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1 – 10 of 223Christopher James Roberts, Erika Anneli Pärn, David John Edwards and Clinton Aigbavboa
Advancements in digital technologies have provided significant opportunities to improve the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Owner-operated (AECO) sector’s…
Abstract
Purpose
Advancements in digital technologies have provided significant opportunities to improve the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Owner-operated (AECO) sector’s performance through superior data management, streamlined processes and cooperative working practices. However, whilst academic literature widely espouses these benefits during the design and construction phases of development, research suggests that the operational phase of a building’s lifecycle has yet to fully realise performance improvements available through the application of digital modelling technology. The purpose of this paper is to synthesise extant digital modelling, asset management and emergent digital asset management literature, to report upon the beneficial implications of digitalised asset management and identify obstacles hampering its adoption in industry.
Design/methodology/approach
A componential synthesis of future work reported upon in extant literature is organised into thematic categories that indicate potential research avenues and a trajectory for digital asset management research and practice.
Findings
Themes identified include: imprecise Building Information Modelling definitions; isolated software development; data interoperability; intellectual property and virtual property rights; and skills and training requirements. Notably, increased environmental performance also arose as a theme requiring further research but received considerably less academic coverage than the other obstacles identified.
Originality/value
The work presents a comprehensive review of digital technologies utilised within the AECO sector and as such provides utility to researchers, policy makers and practitioners to enhance their knowledge capabilities.
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Kobra Gharouni Jafari, Nozhat Sadat Ghazi Sharyatpanahi and Esmatullah Noorzai
Prompt and effective responses to incompatibilities between as-designed and as-built drawings prevent cost and time overruns and material waste. This paper aims to provide…
Abstract
Purpose
Prompt and effective responses to incompatibilities between as-designed and as-built drawings prevent cost and time overruns and material waste. This paper aims to provide an efficient framework to handle mismatches between these two models with the least negative impact on the whole project.
Design/methodology/approach
First, 11 most frequent mismatches were identified through questionnaires. Also, the respondents were asked to determine the mismatches’ roots and solutions and the impact of applying solutions on the whole project. Afterward, the process to present the optimum solution to one of these mismatches was modeled. After running the application programming interface developed in Navisworks software, decision-makers access a form, showing mismatches, their causes and solutions, as well as the solutions’ effect. To finalize the optimal solution, a platform was provided on whether to accept the system solution or to propose an alternative.
Findings
To empirically validate the reliability of the proposed framework, two projects were investigated. Two different approaches to dealing with the same mismatch occurred in these projects were compared in terms of time, cost and material required. The results showed that addressing the mismatches through the proposed framework can efficiently enhance time, cost and material consumption, in comparison with the traditional approach.
Originality/value
There is currently no building information modeling-based holistic framework for managing mismatches between as-designed and as-built drawings. The results of this research can help contractors to make the best decision, saving project resources, when setting about a mismatch during construction.
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Basak Keskin, Baris Salman and Beliz Ozorhon
The purpose of this paper is to systematically analyse how building information modelling (BIM) transforms complex infrastructure settings (i.e. airports) around digital…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to systematically analyse how building information modelling (BIM) transforms complex infrastructure settings (i.e. airports) around digital technologies by enhancing connectivity and collaboration between major stakeholders and construction technology solutions. The objectives include understanding each project party's perspective for BIM implementation to align their motivations and connectivity along project's supply chain network and how BIM drives construction technology ecosystem uses for a more integrative and collaborative project delivery.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts qualitative data collection and analysis methods comprising semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis and an explanatory case study of a large-hub airport project.
Findings
The study findings show that enabling BIM implementation leads to streamlining construction technology ecosystem uses that increase connectivity within project parties' processes. Airports – as hosting high-value assets – can fast realize value of synergistic activities throughout project delivery by harnessing significant amount of siloed data created by each major party.
Originality/value
The study provides a structured analysis of how complex project settings leverage construction technology uses through their core BIM processes by highlighting multi-party approaches from an ecosystem perspective. This study also contributes to the body of knowledge and practice by presenting a transferrable and scalable approach for leveraging connected construction technology in a large-scale project involving fragmented processes managed by a large number of stakeholders.
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T.M.M.P. Tennakoon, Udayangani Kulatunga and Himal Suranga Jayasena
The purpose of this study is to comprehend the influence of the organisational culture on knowledge management (KM) in an automated construction environment.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to comprehend the influence of the organisational culture on knowledge management (KM) in an automated construction environment.
Design/methodology/approach
An abductive research approach is used, constantly matching theories and observations on KM and organisational culture in testing the influence within a building information modelling (BIM)-enabled environment. A questionnaire survey is used for the primary data collection. Simultaneously, expert interviews are conducted to find the rationale through triangulating data. The primary data analysis is conducted through relative importance index (RII) calculation and content analysis.
Findings
The analysis has declared an increment in the level of influence of culture on KM in a BIM-enabled environment when compared to the conventional construction environment. Coordination and integration, strategic direction and intend and organisational learning are the leading cultural factors that have an increased influence on KM with RII values of 0.8730, 0.8540 and 0.8222, respectively. Because BIM is a technology-infused solution in the construction industry, it can be concluded that technical implementations positively shape the organisational culture to improve the KM process.
Research limitations/implications
The data collection and findings of this research paper regarding the influence of organisational culture on KM are limited to scenarios in the construction industry. Yet, these findings could be implied to similar industries as well, when the KM process is under question.
Originality/value
The study provides the perception of knowledge in terms of the technological implementations such as BIM and organisational culture in the construction industry.
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Javier Irizarry, Masoud Gheisari, Graceline Williams and Kathy Roper
Healthcare facility managers work in complex and dynamic environments where critical decisions are constantly made. Providing them with enhanced decision support systems…
Abstract
Purpose
Healthcare facility managers work in complex and dynamic environments where critical decisions are constantly made. Providing them with enhanced decision support systems would result in a positive impact on the productivity and success of the projects they undertake, as well as the sustainability of critical healthcare infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual ambient intelligent environment for enhancing the decision-making process of the facility managers. This low-cost data-rich environment would use building information modeling (BIM) and mobile augmented reality (MAR) as technological bases for the natural human-computer interfaces and aerial drones as technological tools.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a scenario for the integration of augmented reality (AR) and building information modeling (BIM) to build an ambient intelligent (AmI) environment for facility managers where mobile, natural, user interfaces would provide the users with required data to facilitate their critical decision-making process. The technological requirements for having such an intelligent environment are also discussed.
Findings
The proposed BIM-MAR-based approach is capable of enhancing maintenance related practices for facility managers who are mobile to integrate with their facilities' intelligent environment. This approach is also capable of providing a collaborative environment in which different stakeholders, across geographically distributed areas, could work together to solve facility management tasks.
Originality/value
In this paper ambient intelligence will be considered for the first time in the area of healthcare facility management practices to provide facility managers with an intelligent BIM-based environment to access facility information and consequently enhance their decision-making process.
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Seyedhabibollah Sadrinooshabadi, Afshin Taheri, Ibrahim Yitmen and Rogier Jongeling
Each building project demands an integrated method for information and requirement management in its life cycle. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the major…
Abstract
Purpose
Each building project demands an integrated method for information and requirement management in its life cycle. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the major obstacles in integrated life cycle information management and recognize the potentials of CoClass as the new Swedish digital classification system to tackle them throughout asset life cycle.
Design/methodology/approach
The industry viewpoint toward the current status of asset information management considering ISO 19650-1 principles and the existing obstacles and the industry practitioners' ideas regarding CoClass capabilities and applicability were captured and analyzed. A total of 13 semistructured interviews were conducted with the AECO industry professionals to have an understanding of information requirement management. Then the results were analyzed qualitatively, using the NVivo 12 software. Different attributes of a component (heating panel) in a meeting room according to CoClass and data deviations throughout the asset life cycle were elaborated.
Findings
This study reveals some obstacles in information management process in seven categories in relation to: (1) the need to employ information exchange platforms as common data environments (CDEs) by all actors from early stages; (2) the communication issues caused by lack of utilizing common languages; (3) the costly and time-consuming implementation process; (4) the misunderstandings in terms of data communication between service providers and owners; (5) the definition and fulfillment of information requirements as well as keeping track of data deviations throughout asset life cycle; (6) the information update difficulty; and (7) the need for training practitioners dealing with new systems such as CoClass.
Originality/value
The research explores the major obstacles in information requirement management concerning the practical implementation of the new Swedish classification system, CoClass, supporting the asset life cycle.
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Erika Anneli Pärn and David Edwards
The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review of laser scanning and 3D modelling devices, modes of delivery and applications within the architecture…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review of laser scanning and 3D modelling devices, modes of delivery and applications within the architecture, engineering, construction and owner-operated sector. Such devices are inextricably linked to modern digital built environment practices, particularly when used in conjunction with as-built building information modelling (BIM) development. The research also reports upon innovative technological advancements (such as machine vision) that coalesce with 3D scanning solutions.
Design/methodology/approach
A synthesis of literature is used to develop: a hierarchy of the modes of delivery for laser scan devices; a thematic analysis of 3D terrestrial laser scan technology applications; and a componential cross-comparative tabulation of laser scan technology and specifications.
Findings
Findings reveal that the costly and labour intensive attributes of laser scanning devices have stimulated the development of hybrid automated and intelligent technologies to improve performance. Such developments are set to satisfy the increasing demand for digitisation of both existing and new buildings into BIM. Future work proposed will seek to: review what coalescence of digital technologies will provide an optimal and cost-effective solution to accurately re-constructing the digital built environment; conduct case studies that implement hybrid digital solutions in pragmatic facilities management scenarios to measure their performance and user satisfaction; and eliminate manual remodelling tasks (such as point cloud reconstruction) via the use of computational intelligence algorithms integral within cloud-based BIM platforms.
Originality/value
Although laser scanning and 3D modelling have been widely covered en passant within the literature, scant research has conducted a holistic review of the technology, its applications and future developments. This review presents concise and lucid reference guidance that will intellectually challenge, and better inform, both practitioners and researchers.
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Hild Marte Bjørnsen and Ashok K. Mishra
The objective of this study is to investigate the simultaneity between farm couples’ decisions on labor allocation and production efficiency. Using an unbalanced panel…
Abstract
The objective of this study is to investigate the simultaneity between farm couples’ decisions on labor allocation and production efficiency. Using an unbalanced panel data set of Norwegian farm households (1989–2008), we estimate off-farm labor supply of married farm couples and farm efficiency in a three-equation system of jointly determined endogenous variables. We address the issue of latent heterogeneity between households. We solve the problem by two-stage OLS and GLS estimation where state dependence is accounted for in the reduced form equations. We compare the results against simpler model specifications where we suppress censoring of off-farm labor hours and endogeneity of regressors, respectively. In the reduced form specification, a considerably large number of parameters are statistically significant. Davidson–McKinnon test of exogeneity confirms that both operator and spouse's off-farm labor supply should be treated as endogenous in estimating farming efficiency. The parameter estimates seem robust across model specifications. Off-farm labor supply of farm operators and spouses is jointly determined. Off-farm work by farm operator and spouses positively affects farming efficiency. Farming efficiency increases with operator's age, farm size, agricultural subsidises, and share of current investment to total farm capital stock.
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Karim Farghaly, F.H. Abanda, Christos Vidalakis and Graham Wood
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the transfer of information from the building information modelling (BIM) models to either conventional or advanced asset…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the transfer of information from the building information modelling (BIM) models to either conventional or advanced asset management platforms using Linked Data. To achieve this aim, a process for generating Linked Data in the asset management context and its integration with BIM data is presented.
Design/methodology/approach
The research design employs a participatory action research (PAR) approach. The PAR approach utilized two qualitative data collection methods, namely; focus group and interviews to identify and evaluate the required standards for the mapping of different domains. Also prototyping which is an approach of Software Development Methodology is utilized to develop the ontologies and Linked Data.
Findings
The proposed process offers a comprehensive description of the required standards and classifications in construction domain, related vocabularies and object-oriented links to ensure the effective data integration between different domains. Also the proposed process demonstrates the different stages, tools, best practices and guidelines to develop Linked Data, armed with a comprehensive use case Linked Data generation about building assets that consume energy.
Originality/value
The Linked Data generation and publications in the domain of AECO is still in its infancy and it also needs methodological guidelines to support its evolution towards maturity in its processes and applications. This research concentrates on the Linked Data applications with BIM to link across domains where few studies have been conducted.
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Bashar Abdal Noor and Sirong Yi
Building information modeling (BIM) is a process of generating and managing building data during the building’s life cycle. To increase productivity in building design and…
Abstract
Purpose
Building information modeling (BIM) is a process of generating and managing building data during the building’s life cycle. To increase productivity in building design and construction, BIM uses three-dimensional (3D) real-time, dynamic building modeling software. Because of its versatile features, BIM use is on the rise and researchers are exploring its application in new disciplines. The purpose of this study is to map out how BIM is used in the construction industry, while identifying and highlighting the research gaps in the literature.
Design/methodology/approach
To investigate the status quo of knowledge about BIM, the authors conducted a comprehensive literature review. They applied and extended a methodology for reviewing BIM-related publications through a four-dimensional meta-analysis system and its categories, which has been partially adapted previously.
Findings
Majority of studies applying BIM for the construction phase of civil engineering projects were done within universities; none used BIM for the construction of intermediate railway stations.
Practical implications
To increase the construction efficiency of intermediate railway stations, applying the BIM concept for generation and management of station data should be considered for future research.
Originality/value
Furthermore, one of the main goals of this research paper is to explore the adoption of BIM in civil engineering construction projects, in particular the construction of intermediate railway stations.
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