / lucro por ação e a variação do preço das ações. Os resultados obtidos ainda permanecem válidos através do controle das variáveis de controle. Por fim, os resultados das hipóteses de pesquisa levaram à confirmação da primeira, segunda e terceira hipóteses

BIM-based decision support for building condition assessment

Building condition assessment requires the integration of various types of data such as building characteristics, the properties of elements/systems and maintenance records. Previous research has focused on identifying these data and developing a building condition risk assessment model based on Bayesian networks (BN). However, due to interoperability issues, the process of transferring the data is performed manually, which requires considerable time and effort. To address this issue, this paper presents a data model to integrate the building condition risk assessment model into BIM. The proposed data model is implemented in existing software as a case study and tested and evaluated on three scenarios. Addressing interoperability will leverage the BIM tool as a data re- pository to automate the data transfer process and improve its consistency and reliability. It will also enable BIM to be a more effective tool for building condition and causality analysis visualization.This work was supported by Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) from Generalitat de Catalunya under Grant 2019 FI_B00064Postprint (published version

Predicting hospital admissions to reduce crowding in the emergency departments

Having an increasing number of patients in the emergency department constitutes an obstacle to the admissions process and hinders the emergency department (ED)’s ability to deal with the continuously arriving demand for new admissions. In addition, forecasting is an important aid in many areas of hospital management, including elective surgery scheduling, bed management, and staff resourcing. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a precise prediction model for admissions in the Integral Healthcare System for Public Use in Catalonia. These models assist in reducing overcrowding in emergency rooms and improve the quality of care offered to patients. Data from 60 EDs were analyzed to determine the likelihood of hospital admission based on information readily available at the time of arrival in the ED. The first part of the study targeted the obtention of models with high accuracy and area under the curve (AUC), while the second part targeted the obtention of models with a sensitivity higher than 0.975 and analyzed the possible benefits that could come from the application of such models. From the 3,189,204 ED visits included in the study, 11.02% ended in admission to the hospital. The gradient boosting machine method was used to predict a binary outcome of either admission or discharge.This research was funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Torres Quevedo grant number PTQ2021-012147.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i BenestarObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i Benestar::3.8 - Assolir la cobertura sanitària universal, en particular la protecció contra els riscos financers, l’accés a serveis de salut essencials de qualitat i l’accés a medicaments i vacunes segurs, eficaços, assequibles i de qualitat per a totes les personesPostprint (published version

Digital twins’ applications for building energy efficiency: a review

Over the last few decades, energy efficiency has received increasing attention from the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operation (AECO) industry. Digital Twins have the potential to advance the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) phase in different application fields. With the increasing industry interest, there is a need to review the current status of research developments in Digital Twins for building energy efficiency. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the applications of digital twins for building energy efficiency, analyze research trends and identify research gaps and potential future research directions. In this review, Sustainability and Energy and Buildings are among the most frequently cited sources of publications. Literature reviewed was classified into four different topics: topic 1. Optimization design; topic 2. Occupants’ comfort; topic 3. Building operation and maintenance; and topic 4. Energy consumption simulation.This research was funded by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS), grant number 22/2551-0000574-8.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The characterization of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy using electromyography in gastrointestinal cancer patients

Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) is a common dose-dependent chemotherapy complication in gastrointestinal cancer (GIC). This side effect may restrict therapeutic dose elevation of oxaliplatin. Here, OIPN frequency and determinants of neuropathy appearance in oxaliplatin-treated GIC patients. A total of 102 GIC patients who underwent chemotherapy with fluorouracil, folinic acid and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX4) regimen participated in this longitudinal study. Electromyography (EMG) was accomplished for ulnar, radial, sural, peroneal nerves and superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) before, 3, and 6 months after treatment. National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria V.3 and clinical version of the Total Neuropathy Score were used for the neuropathy diagnosis at six months after treatment onset. Of all entered patients, twelve people discontinued this study, and five patients passed away. About 85 patients remained three and six months after chemotherapy onset. Approximately 95% of patients three months after chemotherapy demonstrated OIPN manifestations. Finally, data for 81 patients having neuropathy were analyzed. Mean age of patient 64.0±10.9 years. There were about 3.7%, 30.9%, 63% grade III, II, I of neuropathy, respectively. Interestingly, a significant decrease in action potential (AP) amplitude of SPN, sural and radial nerves but not ulnar and peroneal was observed after treatment onset. However, only the ulnar nerve indicated a substantial deceleration of nerve conduction. Age, sex, weight, past medical diseases, smoking and acute neuropathy were not significantly associated with OIPN. The occurrence of OIPN is detectable by electrophysiological changes of SPN, radial, and sural nerves at three and six months after starting chemotherapy with the FOLFOX4 regimen

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR SIMULATION AND PREDICTION OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGES AND URBAN GROWTH (CASE STUDY: SANANDAJ CITY IN IRAN)

One of the growing areas in the west of Iran is Sanandaj city, the center of Kordestan province, which requires the investigation of the city's growth and the estimation of land degradation. Today, the combination of remote sensing data and spatial models is a useful tool for monitoring and modeling land use and land cover (LULC) changes. In this study, LULC changes and the impact of Sanandaj city growth on land degradation in geographical directions during the period 1989 to 2019 were investigated. Also, the accuracy of three models, artificial neural network-cellular automata (ANN-CA), logistic regression-cellular automata (LR-CA), and the weight of evidence-cellular automata (WOE-CA) for modeling LULC changes was evaluated, and the results of these models were compared with the CA-Markov model. According to the results of the study, ANN-CA, LR-CA, and WOE-CA models, with an accuracy of more than 80%, are efficient and effective for modeling LULC changes and growth of urban areas

Assessment Relationship between Body-esteem and perceived Social Support in Patients with Ostomy

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is a progressive gastrointestinal disease that leads to the insertion of an ostomy for patients. On the other hand, the manifestations and complications caused by the insertion of the ostomy cause many physical and mental problems for the patient. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body-esteem and perceived social support in patients with ostomy in the Iranian Ostomy Association. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was performed on 350 patients with ostomy referring to the Iranian Ostomy Association in Tehran. The Convenient method was used for sampling. The data collection tool was a Body-esteem Scale and Nortous social support questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 and independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and Tukey test. Results: The mean and standard deviation of Body-esteem and perceived social support of patients were 42.57 ± 10.24 and 131.17 ± 15.45. According to the findings of this study, the mean score of Body-esteem and social support in patients with ostomy was moderate. There is a direct and significant relationship between social support and Body-esteem (r = 0.13, P = 0.006). Conclusions: Since the perception of social support has considerable effect on Body-esteem, it is recommended that nurses, by identifying high-risk groups in terms of receiving and understanding social support, continuously examine the patient's support needs and improve their level of Mental health and also by connecting patients with the community, families and groups of friends pay attention to this psychological dimension. Keywords: Ostomy, Body-esteem, Social Support, Colorectal Cance