Building Information Modeling, or BIM, is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility that serves as a shared resource for information for decision-making throughout the project lifecycle (National Institute of Building Sciences, 2007). The masonry construction industry currently suffers from the lack of BIM integration. Where other industries and trades have increased productivity by implementing standards for software-enhanced workflows, masonry construction has failed to adopt information tools and processes. New information technology and process modeling tools have grown in popularity and their use is helping to understand and improve construction processes. The Systems Modeling Language, or SysML, is one of the process modeling tools we can use to model and analyze the various processes and workflows. In this research, a case study methodology was applied to analyze the masonry construction industry to understand the current state of masonry construction processes and workflows. This thesis reviews these concepts and the applied case studies which are necessary to move forward with the implementation of BIM for masonry.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) enables project participants to perform more efficiently and effectively. Recently, many studies have reported the rapid growth of application of the use of BIM system in global construction industry used by Architects, Engineers and Contractors and clients etc. Many users report benefits of using BIM including more accurate information, less re-work, reduced construction time, fewer claims and better project performance. Those reported benefits have stimulated more acceptances of BIM and rapid adoption worldwide in past five years. As adoption increases and BIM becomes more pervasive in the construction industry in Hong Kong, clients and forefront users of such technology begin to question the effectiveness of BIM implementation. Firms that have adopted BIM invest an extensive amount of money and time in training professionals, but they barely enjoy the real benefits from BIM adoption. Construction is a project-based activity, wherein different disciplines work collaboratively to achieve the project goal. Effective collaboration and coordination among all project participants is essential to achieve the full advantages of BIM. Thus encouraging different disciplines (architect, engineer, surveyor, contractor, etc.) to collaborate in BIM-enabled construction projects is critical for optimizing BIM adoption and improving project performances. A project team constitutes professionals from different organizations (e.g. architectural, engineering, and construction). It is important for the project participants to work closely together to share their information, coordinate working flows, jointly make decision, achieve inter-organizational collaboration, and deliver projects effectively and efficiently. This study aims to explore and investigate factors affecting multi-discipline collaboration in BIM-enabled construction teams in Hong Kong. Socio-technical Theory is employed as theoretical lens to construct a conceptual research framework. To further develop a validated research model, a two-stage research design is adopted including an exploratory study and an explanatory study. The exploratory study uses semi-structured interviews to confirm factors identified from existing literatures as well as to explore any new important factors from empirical context. The exploratory study validates the finalized research model by content analysis of qualitative data. In the explanatory study, a quantitative research method is adopted. A questionnaire survey is conducted and a total of 249 responses are collected for data analysis. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is applied to test the finalized research model and postulated hypotheses. The research findings and results confirm that common understanding, trust and joint decision-making significantly determine the collaborative team environment. Such collaborative team environment in turn influences inter-organizational BIM collaboration. Research results also reveal that collaboration experiences among project participants impose significant positive influence on interoperability. Research findings also confirm that continuous training is a critical support factor to BIM collaboration. BIM acceptance is found to be the most significant predictor to BIM collaboration. Moreover, BIM collaboration is proved to be important to project success and BIM success. Besides, research also finds that different professionals have significant differences in BIM collaboration. Professionals with more BIM experiences tend to act more collaboratively in the project. In addition, early involvement of project participants also imposes a positive impact on BIM collaboration. This study provides an integrated view on inter-organizational collaboration in BIM-enabled construction projects in Hong Kong, and addresses the social, technological and process factors associated with effective inter-organizational collaboration. A triangulated research method is employed. Some new measurement scales and factors are developed specifically for BIM-enabled construction projects. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the significant factors that affect the collaborative adoption of BIM in the construction industry in Hong Kong. Such findings are useful and valuable to practitioners to improve the effectiveness of BIM adoption in construction projects. / published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Building (Property Development and Management) / Building information modelling (BIM) is one of many ways to automate construction processes and activities. Numerous projects in both the public and private sectors suffer from poor information management, resulting in time and cost overruns. BIM implementation is rapidly growing in western countries, as governments play key roles in devising strategies and mandating initiatives which increase its adoption. The purpose of this study is to determine possible regulatory initiatives towards BIM implementation in the South African Architectural Engineering and Construction sector (AEC) from the stakeholders’ perspective. BIM implementation strategies that have been used in various countries are discussed in the study and a questionnaire survey of AEC professionals in South Africa was conducted to determine which government strategies or mandatory initiatives would be most effective. The obtained data were analysed using inferential statistics and hypothesis testing. The results reflect that the South African government’s influence would be most valuable in mandating initiatives that promote BIM education and awareness, incentivising BIM usage by AEC stakeholders, modifying procurement practices to allow BIM usage and developing BIM libraries and data exchange frameworks. Key words: Building information modelling, implementation, mandatory initiatives / EM2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the built environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, 2017 / Construction fragmentation remains a major concern amongst professinals through-out project phases in South Africa.The report identifies fragmentation challenges in the context of integration, collaboration, communication and coordination encountered by professinal teams in construction projects. It also investigates whether the intrinsic properties of the construction projects, namely the project size, clients, project locations and project delivery methods, contribute to fragmentatio challenges experienced by the construction professinals. To accomplish this, the study employs mixed method research by using a qualitative tool to capture the raw data from the participants, and analysing the captured data quatitatively. While the results of the study are derived quantitatively, one could not quantitatively measure fragmentation on integration, collaboration, communication and coordination, i.e the results did not translate to weighted fragmentation. However, there are subtle, but enlightening points from the survey that exposed elements of fragmentation challenges faced by the professional team. While some of these challenges seem to lead to natural solutions, it appears most of the may be solved by implementing building information modelling. / MT2017

Estudantes têm ingressado no mercado de trabalho sem conhecimento em BIM e, portanto, despreparados para trabalhar com seus conceitos básicos. O objetivo desta Tese é propor uma forma de introduzir este conceito em currículos de cursos de Arquitetura e de Engenharia Civil no Brasil. Como a adoção de BIM, no Brasil, ainda está em estágios iniciais, optou-se por pesquisar documentos da literatura técnica internacional. Com base na Metodologia da Problematização com o Arco de Maguerez (MP), 408 documentos foram analisados, utilizando-se o método de pesquisa Análise de Conteúdo. Foi possível identificar os seguintes resultados: áreas do currículo em que BIM está sendo introduzido; tipos de colaboração ensinados; obstáculos enfrentados pelas instituições; a evolução do ensino de BIM; e níveis de proficiência em BIM (introdutório, intermediário e avançado). Concluiu-se que o ensino de BIM tem alcançado um elevado nível nos Estados Unidos, porém, está restrito a poucas universidades que possuem os recursos necessários e são capazes de estabelecer parcerias com empresas para troca de informações. Os métodos e recursos de ensino são, geralmente, definidos pela cooperação entre as instituições acadêmicas e a indústria, com o propósito de simular, na universidade, a prática profissional. Contudo, mesmo que BIM seja utilizado para ensinar conteúdos de uma disciplina, sua introdução nos currículos deveria seguir os critérios que são recomendados para cada nível de proficiência em BIM (NPBIM). Também foi possível identificar 12 tipos de especialidades BIM de quatro diferentes contextos e definir o perfil de um competente Gerente BIM. Para saber como algumas empresas de Arquitetura, Engenharia e Construção Civil, no Brasil, estão se estruturando para suportar projetos BIM, aplicou-se um questionário online cujos resultados contribuíram para construir um modelo para fluxo de trabalho BIM. Com base nesses estudos, foram identificadas as competências em BIM que deveriam ser ensinadas na graduação e aperfeiçoadas na profissão. Além disso, foram analisadas as ementas de dois currículos de uma universidade brasileira, assim como, as percepções dos professores quanto ao ensino de BIM. Todo conhecimento construído serviu como fundamentação para elaborar uma proposta para a introdução de BIM nesses dois currículos, assim como, a implementação de uma ferramenta que pode auxiliar professores a introduzir BIM em suas disciplinas, contemplando, assim, a última etapa da MP que é a Aplicação à Realidade. / Graduates are entering the labour market without any knowledge of BIM and are thus unprepared to work on projects that are undertaken within the framework of this new concept. The purpose of this thesis is to suggest ways this concept can be introduced in the curricula of courses in Civil Engineering and Architecture in Brazil. As the adoption of BIM in Brazil is still in its early stages, there was a need to search for suitable documentary material in the international technical literature. By employing the Problematization Methodology with the MaguerezArch (MP) 408 documents were analyzed based on the criteria of the \'Content Analysis\' method. This led to an assessment of the following areas : the parts of the curriculum where BIM is being introduced; the types of collaboration that are being taught; the obstacles faced by institutions when teaching BIM and the progress made by BIM Education in terms of the strategies adopted by academic institutions. In addition, three levels of BIM proficiency were defined: introductory, intermediate and advanced. It was concluded that BIM Education has reached an advanced level in the United States, although it is restricted to the few universities which have the required resources and are able to establish partnerships with companies to exchange information. The methods and teaching resources are designed to suit the requirements of those interacting between academic institutions and industry, as a means of simulating professional practice in the universities. However, even if BIM is only used as a teaching resource, or taught in a specific course, its introduction into the curricula must follow the criteria that are laid down for each level of BIM proficiency. It was also possible to categorize 12 types of BIM specialists working in four different areas and to define the profile of a competent BIM Manager. Moreover, a survey was conducted to find out how AEC firms in Brazil are being structured to support projects with BIM. The results made it possible to build a model for the BIM workflow. On the basis of these studies, it could be determined which BIM competencies should be taught in undergraduate courses and what improvements could be made in the profession. Furthermore, the syllabuses of two curricula from a Brazilian university were analyzed, as well as, the opinions of the teachers regarding the teaching of BIM. The knowledge obtained served as a theoretical basis for the introduction of BIM in these two curricula, as well as the implementation of a tool which can assist teachers in implementing BIM in their courses, and represents the last stage of the MP which is Assumptions of Solution.

O setor da construção civil atualmente apresenta uma forte demanda por inovações nas tecnologias de informação e comunicação na construção. Nesse contexto, a modelagem da informação da construção vem se destacando como um dos principais temas em desenvolvimento no Brasil e no mundo. O foco das pesquisas e iniciativas relacionadas à implementação da modelagem da informação da construção apresenta uma lacuna quanto ao desenvolvimento de seus processos, além de empecilhos relacionados aos aspectos de colaboração entre os agentes. Diante deste quadro, o American Institute of Architects propôs um modelo contratual para projetos integrados, denominado Integrated Project Delivery, que fomenta a relação colaborativa dos agentes do empreendimento por meio do compartilhamento dos resultados entre os participantes. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo a análise da possibilidade de implantação desta dinâmica contratual no cenário da construção civil brasileira. Para tanto, foram avaliados os resultados de dois questionários estruturados e do estudo de caso de empresa de incorporação que vem investindo na implantação da modelagem da informação da construção em seu processo de projeto. Os questionários tiveram enfoque nos estágios de maturidade da implementação da modelagem da informação da construção como cenário para o uso do projeto integrado, e os resultados apresentaram um panorama geral de baixa maturidade. No estudo de caso, avaliaram-se os modelos contratuais utilizados em relação às práticas já implantadas do uso da modelagem da informação da construção. Como resultado, foram identificados diversos aspectos do processo de projeto com potencial para implementação de um contrato relacional, porém ainda limitados pela falta de adequação dos processos e modelo contratual às características de colaboração e integração típicas da modelagem da informação da construção. Este trabalho propõe diretrizes para a adequação dos processos observados na empresa-caso ao modelo de projeto integrado proposto pelo American Institute of Architects. / The civil construction sector has demanded innovations on its communication and information technologies. In this context, Building Information Modeling has been stressed as one of the most important developing themes in Brazil and worldwide. The focus of BIM researches and implementation initiatives has a shortage regarding the development of BIM processes, and restrictions related to the collaboration among actors. Due to this scenario, the American Institute of Architects (2007) proposed a contractual model for integrated projects, called Integrated Project Delivery that stimulates a collaborative relationship among actors through sharing project results with its participants. This Master Thesis aims to analyze the possibility of implementing this contractual dynamics on the Brazilian construction sector. As methodology, two structured surveys were analyzed and a case study was carried out on a real estate company which has invested on incorporating BIM in its design process. The surveys were addressed focusing on the BIM implementation stages as a scenario for the implementation of the integrated project approach. The results pointed to a very low stage of BIM implementation. The case study focused on the evaluation of the contractual models related to the implemented BIM practices. Several potential aspects appropriate for the implementation of a relational contract were identified, but still restricted by the inadequacy of the design processes and contracts to BIM collaboration and integration typical characteristics. This Master Thesis defines guidelines for the forthcoming of the observed processes to the integrated project delivery model proposed by the American Institute of Architects.

A complexidade das atuais edificações e, consequentemente, a divisão dos projetos em especialidades e subsistemas evidenciam as dificuldades do coordenador de projetos em gerenciar todo o processo de projeto. Há necessidade de um fluxo contínuo de troca de informações e de comunicação entre os envolvidos. A prática do BIM (Building Information Modeling) e o emprego de suas ferramentas computacionais propiciam aos projetistas a agilidade e precisão no desenvolvimento do projeto, uma vez que possibilita, por exemplo, uma visualização da interação de todos os subsistemas do edifício. No entanto, o cenário atual da tecnologia não provê ferramentas para todos os fluxos de trabalho necessários, e quando fornece, nem sempre o software disponível segue as normas específicas para determinada aplicação em certo país. As normas técnicas estabelecem requisitos e recomendações relativos ao projeto e devem ser observadas por projetistas para a segurança e qualidade das edificações. Neste sentido, o objetivo desta pesquisa é desenvolver regras de verificação e validação de modelos BIM para sistemas prediais com base em normas técnicas brasileiras, tais como a de sistemas prediais de água, de esgoto sanitário e de águas pluviais. O método empregado considera o levantamento das recomendações normativas e suas respectivas transformações em regras que possam ser verificadas automaticamente por meio de programas de computador. O programa adotado foi o software Solibri Model Checker (SMC), que faz uso de modelos em Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). Os resultados mostram que regras simples de comparação e relacionadas a propriedades de cada elemento são possíveis de serem parametrizadas no SMC e têm resultados sólidos de fácil visualização, o que permite uma correção mais rápida e dinâmica por parte dos projetistas e coordenadores de projeto. Para regras mais complexas, necessitou-se da criação de ferramentas paralelas ao SMC. Constata-se que o SMC ainda é incompleto quando se trata da análise de projetos de sistemas prediais hidráulicos e sanitários, porém é possível desenvolvê-las uma vez que o modelo em IFC pode conter todas as informações necessárias às análises. Assim, verifica-se a necessidade de que os projetos BIM contenham as informações e obedeçam a padrões de modelagem para que possam ser utilizados na verificação de regras de modo eficiente. Por fim, os resultados desta pesquisa contribuem para o emprego do BIM no desenvolvimento e análise de projeto de sistemas prediais hidráulicos e sanitários com maior precisão, agilidade e qualidade. / The complexity of existing buildings and, consequently, the division of projects and sub-specialties highlight the difficulties the project coordinator to manage the entire design process. There is a need for a continuous flow of information exchange and communication among stakeholders. The practice of BIM (Building Information Modeling) and the use of their computational tools provide designers the speed and accuracy in the development of the project, as it enables, for example, a preview of the interaction of all building subsystems. However, the current technology landscape does not provide tools for all to workflows required, and when it does, they do not always follow standards a specific application in a given country. The technical standards contain requirements and recommendations relating to the project and must be observed by designers for the safety and quality of the buildings. In this sense, the objective of this research is to develop procedures for verification and validation of BIM models for building systems based on Brazilian technical standards, such as building systems for water, sanitary sewer and storm water. The employed method considers the collection of policy recommendations and their changes in rules that can be automatically checked using computer programs. The adopted program was Solibri Model Checker software (SMC), which makes use of models in Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). The results show that simple comparison rules and related properties of each element are able to be parameterized in the SMC and have solid results for easy viewing, allowing faster correction and dynamic on the part of designers and design engineers. For more complex rules the creation of parallel tools to SMC is needed. It appears that the SMC is still incomplete when it comes to the analysis of hydraulic and sanitary building systems projects, but you can develop them as the model in IFC can contain all the necessary information to the analysis. Thus, there is a need that the BIM projects contain the information and comply with standards for modeling which can be used to verify rules efficiently. Finally, the results of this research contribute to the use of BIM in the development and design analysis of hydraulic building systems and toilets with greater accuracy, speed and quality.

<p>Building Information Modeling, or BIM, is a process that is quickly changing the way Architectural, Engineering, and Construction companies manage construction projects. Being a company specific process, only parts of the process have been accepted as a standardized method across every company. Those components that are not standardized have become proprietary to each specific company. The goal of the research is to provide a rich and complete description of the use of BIM across multiple Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) companies in order to inform and integrate BIM into construction graphics and management curricula in higher education. The literature review generated a thorough understanding of BIM standards currently identified. The methodology, a comparison of BIM theory to industrial practices, provided a broader picture of all aspects of BIM being utilized in current AEC companies. The results identified a comparison of all aspects of BIM to current AEC practices and paints a well-defined picture of what is being accomplished with BIM within company construction processes across AEC companies that are classified into several categories. BIM practices within each company indicate similarities and differences that give a rich BIM description across the entire AEC industry. The results suggest a high usage of BIM across more areas than just construction of the building branching out to all areas within a set of construction documents for project management. </p>

Estudantes têm ingressado no mercado de trabalho sem conhecimento em BIM e, portanto, despreparados para trabalhar com seus conceitos básicos. O objetivo desta Tese é propor uma forma de introduzir este conceito em currículos de cursos de Arquitetura e de Engenharia Civil no Brasil. Como a adoção de BIM, no Brasil, ainda está em estágios iniciais, optou-se por pesquisar documentos da literatura técnica internacional. Com base na Metodologia da Problematização com o Arco de Maguerez (MP), 408 documentos foram analisados, utilizando-se o método de pesquisa Análise de Conteúdo. Foi possível identificar os seguintes resultados: áreas do currículo em que BIM está sendo introduzido; tipos de colaboração ensinados; obstáculos enfrentados pelas instituições; a evolução do ensino de BIM; e níveis de proficiência em BIM (introdutório, intermediário e avançado). Concluiu-se que o ensino de BIM tem alcançado um elevado nível nos Estados Unidos, porém, está restrito a poucas universidades que possuem os recursos necessários e são capazes de estabelecer parcerias com empresas para troca de informações. Os métodos e recursos de ensino são, geralmente, definidos pela cooperação entre as instituições acadêmicas e a indústria, com o propósito de simular, na universidade, a prática profissional. Contudo, mesmo que BIM seja utilizado para ensinar conteúdos de uma disciplina, sua introdução nos currículos deveria seguir os critérios que são recomendados para cada nível de proficiência em BIM (NPBIM). Também foi possível identificar 12 tipos de especialidades BIM de quatro diferentes contextos e definir o perfil de um competente Gerente BIM. Para saber como algumas empresas de Arquitetura, Engenharia e Construção Civil, no Brasil, estão se estruturando para suportar projetos BIM, aplicou-se um questionário online cujos resultados contribuíram para construir um modelo para fluxo de trabalho BIM. Com base nesses estudos, foram identificadas as competências em BIM que deveriam ser ensinadas na graduação e aperfeiçoadas na profissão. Além disso, foram analisadas as ementas de dois currículos de uma universidade brasileira, assim como, as percepções dos professores quanto ao ensino de BIM. Todo conhecimento construído serviu como fundamentação para elaborar uma proposta para a introdução de BIM nesses dois currículos, assim como, a implementação de uma ferramenta que pode auxiliar professores a introduzir BIM em suas disciplinas, contemplando, assim, a última etapa da MP que é a Aplicação à Realidade. / Graduates are entering the labour market without any knowledge of BIM and are thus unprepared to work on projects that are undertaken within the framework of this new concept. The purpose of this thesis is to suggest ways this concept can be introduced in the curricula of courses in Civil Engineering and Architecture in Brazil. As the adoption of BIM in Brazil is still in its early stages, there was a need to search for suitable documentary material in the international technical literature. By employing the Problematization Methodology with the MaguerezArch (MP) 408 documents were analyzed based on the criteria of the \'Content Analysis\' method. This led to an assessment of the following areas : the parts of the curriculum where BIM is being introduced; the types of collaboration that are being taught; the obstacles faced by institutions when teaching BIM and the progress made by BIM Education in terms of the strategies adopted by academic institutions. In addition, three levels of BIM proficiency were defined: introductory, intermediate and advanced. It was concluded that BIM Education has reached an advanced level in the United States, although it is restricted to the few universities which have the required resources and are able to establish partnerships with companies to exchange information. The methods and teaching resources are designed to suit the requirements of those interacting between academic institutions and industry, as a means of simulating professional practice in the universities. However, even if BIM is only used as a teaching resource, or taught in a specific course, its introduction into the curricula must follow the criteria that are laid down for each level of BIM proficiency. It was also possible to categorize 12 types of BIM specialists working in four different areas and to define the profile of a competent BIM Manager. Moreover, a survey was conducted to find out how AEC firms in Brazil are being structured to support projects with BIM. The results made it possible to build a model for the BIM workflow. On the basis of these studies, it could be determined which BIM competencies should be taught in undergraduate courses and what improvements could be made in the profession. Furthermore, the syllabuses of two curricula from a Brazilian university were analyzed, as well as, the opinions of the teachers regarding the teaching of BIM. The knowledge obtained served as a theoretical basis for the introduction of BIM in these two curricula, as well as the implementation of a tool which can assist teachers in implementing BIM in their courses, and represents the last stage of the MP which is Assumptions of Solution.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has entered the construction industry and has permeated the commercial sector. Research is continually performed to expand the capabilities and applications within the industry. However, research has historically been mostly limited to the commercial sector and has seen little expansion to other sectors of the industry including the residential sector. The potential cause for this may be the limited number of industry professionals who utilize the software to the benefit of their companies. The focus of this study was specifically the custom home building sector of residential construction in the United States because of the unique and potentially complex nature of each project. The study was performed using a Delphi Panel, which utilizes a panel of experts to reach a consensus on a given subject. In this study, the goal was to reach a consensus on the most common uses challenges and benefits of BIM within the residential sector. In the first questionnaires, the experts were asked to identify, with a series of demographic questions including the number of employees in their company, the number of homes they build each year, and the average sale price of each home. Each expert's responses to the demographic questions were cross-referenced with the responses concerning uses, benefits, and challenges to provide other industry members wishing to implement with relatable demographic references to compare with their own company demographics. The experts then identified how they used BIM, what benefits they had seen, and any challenges they faced. The uses, benefits, and challenges identified in this questionnaire were ranked in the following questionnaire to identify the most common uses, greatest benefits, and greatest challenges.The top uses identified by this expert panel were design and visualization, the creation of construction documents, and quantity take-offs. The most common benefits identified by this panel were client visualization, plan accuracy, improved client communication, and ease of plan revisions. The most common challenges identified by this panel were high software costs, the steep learning curve when training employees, and the time-consuming nature of creating and maintain models correctly.