Purpose: As buildings become more complex, property management becomes increasingly complex. New demands are made on buildings environmental performance, risk management and new technology is introduced, which changes the property management industry. Problems with current property management methods are that the information for an efficient maintenance is difficult for the trustee, and the lack of interoperability between architects, constructor, client and trustee. The digital divide between trustees and other actors helps the trustee to reject the idea that BIM can be used in management. The aim for this rapport is to determine what information is to be required from a BIM-model to be to any use in the management process. Method: This work has been done through interviews and document analyses to answer the goal. Findings: There is a drive from trustees to switch to BIM, but the main obstacles are the lack of knowledge and influence at the start of construction projects, which means that the right requirements regarding the development and detailing of a BIM model can’t be set properly. Trustees know what information they need, but not how to set the right requirements without a specific standard. Implications: A lack of competence and knowledge about BIM at the trustees implies the need for a standard on the BIM-models level of detail and development for at all stages in the project, and all actors and researchers involved in the work. However, the trustees is aware of the information they need in their management system, which should be taken into account when a standard is being made. Limitations: The interview respondents came from different types of management companies, such as profit-making and non-profit-making, smaller and larger management companies, as well as trustees of residential, office, hall buildings and campus properties. Interviews with clients had helped make the work more relevant as it appeared from interviews conducted that the client plays a major role when demanding a BIM-model in a construction project.

Ph.D. / The present study originated from a realisation about the unique nature of the medical domain and about the limitations of existing risk-management methodologies with respect to incorporating the special demands and salient features of the said domain. A further incentive for the study was the long-felt need for proper Information Technology (IT) risk management for medical domains, especially in the light of the fact that IT is playing an ever-greater part in the rendering of health-care services. This part, however, introduces new information-security challenges every day, especially as far as securing sensitive medical information and ensuring patients' privacy are concerned. The study is, therefore, principally aimed at making a contribution to improving IT risk management in the medical domain and, for this reason, culminates in an IT risk-management model specifically developed for and propounded in the medical domain. While developing this model, special care was taken not only to take into consideration the special demands of the said domain when assessing IT risks but also that it would be suited to the concepts, terminology and standards used in and applied to this domain every day. The most important objectives of the study can be summarised as follows: A thorough investigation into modern trends in information security in the medical domain will soon uncover the key role IT is playing in this domain. Regrettably, however, this very trend also triggers a steep increase in IT riskincidence figures, which, in this domain, could often constitute the difference between life and death. The clamant need for effective risk-management methods to enhance the information security of medical institutions is, therefore, self-evident. After having explored the dynamic nature of the medical domain, the requirements were identified for a risk-management model aimed at effectively vi managing the IT risks to be incurred in a typical medical institution. Next, a critical evaluation of current risk-assessment techniques revealed that a fresh approach to IT risk management in medical domains is urgently necessary. An IT risk-management model, entitled "RiMaHCoF" (that is, "Risk Management in Health Care — using Cognitive Fuzzy techniques"), was developed and propounded specifically for the medical domain hereafter. The proposed model enhances IT risk management in the said domain in the sense that it proceeds on the assumption that the patient and his/her medical information constitute the primary assets of the medical institution.

abstract: ABSTRACT Academic literature and industry benchmarking reports were reviewed to determine the way facilities benchmarking reports were perceived in the healthcare industry. Interviews were conducted through a Delphi panel of industry professionals who met experience and other credential requirements. Two separate rounds of interviewing were conducted where each candidate was asked the same questions to determine the current views of benchmarking reports and associated data in the healthcare industry. The questions asked in the second round were developed from the answers to the first-round questions. The research showed the panel preferred changes in the data collection methods as well as changes in the way the data is presented. The need for these changes was unanimous among the members of the panel. The main recommendations among the group were: 1. An interactive method such as a member portal with the ability to customize, run scenarios, and save data is the preferred method. 2. Facilities Management (FM) teams are often not included in the data collection of the benchmark reports. Including FM groups would allow more accuracy and more detailed data resulting in more accurate and in-depth reports. 3. More consistency and “apples to apples” comparisons need to be provided in the reports. More categories and variables need to be added to the reports to offer more in depth comparisons and assessments between buildings. Identifiers to help the users compare the physical condition of their facility to others needs to be included. Suggestions are as follows: a. Facility Condition Index (FCI)- easily available to all participants and allows an idea of the comparison of upkeep and maintenance of their facility to that of others. b. An indicator on whether the comparison buildings are Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) accredited. 4. Gross Square Footage (GSF) is not an accurate assessment on its own. Too many variables are left unidentified to offer an accurate assessment with this method alone. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Construction Management 2020

The traditional procurement and contracting method within the architectural, engineering and construction industry is often criticised for its fragmented approach and its isolation of designers from contractor and Facilities Management(FM). However, adversarial relationships often occur among the project-team members due to disagreements relating to poor communication, processes, specifications, compliance, cost overruns and the extension of times. Therefore, the integration of FM’s specialists into early design development process comes with challenges, such as conflict between the design team and FM’s specialists over the specifications, local statutory compliance, commissioning method statements and the hand-over process. Furthermore, conflicts have critical effects on cost and schedule in complex projects and creates breakdown of relationships among project participants and results in project delays, claims and disputes. The Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to “to explore effective involvement of FM specialists in the early design-development process of complex building projects in South Africa is perceived to be causing conflicts between the multi-disciplinary professional design team members.” Design/methodology: Mixed methods was adopted for this study including extensive related literature review and pilot study. Purposive (8 interviews) and snowballing (102 participants) sampling techniques were used in data collection. Findings: According to descriptive analysis, participants slightly greed that FM specialists should be involved in the early stage of the design development process with mean score ranging from 3.21 (Inception stage) and 3.71 (Concept and Viability stage). Participants agreed that that FM specialists should be involved during design development stage with a mean score of 4.19 and project close out stage with a mean score of 4.29. Furthermore, from 41 causes of conflicts, 10 received mean scores ranging from 2.66 and 2.97 meaning that there is a low possibilities of causing conflicts while 31 variables received mean scores ranging from 3.00 to 3.97 meaning that there is a moderate possibilities of causing conflicts among FM specialists and design team during design development process. Research limitation/Implications: Potential participants are architects, engineers, project managers, property-development managers and facilities managers. Furthermore, the focus of the study is on medium and large complex projects with buildings systems. In addition, this Originality/Value: The high costs of maintenance during operation and non-compliance with the local statutory requirements of the building systems will affect the results and the application thereof. The integration of the design team and FM’s specialists will provide the client with the final product that is functional and safe to occupy and use for its intent. Furthermore, FM’s specialists’ involvement early in the design-development process would reduce operational and maintenance costs during the operational stage of the building; and they would further ensure that the facility complies with the local statutory requirements. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Construction Economics / MSc / Unrestricted

Human inspection is a pivotal component of infrastructure asset management within a systems thinking approach to civil engineering. Skilled inspectors are tasked with the evaluation of various civil infrastructure components, conducting assessments of their conditions, identifying maintenance needs, and determining necessary repairs. Despite the growing interest in advanced technologies and automated inspections, the use of human-in-the-loop procedures is still widely practiced. Humans are susceptible to cognitive bias, variability, or uncertainty when inspecting infrastructure, and finding solutions to reduce these factors is paramount. This study presents a comprehensive exploration of inspection variability within infrastructure asset management, drawing insights from datasets of the BUILDER Sustainment Management System (SMS) program. The research delves into infrastructure inventory, inspector data, and inspection data components of an asset management database, shedding light on variability in human inspection. Variations in inspection ratings revealed significant concerns, particularly in Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems, with notable disparities between inspection ratings and condition ratings. Inspector variability analysis, through Coefficient of Variation calculations, indicated substantial disparities within and among inspectors. Further analysis, including Tukey's HSD test, pinpointed significant variability in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and Fire Protection system inspections. Moreover, this study addresses the specific challenge of reducing inspection uncertainty in HVAC systems. HVAC systems play a critical role in facility energy consumption, and their maintenance is vital to energy efficiency and occupant comfort. However, HVAC-specific inspections primarily require human involvement, making them time-consuming and prone to error. Addressing the challenges surrounding human inspection of HVAC systems, this research presents a multifaceted approach to reduce variability. Drawing from a review of existing literature on HVAC inspection uncertainty, this study extends its focus to the development of predictive models. These models considered parameters including inspection ratings, age-based obsolescence, section condition indices, component characteristics, and unique inspectors . Utilizing Linear Regression, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting Regression, this model accurately predicted Variability Ratings, signifying the potential for implementation as a decision support tool. Importantly, the findings highlight the need to not only understand the factors affecting HVAC inspection variability but to actively implement technological solutions that can reduce human error and variability in inspections. / Master of Science / Infrastructure inspection is crucial for maintaining buildings and facilities, but it often comes with human errors and uncertainties. This study looks at the inspection process, focusing on case studies and data from the BUILDER Sustainment Management System (SMS) program. It reveals that inspectors sometimes evaluate the condition of parts of a building differently, leading to inconsistencies and poor overall management. One significant area of concern is heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. These systems play a critical role in facility energy use and can be challenging to inspect accurately. Previous research has shown that work experience, training, education, and other factors tend to contribute to variability in how inspectors assess HVAC systems. This research not only highlights these issues but also develops predictive models to reduce the variability of HVAC inspections. By doing so infrastructure can be managed correctly and ultimately lead to improved building lifecycles.

Digital twins (DT) describe the integration of the physical and digital worlds with the aim of optimizing real world operations and functions. The digital twin concept has gained increasing attention across industries in the past decade including the building sector. However digital twins remain ambiguous with various existing definitions and characteristics. While DTs include all life cycle phases, ultimately their goal is optimization of operations during the use phase. Of the building life cycle phases, building facilities management (FM) is responsible for considerable costs and energy consumption and has potential for improvement through DT implementation. Along with increased building information modeling (BIM) implementation, recent advances in data driven technologies have encouraged the exploration of DT in the building sector. BIM has been coupled with technologies such as internet of things (IoT), data analytics, and cloud computing to optimize various FM functions often resembling DT. This study has reviewed existing literature on digital twins in facilities management using a structured literature review and characterized similar characteristics and definitions by different authors. Additionally, DT implementation in different FM application areas was quantified and analyzed. Results show that DT implementation in FM is still at nascent stages with major challenges surrounding standardization and data integration. / Master of Science / Digital twins (DT) describe the integration of the physical and digital worlds with the aim of optimizing real world operations and functions. The digital twin concept has gained increasing attention across industries in the past decade including the building sector. However digital twins remain ambiguous with various existing definitions and characteristics. DTs include all building life cycle phases from design, construction, to operation and maintenance. Ultimately their goal is optimization of operations also referred to as facilities management during the use phase. Of the building life cycle phases, building facilities management (FM) is responsible for considerable costs and energy consumption and has potential for improvement through DT implementation. Building information modeling (BIM) describes geometric and semantic information of physical assets and has been used to optimize operations in FM. Along with increased BIM implementation, recent advances in data driven technologies have encouraged the exploration of DT in the building sector. BIM has been coupled with technologies such as internet of things (IoT), data analytics, and cloud computing to optimize various FM functions often resembling DT. This study has reviewed existing literature on digital twins in facilities management using a structured literature review and characterized similar characteristics and definitions by different authors. Additionally, DT implementation in different FM application areas was quantified and analyzed. Results show that DT implementation in FM is still at nascent stages with major challenges surrounding standardization and data integration.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Howard Hahn / Evolving needs for universities, municipalities, and corporations demand more sustainable and efficient techniques for data management. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enables decision makers to spatially analyze the built environment to better understand facility usage by running test scenarios to evaluate current efficiencies and identify opportunities for investment. This can only be conducted when data is organized and leveraged across many departments in a collaborative environment. Data organization through GIS encourages interdepartmental collaboration uniting all efforts on a common front. An organized system facilitates a working relationship between the university and the community of Manhattan increasing efficiency, developing sustainable practices, and enhancing the health and safety of Kansas State University and larger community. Efficiency is increased through automation of many current practices such as work requests and routine maintenance. Sustainable practices will be developed by generating self-guided campus tours and identifying area appropriate for bioswales. Lastly, safety will be enhanced throughout campus by increasing emergency response access, determining areas within buildings difficult to reach in emergency situations, and identifying unsafe areas on campus. Evolving needs for universities, municipalities, and corporations demand more sustainable and efficient techniques for data management. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enables decision makers to spatially analyze the built environment to better understand facility usage by running test scenarios to evaluate current efficiencies and identify opportunities for investment. This can only be conducted when data is organized and leveraged across many departments in a collaborative environment. Data organization through GIS encourages interdepartmental collaboration uniting all efforts on a common front. An organized system facilitates a working relationship between the university and the community of Manhattan increasing efficiency, developing sustainable practices, and enhancing the health and safety of Kansas State University and larger community. Efficiency is increased through automation of many current practices such as work requests and routine maintenance. Sustainable practices will be developed by generating self-guided campus tours and identifying area appropriate for bioswales. Lastly, safety will be enhanced throughout campus by increasing emergency response access, determining areas within buildings difficult to reach in emergency situations, and identifying unsafe areas on campus. Optimizing data management for Kansas State University was conducted in three phases. First, a baseline assessment for facility management at Kansas State University was conducted through discussions with campus departments. Second, case study interviews and research was conducted with leaders in GIS management. Third, practices for geospatial data management were adapted and implemented for Kansas State University: the building of a centralized database, constructing a 3-dimensional routing network, and modeling a virtual campus in 3D.

O presente trabalho estuda de maneira crítica os conceitos necessários para o suporte do planejamento de sistemas de Gerenciamento de Facilidades em edificações produtivas, a partir do entendimento sistêmico do edifício dentro do contexto maior da organização e do meio ambiente em que está inserido, objetivando a utilização produtiva do ambiente de trabalho através do oferecimento de suporte adequado aos diversos usuários do edifício. Os elementos que possibilitam este entendimento, bem como os meios necessários para atingir os objetivos propostos, são analisados em níveis estratégico e tático, contemplando questões como sustentabilidade, funcionalidade, servibilidade, gerenciabilidade e mantenabilidade do edifício e de seus sistemas, visando a obtenção de efetividade de custos operacionais conjuntamente com oferecimento de qualidade de vida no trabalho. O Gerenciamento de Facilidades, assim entendido, representa a resposta adequada para as necessidades de transição dos modelos gerenciais até então utilizados para a operação e manutenção do edifício e seus sistemas, de maneira a poder enfrentar os novos desafios impostos pela sociedade pós-industrial. / The following work analyzes the key concepts, from a critical point of view, involved in planning facilities management support systems in productive buildings, through a systemic approach that considers buildings in their organizational and environmental contexts. This aims at productively using the work space environment through proper support being offered the building’s many different users. Both the elements that make this understanding possible and the means needed to achieve the proposed goals are analyzed according to strategic and tactical levels, including concepts such as sustainability, functionality, serviceability, manageability e maintainability of the building and its systems, to obtain operational costs effectiveness along with the quality of life being offered in work space environment. Management Facilities, understood as such, leads to a suitable answer for transitional adjustments required in managerial models employed so far for operating and maintaining the building and its systems, so that the new challenges posed by a post-industrial society may be faced.

"The efficient management of buildings and grounds of colleges and universities require an increased amount of information that is current, well organized and easy to access. This information is first generated at the planning stage of the facility before it is even designed. A seamless database containing current and accurate information about the facility and a tool that allows decision-makers to graphically relate the database with the physical location of the information provides a system to better integrate the decision making process from planning to actual operations and maintenance of the facility. This thesis presents an operational environment for facilities managers that integrates the 3 dimensional parametric building modeling with geographic information systems, both related to a common database, and explores the possible benefits and costs of using this integrated system."

Research object is arranging maintenance process of the buildings of the housing estate of the city. During the research there was analyzed the efficiency of the activity of the subjects of building maintenance, macro- and micro-environmental factors, affecting building maintenance, criteria, influencing the quality of the activity of building maintenance, interest groups of the maintenance process, their objectives and possibilities to achieve them. The research aims are establishing a complex model of multi-criteria analysis of building maintenance, embracing real estate, analysis of the factors, affecting the efficiency of real estate maintenance, of the subjects, utilizing and holding the property, and of their objectives.