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In recent years, the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) databases has enabled architects/engineers to quantify the environmental impact of building materials for whole building analysis and comparative analyses of design alternatives. The application of building information modeling (BIM) has facilitated this process by providing designers and engineers with the detailed bill of materials required for LCA. However three limitations exist: First, LCA assessments have been limited to the design phase of a project delivery or post completion phase. Consequently, it does not help incentivize the choice of suppliers and delivery strategies that minimize the cradle-to-site impacts. Second, majority LCA tools ignore the impact of construction means and methods during the construction phase. Third, there is a lack of metrics and visualization tools that assess environmental impacts of decisions made during pre-construction and construction phase. As a result, little incentive exists for suppliers to provide embodied carbon footprint rates, and similarly, for contractors to balance project costs, schedule objectives with the corresponding environmental impact. To address these challenges, we propose and develop a new framework that applies BIM for reliable, effective benchmarking, monitoring, and visualization of embodied carbon footprint of construction projects. It comprises of a benchmarking module, and a monitoring and visualization module. In the experiments, this framework is implemented on concrete placement activities during the construction of the Center for the Arts facility at Virginia Tech. The developed framework can revolutionize construction by a) a rapid assessment and visualization of the deviations between expected and released carbon footprint, b) incentivizing contractors to request that manufacturers and suppliers gauge and share their carbon footprints as a part of contractor submittal process and c) incentivizing those construction firms that can complete their project with an overall carbon footprint rate lower than what is budgeted during the pre-construction or compared to the values from the design phase, while documenting and using the performance results as a benchmark for future similar projects. / Master of Science

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 293 people lost their life from 2008-2012 in the field of Facility Management (FM). In that same timeframe, private employers recorded 98,420 cases of occupational injuries and illness, with 26,190 cases requiring a minimum of 31 days away from work. Workers in this field are at constant risk of electrical shock, falls, crushing, cuts, and bruises and as a result, have a much higher rate of injury and illness than the national average. Case study analysis confirms that many of the recorded accidents could have been avoided had the victim followed appropriate hazard mitigation steps to safely execute a facility repair and maintenance task, defined in this research as safety protocol. Currently, safety related information is conveyed to FM staff through training seminars, OandM manuals, plans and specifications, database storage, safety meetings, and safety literature. This information, although comprehensive, often remains fragmented among multiple resources and is left up to the worker's discretion whether the information is relevant. Research has shown that the more time and effort, known as inconvenience, an individual must spend obtaining information, the less likely they are to retrieve the information and obey the stated warnings. This research focuses on the identification, categorization, transference, and delivery of safety related information applicable to facility management staff. This is executed by, obtaining safety inputs through various mechanisms of data collection, categorizing the safety inputs, transferring the information utilizing existing BIM-based software and research methods into a data storage repository, and designing a data retrieval and processing system (DRPS), integrated into the repository to interact with the data. The DRPS adds structure and relationships through a UML Class Diagram and Sequence Diagram. Additionally, standardized safety properties are developed for asset groups using the Asset Safety Identification Tool (ASIT). Finally, a conceptual graphical user interface (GUI) is developed to represent the interaction between the DRPS and the FM Worker. By combining the DRPS with a GUI, a FM worker can efficiently interact with a singular repository for safety information, eliminating the need to reference multiple resources in order to obtain comprehensive safety information. The goal of this research is to mitigate the fragmentation and timing inefficiencies within safety related information retrieval by developing a BIM-based framework to categorize, consolidate, and deliver job specific safety information, eliminating the need to reference multiple documents in order to develop a comprehensive, task specific safety plan. / Ph. D.

[pt] Atualmente o processo que envolve a construção de um empreendimento é baseado em documentos impressos e desconexos. Há uma tendência global de que um mesmo projeto seja elaborado por diversas empresas e diferentes equipes, porém, as ferramentas computacionais que são utilizadas ainda são as mesmas de décadas atrás. Devido a essa mudança de paradigma, a metodologia conhecida como modelagem da informação da construção, BIM, vem aos poucos ganhando aceitação na área de AEC (Arquitetura, Engenharia e Construção). Motivada por esse processo de transição, essa dissertação tem como objetivo estudar e avaliar algumas das ferramentas computacionais disponíveis no mercado que são utilizadas na implementação da metodologia BIM. Essa avaliação é feita a partir do projeto de um empreendimento real que foi feito utilizando a metodologia tradicional, isto é, documentos 2D independentes. O projeto é modelado em 3D com uma base de dados integrada de acordo com a metodologia BIM. O projeto baseado no modelo 3D é então comparado com o projeto original. Ao término desse estudo são obtidos exemplos reais dos benefícios da modelagem 3D parametrizada. Uma série de deficiências são detectadas nos documentos 2D originais, o que não teria acontecido caso a metodologia BIM fosse usada desde o início do projeto. Além disso, é avaliada a integração entre uma ferramenta de modelagem 3D estrutural (Autodesk Revit Structure 2012) e um software de análise estrutural (Autodesk Robot 2012). Estratégias de integração são testadas e as melhores práticas são descritas em detalhe. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que o uso da metodologia é promissor e sua implementação deve ser seriamente considerada no Brasil. / [en] Currently the process involved in the construction of a facility remains fragmented and dependent on paper-based communication modes. There is a global trend where a single project may be developed by different companies and may involve several teams of specialists. However, the computational tools that are still in use are the same as the ones being used for decades. Due to this paradigm shift, a methodology known as Building Information Modeling, BIM, has been gaining acceptance in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) area. Motivated by this process of transition, this thesis aims to study and evaluate some of the computational tools available in the market that are used to implement the BIM methodology. This assessment is made using the design of an actual facility, which is done using the traditional 2D design methodology, i.e., disjoint 2D documents. The project is modeled in 3D with using integrated database according to the BIM methodology. The resulting project is then compared to the original project. At the end of this study, real examples of the benefits of parameterized 3D modeling are obtained. Several inconsistencies in the original design documents are observed, which would not have occurred if the BIM methodology had been used from the beginning of the project. In addition, the integration between a 3D structural modeling tool (Autodesk Revit Structure 2012) and a structural analysis tool (Autodesk Robot 2012) is evaluated. Integration strategies are tested and the best practices are described in detail. The findings of this work suggest the use of the BIM methodology is promising and support its use in Brazil.

Según estudios realizados por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática – INEI, en la región de Puno, en los censos de 1993 y 2007 existe un crecimiento demográfico emigrante de las zonas rurales a la zona urbana, de la ciudad de Juliaca, gran parte de esta población pertenece al sector socioeconómico “C”; por lo que la demanda de la adquisición de la vivienda propia que sea de bajo costo y además cumpla con las necesidades básica que se incrementaron para dicha población. El objetivo de esta tesis consiste en el desarrollo y utilización de nuevas tecnologías de gestión como es el uso del BIM (Building Information Modeling) y el Lean Construction para el desarrollo de una vivienda unifamiliar en la ciudad de Juliaca, como así también la implementación del uso de materiales y técnicas de construcción novedosos tales como son los prefabricados de concreto; con estas nuevas tendencias de construcción y gestión se procura aminorar los costos y tener la posibilidad de adquirir la vivienda propia para este sector de la población. Dentro de este estudio se establece que los prefabricados a utilizarse en este proceso constructivo de la vivienda serán los paneles tipo Sándwich y las prelosas, las cuales son comparadas con el sistema tradicional que corresponde a un sistema aporticado que es usado mayormente en la ciudad de Juliaca. / According to some statistical studies by Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática – INEI, in the region of Puno, performed in the 1993 and 2007 Census; there is increasing of immigrant population who belong to the "C" socioeconomical sector; for which low-cost own housing that meets the requirements of this population has shown a strong growth. The aim of this thesis consists in developing and use of new technologies of management in building, as the usage of BIM (Building Informatio Modeling), and Lean Construction in order to get a single-family house built in the city of Juliaca, as well as the implementation of the use of new materials and new construction techniques, as pre-fabricated concrete construction products; with these new construction and management trends, we seek to lower costs and to get the possibility to obtain own housing for this sector of the population. Pre-fabricated construction products to be used in this process of building of houses will be Sandwich panels and floor plates, which will be compared with the traditional building breached system used mostly used in the city of Juliaca. / Trabajo de investigación

Adaptive reuse of parametric finite element analysis (FEA) models is a common form of reuse that involves integrating new information into an archived FEA model to apply it towards a new similar physical problem. Adaptive reuse of archived FEA models is often motivated by the need to assess the impact of minor improvements to component-based designs such as addition of new structural components, or the need to assess new failure modes that arise when a device is redesigned for new operating environments or loading conditions. Successful adaptive reuse of FEA models involves reference to supporting documents that capture the formulation of the model to determine what new information can be integrated and how. However, FEA models and supporting documents are not stored in formats that are semantically rich enough to support automated inference of their relevance to a modelers needs. The modelers inability to precisely describe information needs and execute queries based on such requirements results in inefficient queries and time spent manually assessing irrelevant models. The central research question in this research is thus how do we incorporate a modelers intent into automated retrieval of FEA models for adaptive reuse? An automated retrieval method to support adaptive reuse of parametric FEA models has been developed in the research documented in this thesis. The method consists of a classification-based retrieval method based on ALE subsumption hierarchies that classify models using semantically rich description logic representations of physical problem structure and a reusability-based ranking method. Conceptual data models have been developed for the representations that support both retrieval and ranking of archived FEA models. The method is validated using representations of FEA models of several classes of electronic chip packages. Experimental results indicate that the properties of the representation methods support effective automation of retrieval functions for FEA models of component-based designs.

Construction productivity lags behind most industries. In general, the process of construction is carried out in several smaller processes. For the overall construction process to be successful, continuity between these smaller processes must be achieved. This has been the persistent goal of construction productivity improvement for decades now. Waste is generated between the continuing activities by the unpredicted release of work and the arrival of resources. However, in recent decades the construction industry has a great need to improve its productivity, quality and incorporate new technologies to the industry due to increased foreign competition. In the late 1980s, researchers started looking at solving this problem in a more general and structured way based on the philosophy and ideology of lean production. In lean, adopting waste identification/reduction, or meeting the client's needs with minimal resources addresses the performance improvement. With recent developments in the construction industry, introduction of building information modeling (BIM) has had a significant influence on leaner construction. They are both complementary in several important ways. Various studies conducted exhibit that BIM is very crucial in reducing the project cost, site conflicts, project duration, error reduction, better and faster design development, and so on. This brings the question; can BIM be used as a tool for leaner construction? The objective of this thesis is to determine how BIM is helping achieve a leaner construction. More and more companies are adopting BIM as an acceptable waste reduction tool. A comprehensive study of lean theory and BIM was conducted, underscoring ways for BIM to help achieve leaner construction. The research was broadly conducted in three different parts. In the first part, a synthesis is drawn from a literature study to show that BIM helps reduce waste, helps in implementing lean techniques, and achieves lean principles. The second part focuses on the data acquired from a construction company to show that BIM helps reduce project cost, duration and conflicts. The third and the last part focused on getting the perspective view of different professionals in the construction industry on BIM by conducting focus interviews. A comprehensive conclusion was derived based on the findings from the three methods adopted.

Navigation through large and unfamiliar facilities with labyrinths of corridors and rooms is difficult and often results in a person being lost. Additionally, locating a specific utility within a facility is often a tough task. The hypothesis tested in this research is that integrating real-time automated sensing technology and a Building Information Model will provide real time visualization that can assist in localization and navigation of a facility. The scope of this research is facility maintenance management during the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) phase of a facility. The thesis demonstrates how the integration of passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking technology and Building Information Modeling (BIM) can assist in facilities maintenance management. The objectives of this research included 1) developing a framework that utilizes the integration of commercially-available RFID and a BIM model; 2) evaluating the framework for real-time resource location tracking within an indoor environment; and 3) developing an algorithm for real-time localization and visualization in a BIM model. A prototype application has been developed that simultaneously connects the RFID readers, a database, and a BIM model. The goal of this system is to have a real-time localization accuracy of 3 meters at 95% confidence. Testing was conducted in laboratory conditions, and the results show that the system error was within the 3 meters goal.

Nya möjligheter inom kommunikation och samarbete är en stor drivkraft gällande utvecklingen av digitala verktyg inom byggbranschen. I dagens byggprojekt har byggherrens projektledare en kritisk roll för att projekt ska genomföras framgångsrikt, och inom denna roll är kommunikation och samarbete två centrala delar. Syftet med detta examensarbete har varit att undersöka hur projektledarens roll på beställarsidan kan effektiviseras med stöd av det digitala verktyget BIM. Fokus har legat på att undersöka hur kommunikation och samarbete mellan projektledaren och andra aktörer inom branschen kan främjas med hjälp av BIM. Detta gjordes genom att besvara följande tre frågeställningar. Hur ser rollen ut för projektledare som representerar en byggherre i dagsläget? Vilka möjligheter medför BIM till en projektledarens arbete och hur påverkar detta kommunikationen och samarbetet med de övriga aktörerna? Vilka hinder och utmaningar finns kring implementeringen av BIM i projektledarens dagliga arbete? Följande examensarbete har genomförts i samarbete med AB Stångåstaden. Semistrukturerade intervjuer kring projektledarens roll har genomförts med projektledare från Stångåstaden och NCC. Ytterligare intervjuer kring BIM har genomförts med olika respondenter med särskild erfarenhet inom BIM. Intervjustudien har kombinerats med en litteraturstudie och deltagande observationer av projektledarrollen på AB Stångåstaden. Resultatet från det genomförda examensarbetet visade att projektledarrollen på beställarsidan är en bred roll med många olika arbetsuppgifter där ledarskap, kommunikation och samarbete står i centrum. Detta visade sig tydligt i intervjustudien och de deltagande observationerna där respondenterna påpekade att deras roll innebär att samordna hela byggprocessen, från tidigt skede till slutförande av projekt, för att säkerställa att byggherren får det som har beställts.  Det genomförda examensarbetet presenterade tre möjligheter med BIM kopplat till kommunikation och samarbete för en projektledare. Den första möjligheten som intervjustudien presenterade var att BIM fungerar som ett bra analysverktyg inom ett projektteam. Projektledarna betonade vikten av att samtliga projektmedlemmar ska kunna relatera till den verkliga byggnaden redan i planeringsskedet för att teamet tillsammans ska kunna ta viktiga beslut längs byggprocessen. Enligt de BIM erfarna möjliggör BIM för just detta med hjälp av 3D visualiseringar och renderingar. Den andra möjligheten som resultatet från intervjustudien presenterade var att BIM möjliggör för en integrerad, strukturerad och effektivare informationshanteringsprocess. Enligt de BIM erfarna sker detta med hjälp av en BIM kravspecifikation vars syfte är att styra upp ett projekt så att informationsflödet blir så effektivt som möjligt. BIM möjliggör dessutom för en integrerad arbetsmiljö med en gemensam informationskälla, som innebär att samtliga projektmedlemmar söker sig till samma ställe för information. Enligt båda respondentgrupperna främjar detta kommunikationen och samarbetet inom projektteamet då projektledaren säkerställer att samtliga parter arbetar med det senaste underlaget, och därmed undviker vanliga missförstånd och tvister som är kopplat till informationshanteringen i ett projekt. Enligt resultatet från intervjuerna var både projektledarnas och de BIM erfarnas uppfattning, genom tidigare erfarenheter, att de två ovannämnda möjligheterna inom kommunikation och samarbete vidare resulterar i en tredje möjlighet i form av ökad kvalitet i de byggnader som projektledaren levererar till byggherren. Trots de potentiella möjligheter som studien presenterade gällande BIM, visade även det genomförda examensarbete att det existerar två stora hinder och utmaningar med implementeringen av BIM. Det första hindret var kopplat till den tekniska aspekten av BIM, främst problematiken kring programvaror och delad information mellan de olika programvarorna. Det andra hindret var kopplat till individernas personliga inställning, främst byggbranschens konservativa inställning och motvilja att förändra ens arbetssätt. / New opportunities within communication and collaboration is a big incentive regarding the development of digital tools in the construction industry. The project manager plays a crucial part in today’s construction projects in order to successfully deliver projects, and communication and collaboration is at the heart of this role. The purpose of this master thesis has been to investigate how the role of the project manager can be streamlined and supported with BIM. The focus of the study has been to investigate how communication and collaboration between the project manager and other participants can be supported with BIM. This has been done by answering the following three question formulations. How does the role of a project manager which represents an owner look like? Which opportunities does BIM provide to a project manager’s work and how does this affect the communication and collaborations with other participants? Which obstacles and challenges exists regarding the implementation of BIM in a project manager’s work?  The following master thesis has been conducted in collaboration with AB Stångåstaden. Semi-structured interviews regarding the role of the project manager were conducted with project managers which represented Stångåstaden and NCC. Additional interviews regarding BIM were conducted with interviewees with experience within BIM. The interview study was combined with a literature study and observations of the project manager role on AB Stångåstaden. The observations and the results from the interview study with the project managers revealed that the role of a project manager which represents an owner is a very broad role where leadership, communication and collaboration is at the heart of the role. This was presented clearly by the interviewed project managers which stated that their role means to coordinate the construction process, from early stages to completion of the projects, in order to ensure that the owner gets what has been ordered. The study presented three opportunities with BIM linked to communication and collaboration for a project manager. The first opportunity which the interview study presented was that BIM is a good tool of analysis within a project team. The project managers emphasized the importance of the project team’s ability to relate to the actual building in the planning stages for the team to make important decisions along the construction process. According to the BIM experts BIM allows for just this with 3D visualizations and renderings. The second opportunity which the interviews presented was that BIM enables an integrated, structured and efficient process of information. According to the BIM experts this is done with a BIM requirement specification which purpose is to streamline the flow of information in a project. In addition, BIM allows for an integrated working environment with a single point of information, which means that all project members get their information from the same place. According to both respondent groups this promotes the communication and collaboration within a project team because the project manager ensures that all participants are working with the latest material, and therefor avoids common misunderstandings and disputes. According to the results from the interviews, both the project managers and the BIM expert’s perception, were that the two above-mentioned possibilities withing communication and collaboration leads to a third opportunity, which is improvements in quality in the buildings that the project manager delivers to the owner. Despite the potential opportunities which the study presented regarding BIM, this master thesis also showed that there exists two big obstacles and challenges with the implementation of BIM. The first challenge was linked to the technical aspect of BIM, mainly the problems surrounding software and shared information between the different software’s. The second challenge was linked to the individual’s personal attitude, mainly the conservative attitude of the construction industry.