Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Kimberly W. Kramer / Building Information Modeling (BIM) is altering the way that the construction industry is developing design documents by involving all members of the design team as well as the general contractor early in the design process. The members are encouraged to offer advice on the design and constructability on the project. However, not only is the design process changing, but the liability and responsibility of each team member is changing as well. The alteration in responsibility can severely impact structural engineers because of the level of responsibility already associated with their role in the design process. This report looks at the concerns industry leaders and legal professionals have with how BIM is altering the liability landscape, such as standard contracts, software interoperability, data misuse, intellectual property, loss of data, the legal status of the model, the standard of care, and design delegation. In addition to the liability concerns, this report examines the steps that industry leaders have taken to prevent any unnecessary additional liability from affecting structural engineers.

Construction project performance and worker productivity are often tied to the availability and effective presentation of information, tools, materials, and equipment. While advancements in technology have improved much of the processes on a construction project, the medium of information dissemination at the construction work face has consistently relied on the use of two dimensional drawings and specifications. Industry initiatives are driving increased collaboration through three dimensional BIM (Building Information Modeling) models. However, the added dimension partially loses its effect when presented on a two dimensional computer monitor. Other computer forms of presentation intended for mobility (PDAs, laptops, and tablets) can be difficult to use in the field due to glare, durability in a harsh working environment, and the required skill level for effective use. Three dimensional (3D) physical printers now provide the capability to develop scaled and color models of a project directly from a BIM model. 3D physical printers represent a potential transformative change of providing engineering information to construction crews, but how to develop 3D models that leverage the cognitive benefits of viewing engineering information in a physical 3D form is unknown. The primary contribution to the overall body of knowledge of this dissertation is to scientifically examine the effect that different engineering information mediums have on an individual’s cognitive ability to effectively and accurately interpret spatial information. First, the author developed a robust scientific experiment for construction practitioners and students to complete. This experiment included outcomes measures on mental workload, cognitive demand, productivity, efficiency, demographics, and preferences. After collecting data, the author analyzed the outcomes through a series of statistical analyses to measure the differences between groups and quantify the affect and relationship among key variables. From the results, there are statistically significant improvements in productivity and efficiency of practitioners and students when using a physical model compared to two dimensional drawings and a three dimensional computer model. In addition, the average cognitive demand for a physical model was lower than the average cognitive demand for two dimensional drawings and three dimensional computer model.

Modern manufacturing processes are becoming more integrated and relying on measuring performance to better identify ways of improvement. The AEC industry is now moving in this direction through IT-based Design and Construction Integration (ITDCI). ITDCI is a collaborative knowledge-based activity in which each participant continuously and timely contributes and shares his/her knowledge to realize a specific goal, bonded by a unified and cohesive culture with the use of the supportive IT-tools. Executing the project in an ITDCI fashion requires the satisfaction of these conditions. This research developed a formal model that consists of 75 ITDCI mechanisms distributed over the different phases of the facility development process within colleges and universities to enable the knowledge transfer process and achieve the highest level of integration. The level of ITDCI involved in a particular project can be then measured by quantifying the number of ITDCI mechanisms introduced. The research methodology included the following activities: reviewing the related literature, developing and validating a scenario for the facility development process within typical colleges and universities through literature review and interviews, providing a definition for each phase of the process to be executed in an ITDCI fashion and finally identifying actions or mechanisms that have to be activated to obtain the highest level of ITDCI. The model was validated through an online survey that targeted the members of the Society of Colleges and Universities (SCUP) and a case study. WPI's new East Hall residence facility was used as a case study to validate the model. This model is a significant contribution to the construction industry because it acts as a measuring tool to assess the corresponding level of ITDCI in the facility development process. It also helps to develop a common understanding among industry practitioners on what is required to achieve a desired level of ITDCI in their project. This comprehension would guide them to a better recognition of the benefits and consequences of each specific level of IT-based integration on their project outcomes. It will also enable them to execute more accurate cost/benefit analyses and eventually opt for the optimum ITDCI level. For future work, the model could be expanded to include other types of facilities, such as residential, healthcare and commercial facilities to achieve wider adoption within the AEC industry.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2018-12-13T15:16:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Júlia Stradiotto_.pdf: 6066989 bytes, checksum: 3e8b5920abe56e064f188b5ed013c581 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-13T15:16:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Júlia Stradiotto_.pdf: 6066989 bytes, checksum: 3e8b5920abe56e064f188b5ed013c581 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-31 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O aumento de prazos e custos previstos em obras públicas, principalmente em países em desenvolvimento, gera a necessidade de buscar soluções para este problema. O processo BIM (Building Information Modeling) apresenta-se como alternativa para trazer mais transparência nas etapas de projeto e obra. Neste trabalho, buscou-se investigar a aplicação do processo de projeto em BIM em obras públicas do Centro de Referência de Assistência Social (CRAS) de Santa Catarina, sendo este o primeiro projeto desenvolvido pela Secretaria de Estado do Planejamento (SPG) em BIM. Este trabalho visa analisar reduções de aditivos de prazo e custo, comparando com as mesmas obras realizadas em dois editais, sendo que no Edital A foi utilizado o processo de projeto tradicional (CAD) e no Edital B foi utilizado o processo BIM para o projeto. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em 3 etapas: a primeira refere-se aos projetos desenvolvidos em CAD (Edital A) e engloba 61 obras licitadas, sendo 46 construídas com aditivos de custo e de prazo extremamente elevados; a segunda etapa, com projetos em BIM (Edital B), abrangendo 50 obras; e a última etapa teve por objetivo realizar a comparação entre elas. Para isso foram realizadas entrevistas com envolvidos nos projetos, construção e fiscalização, além de 2 visitas para auxiliar na investigação durante a execução de obras do Edital B. Os resultados apontam que nas obras do Edital B, somente uma delas foi executada dentro do prazo e custo estabelecido originalmente, uma obra possuiu aditivo de prazo e atendeu o custo original e outras 3 obras foram finalizadas com aditivo de prazo e custo até julho de 2018. Embora muitas obras do Edital B tiveram a necessidade de aditivos, os resultados obtidos demonstram ganhos em relação ao Edital A. No que se refere aos aditivos de custo, o projeto desenvolvido no processo BIM, os dados corretos de quantitativo, juntamente com a revisão do projeto foram um dos principais responsáveis pela redução dos aditivos de custo. Os aditivos de prazo sofreram influências diversas, sendo a principal delas com causa desconhecida, observada nos dois editais analisados, além de fatores relacionados à contratação, planejamento e contrapartidas dos municípios. Em aditivos de prazo, fatores relacionados ao projeto apareceram com menor relevância. / The increase of cost and schedule delays in public construction projects, mostly in developing countries, brings the need to find solutions for this issue. BIM process is understood as an alternative to achieve more transparency in the design and constructions stages. This paper aims to investigate the BIM design process of public constructions of Centro de Referência de Assistência Social (CRAS) of Santa Catarina, which is the first project designed by this State in BIM process. This study aims to analyze reductions of costs overruns and schedule delays, comparing the same project in different bids: the Edital A was designed by traditional process (CAD) and the Edital B was designed in BIM process, analyzing the design and construction stage. This study was developed in three stages: the first investigated the projects made in CAD and construction of Edital A, which includes 61 constructions, but only 46 was built, presenting extremely high schedule delays and costs overruns; the second stage aims to analyze the Edital B, with project reviewed and designed in BIM and 50 constructions; and the third stage refers to the comparison between the first and second stage. In addition, interviews were conducted and two visits to the constructions of the Edital B were required. The results indicate that in the constructions completed of the Edital B, only one construction project was finished according to the cost and schedule originally established, one construction had only schedule delay and another tree were concluded with schedule delays and costs overruns until July 2018. Even though, the constructions of Edital B had cost overruns and schedule delay, the results show gains in relation to Edital A. The design in BIM process with the appropriate quantitative takeoff and the review of the original design were the main responsible for the reduction of the cost overruns. In terms of schedule delays, these were influenced by several factors, the main factor has unknown cause and was observed in both analyses (Edital A and B), besides there are factors related to contracting, construction planning and counterparts of municipalities. The causes related to the design process has shown less relevance in terms of schedule delay.

Submitted by William Justo Figueiro (williamjf) on 2015-07-01T23:01:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 08.pdf: 5067048 bytes, checksum: 82f5a88d9c0784ceff1cf8542e4bfa7c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-01T23:01:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 08.pdf: 5067048 bytes, checksum: 82f5a88d9c0784ceff1cf8542e4bfa7c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-22 / Caixa Econômica Federal / O setor da construção civil tem buscado se adequar às exigências do mercado imobiliário para atender a um novo perfil de consumidor, com novos estilos de vida, esquemas de trabalho individualizados e maior nível de exigência. Empreendimentos têm sido reconfigurados e passaram a considerar com mais ênfase questões como a satisfação dos usuários e a qualidade da edificação. Algumas das opções adotadas pelas empresas são a flexibilização de projeto (diferentes opções de plantas) e a possibilidade de personalização das unidades (modificações de layouts de plantas, materiais de acabamento e instalações). Entretanto, com a participação dos usuários nas definições de projeto, a quantidade de intervenientes no processo e a troca de informações aumentaram, originando falhas na comunicação e na retroalimentação do projeto. Esta é uma das causas de retrabalho e perdas durante a execução da obra, gerando atrasos no cronograma da obra e elevando os custos de produção. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de investigar os processos de flexibilização e personalização de unidades habitacionais, em edificações verticais residenciais de classe média comercializadas em Porto Alegre, RS. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida através de um estudo de casos, com entrevistas e acompanhamento de obras em quatro empresas construtoras de Porto Alegre. Além disso, foi realizada uma pesquisa na publicidade de venda de empreendimentos para identificar o nível de flexibilização e personalização ofertado no mercado imobiliário da Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre. A partir da análise destas informações foram propostas diretrizes para melhoria da gestão de projetos com possibilidade de modificações, tais como dispositivos móveis com Internet sem fio; extranets de projeto e softwares BIM, visando à eficiência da comunicação entre os intervenientes e a redução de retrabalho. / The construction sector has sought to suit the requirements of the real estate market to meet a new consumer profile, with new lifestyles, individualized work schemes and greater level of requirement. Ventures have been reconfigured and have come to consider issues such with more emphasis on user satisfaction and quality of building. Some of the options adopted by companies are the flexibility of design (different options of plants) and the possibility of customization of the units (modifications of plant layouts, finishing materials and installations). However, with the participation of users in the project settings, the quantity of interveners in the process and information exchange increased, causing failures in communication and feedback of design. This is one of the causes of rework and losses in the execution of the work, causing delays in the schedule of work and raising production costs. This study aims to investigate the processes of flexibility and customization of housing units in residential buildings vertical middle class sold in Porto Alegre, RS. The research was developed through a cases study with interviews and monitoring of works in four construction companies in Porto Alegre. In addition, a survey was conducted in the advertising sales of ventures to identify the level of flexibility and customization offered in real estate of the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre. From the analysis of this information have been proposed guidelines to improve the management of projects with possible modifications, such as mobile devices with wireless Internet, extranets design and BIM softwares, aiming at the efficiency of communication between interveners and reducing rework.

A crescente necessidade de reduzir os prazos e os custos dos empreendimentos de construção e de melhorar a qualidade das edificações e as condições de trabalho tem incentivado a adoção de sistemas pré-fabricados. Entretanto, a adoção desses sistemas exige uma intensa troca de informações entre a obra e a fábrica, de forma a sincronizar a fabricação dos componentes, as operações logísticas e o processo de montagem na obra, principalmente em ambientes engineer-to-order (ETO). Em sistemas do tipo ETO, o pedido do cliente é realizado nas etapas iniciais do projeto, e existe um elevado grau de incerteza principalmente pelo desconhecimento das atividades a serem realizadas. Em ambientes com esse tipo de complexidade, a literatura sugere o uso de Building Information Modeling (BIM) para facilitar o compartilhamento de informações e apoiar a tomada de decisões nesses ambientes, assim como a aplicação de conceitos e princípios da filosofia da Produção Enxuta. Particularmente em relação aos processos de montagem, o uso de BIM 4D pode ser utilizado para simular e analisar algumas operações, apoiando o processo de planejamento e o controle da produção. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo desenvolver um modelo para gestão dos processos logísticos em obras de sistemas pré-fabricados do tipo engineer-to-order com o apoio da modelagem BIM 4D A abordagem metodológica adotada foi Design Science Research (DSR), sendo desenvolvidos dois estudos empíricos. O primeiro foi realizado em colaboração com uma empresa responsável pelo projeto, fabricação e montagem de estruturas pré-fabricadas de concreto, sendo implementadas diversas melhorias em uma obra de uma universidade. O segundo, de caráter descritivo, foi desenvolvido em um empreendimento de construção de shopping center, sendo envolvidas uma empresa gerenciadora de obra e uma empresa que produziu e montou na obra a estrutura pré-fabricada de concreto. As principais contribuições da aplicação de BIM 4D como suporte à tomada de decisão referem-se ao aumento da confiabilidade do processo de montagem e da produtividade, principalmente pela clareza e rápida atualização das informações geradas pelos modelos 4D. / The growing need to reduce construction project duration and cost, as well as to improve building quality and working conditions, have encouraged the adoption of prefabricated building systems. However, the adoption of those systems requires an intense exchange of information between the construction site and the plant, in order to synchronize the production of components, logistic operations and site assembly, especially in an engineer-to-order (ETO) environment. In ETO systems, the client’s order is placed at the early design stages, and a high degree of uncertainty exists mostly due to the lack of knowledge about the tasks to be carried out. The literature suggests the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to facilitate the sharing of information and to support decision-making in this type of environment, as well as the application of Lean Production concepts and principles. Particularly in relation to assembly process, the use of 4D BIM modelling can be used to simulate and analyze some operations, supporting production planning and control This research work aims at to devise a model for the management of logistic processes for engineer-to-order prefabricated building systems, with the support of 4D BIM modelling. Design Science Research was the methodological approach adopted in this investigation, and two empirical studies were carried out. The first one was undertaken in close collaboration with a company that designs, manufactures, and assemble prefabricated concrete structures, and some improvements were implemented in a project for a higher education institution. The second was undertaken in a shopping mall project, and two companies were involved: a project management company, and a company that produced and assembled on-site pre-fabricated structures. As a result of this research work, the application of 4D BIM to support decision-making contributed to improve the reliability of the assembly process and to increase productivity, mainly due to the clarity and timeliness of the information made available by 4D models.

No mercado de construção civil, o BIM ou Modelagem da Informação da Construção, deixou de ser um modismo com poucos pioneiros, para ser a peça central da tecnologia do mercado de Arquitetura, Engenharia e Construção (AEC), abordando aspectos de projeto, construção e operação de edifícios. Além das informações de projeto, pode-se agregar ao modelo BIM dados externos oriundos da execução, avaliação e manutenção da construção. Cresce, com isso, o número de informações que podem ser armazenadas nos modelos e a oportunidade para identificação de padrões não explícitos, relacionados à geometria e topologia de seus componentes. Para análise destas informações, faz-se necessária a utilização de técnicas que permitam o seu processamento. Dentre as técnicas existentes para a descoberta de conhecimento em bases de dados está o KDD (Descoberta de Conhecimento em Bases de Dados) e, especificamente, a mineração de dados. Focando especificamente os dados oriundos do registro de defeitos da construção e considerando que o modelo BIM não é um repositório de dados no qual técnicas padrão podem ser aplicadas diretamente, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo o desenvolvimento de um arcabouço teórico que define os pontos relevantes para a utilização de técnicas de mineração de dados de defeitos construtivos em modelos BIM, fornecendo uma base conceitual para a sua aplicação prática. Acredita-se que a aplicação de mineração de dados em modelos BIM pode propiciar a identificação de padrões que são influenciados de alguma forma pela geometria dos elementos construtivos, padrões estes que podem ser úteis tanto para a análise de problemas de qualidade de execução, quanto para produtividade, manutenção, pós-ocupação, entre outros. Além da proposta de arcabouço teórico para mineração de dados em modelo BIM, esta pesquisa propôs um conjunto de componentes BIM para registro de informações de defeitos de construção, bem como uma proposta para categorização das relações entre os defeitos e os componentes do modelo BIM, de forma a tornar explícitas informações relevantes para mineração de seus dados. / In the construction market, BIM - Building Information Modeling is no longer a fad adopted by few pioneers, but the centerpiece of technology in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction market (AEC), addressing aspects of design, construction and operation of buildings. In addition to engineering design information, the BIM model allows for storage and management of information from the construction process, facilities operations and building maintenance. Alongside with this, the amount of information stored in models and the opportunity to identify patterns related to geometry and topology of construction components also increase. For the analysis of this information, the use of appropriate data processing techniques is essential. Use of KDD (Knowledge Database Discovery) and Data Mining are among the existing techniques used for knowledge extraction in large databases. While focusing on data from construction defects and considering that a BIM model is not a standard data repository, in which standard data mining techniques could be applied directly, this research aimed to develop a theoretical framework that defines the requirements and procedures for the use of Data Mining Techniques for construction defects in BIM models, while providing a conceptual basis for its practical application. It is based on the concept that the application of data mining in BIM models is able to retrieve patterns that are influenced by the geometry of building elements and that these patterns can be useful for analyzing issues of construction quality, productivity, maintenance, and post-occupancy, among others. In addition to the proposition of a theoretical framework, this research developed a standard set of BIM components for the record of construction defects data, and suggested a structure for the categorization of correlations between defects and BIM components, with the purpose of clearly identifying relevant information for the data mining process.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) plays an important role in today's construction industry. Models are tools that help stakeholders communicate, visualize building geometry, perform trade coordination and clash detection among others. A less popular aspect of BIM that shows high potential is the quantity take-off (QTO) feature. Yet, its implementation among commercial general contractors (GC) has not received as much attention. The purpose of this study was to identify how the BIM QTO features were being implemented among commercial general contractors, what challenges they faced and how they worked to overcome those challenges. Through a three-step process including semi structured interviews with estimators, preconstruction, BIM and Virtual Design Construction (VDC) managers, valuable insights on the BIM QTO implementation state among general contractors were gathered and analyzed. Links between BIM QTO benefits, project design phases and delivery methods, software, training, leadership and jurisdictions were discussed. The data indicated that BIM QTO's benefits were best leveraged through early general contractor involvement, the adequate contract framework, trained BIM QTO estimators, and early and strategic communication between owners, designers and estimators. The conditions for increased efficiency were discussed along with the solutions to the common BIM-based QTO challenges.

The research work detailed in this dissertation relates to the computer representation of information which concerns product families and product platforms. Common to competitive companies today, is the quest of designing products and processes to meet a large variety of customer needs, in short time, and based on few resources. One way to succeed with this endeavor is to plan for the variety and design a modular, or adaptive, product family based on a common platform of resources. To further increase the efficiency in delivering customized products in time, a computer processible model of the family is created, which is used to realize a customer specific product variant during the order phase. The objective of this research is to define a generally applicable model of product family information for the purpose of supporting various applications, and for achieving an efficient utilization of information. The approach is to define a model of the product family according to the theory of Axiomatic Design, which reflects the trace from various requirements to functions and different properties and components of the product. By representing information from design in a generally applicable format, this information can be reused when building the configuration models of the order phase. By adapting the model to an existing standard, information exchange between systems is supported, and access is provided to information concerning detailed physical parts as well as constructs addressing various use and version management. Contributions include a description of a model architecture with reusable functional solutions, interfaces, structures and interrelations between platform solutions and product family. Further, it is described how to extend and model the domains and interrelations of axiomatic design in an information model, which is adapted to the product modeling standard of ISO10303-214. / QC 20100812

The  construction  industry  is  a  costly  business  such  in  respect  of  capital  for  most construction defects which then require rework, tear down and rebuild again. This study is  meaningful  awareness  of  tools  that  can  reduce  this  best  through  communication  and information sharing between the parties.  The  construction  industry  is  known  as  temporary  projects  organizations,  where  the construction  project  consists  of  several  actors  who  have  to  communicate  and  share information  between  them  to  avoid  mistakes  later  in  the  build  time.  These  actors  are bounded together thus for the duration of the project, then broken when the project has reached its end. The challenge here is for these actors to apply a tool that can help and simplify communications, information sharing, and perhaps the most important aspect is to  create  a  routine  for  the  association  and  the  shattering  of  these  actors.  To  implement such  behavior  using  a  tool  such  as  BIM  in  the  industry  whose  size  perhaps  is indescribable may be a very hard task.  BIM (Building Information Model) could be seen as the solution to this problem because it  acts  as  a  portal  where  the  actors  involved  must  sign  in  and  communicate,  share information, and eventually create a behavior, a routine for this association and division of  the  actors  following  the  end  of  the  project.  The  technology  could  help  the  involved from  the  beginning  of  the  project,  already  in  the  model  stage,  break  down  and  prevent any construction barriers when the building has been placed in the works.  In the current situation used paper models, 2D models and three-dimensional models, 3D, where  the  last  one  is  a  part  of  the  BIM.  BIM  makes  it  also  possible  to  implement  4D, price  calculation  for  the  construction  from  beginning  to  end  and  5D  ie  construction details such as what kind of wood the door is made of, what kind of concrete it is, and even the amount of cable for the construction for example.  BIM  is  seen  as  a  information  technology  used  primarily  in  construction,  where  to encounter  several  obstacles  during  the  implementation  and  use  of  such  technology  is expensive  to  implement  in  a  small  operation,  but  it  creates  many  drivers,  many  agents that  have  implemented  BIM,  which  ultimately  pays  according  to  those  who  can  afford and in the current situation using it