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Improvement of the inspection-repair process with building information modelling and image classification

Jian Zhan (Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia)
Xin Janet Ge (School of Built Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia)
Shoudong Huang (Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia)
Liang Zhao (Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia)
Johnny Kwok Wai Wong (School of Built Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia)
Sean XiangJian He (Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia)

Facilities

ISSN: 0263-2772

Article publication date: 13 September 2018

Issue publication date: 10 April 2019

741

Abstract

Purpose

Automated technologies have been applied to facility management (FM) practices to address labour demands of, and time consumed by, inputting and processing manual data. Less attention has been focussed on automation of visual information, such as images, when improving timely maintenance decisions. This study aims to develop image classification algorithms to improve information flow in the inspection-repair process through building information modelling (BIM).

Design/methodology/approach

To improve and automate the inspection-repair process, image classification algorithms were used to connect images with a corresponding image database in a BIM knowledge repository. Quick response (QR) code decoding and Bag of Words were chosen to classify images in the system. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) were developed to facilitate activity collaboration and communication. A pilot case study in an inspection-repair process was applied to demonstrate the applications of this system.

Findings

The system developed in this study associates the inspection-repair process with a digital three-dimensional (3D) model, GUIs, a BIM knowledge repository and image classification algorithms. By implementing the proposed application in a case study, the authors found that improvement of the inspection-repair process and automated image classification with a BIM knowledge repository (such as the one developed in this study) can enhance FM practices by increasing productivity and reducing time and costs associated with ecision-making.

Originality/value

This study introduces an innovative approach that applies image classification and leverages a BIM knowledge repository to enhance the inspection-repair process in FM practice. The system designed provides automated image-classifying data from a smart phone, eliminates time required to input image data manually and improves communication and collaboration between FM personnel for maintenance in the decision-making process.

Keywords

Citation

Zhan, J., Ge, X.J., Huang, S., Zhao, L., Wong, J.K.W. and He, S.X. (2019), "Improvement of the inspection-repair process with building information modelling and image classification", Facilities, Vol. 37 No. 7/8, pp. 395-414. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-01-2018-0005

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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