April 2020

Special Issue Call for Papers

Smart and Sustainable Built Environment

Integration of loT with Building Information Modelling (loT-BIM)
Overview of special issue
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (otherwise known
as Industry 4.0 or simply I4) continues unabated as
it progressively shapes modern economies bydeveloping transformative ‘smart’ digital solutions
in response to societal needs. I4 embraces a
coalescence of inextricably linked cyber-physicalsystems that fully monitor, control and automate
the design, construction and facility management
phases of a project’s whole life-cycle. Thesesystems may embrace aspects relating to: FinTech,mobile communications, internet of things (IoT),
data science, cyber security, cloud computing,artificial intelligence/intelligent systems,
mechatronics, e-business, digital marketing anddigital twin. Early innovator contractors who
successfully integrate and embed a synthesis ofadvanced technologies within their business
operations will invariably secure a significant
competitive advantage over their market rivals. Yet
despite the opportunity to forge a market lead, I4
adoption remains inchoate and lacking thenecessary industry leadership to drive disruptive
innovations forward towards full adoption.
Convincing case studies and de facto evidence are
now needed within academia and practice in order
to firmly establish the market potential and furtheraugment wider spread adoption.
During the last five years, BIM has received

unprecedented academic attention in scientificjournals, not only within traditional engineering andconstruction management but also other related
disciplines like business management,
computational intelligence, computer science andoperations management. At first, academic
attention predominantly focused upon developingapplied solutions to practical problems but more
recently, ever finer granulation of the subject area
has witnessed an upsurge in ‘softer’ management
theory and education type research activities – such
ossification of conventional BIM research work has
stagnated a formerly vibrant and novel topic area..
Moreover, akin to computer aided design (CAD),
BIM has a predisposed shelf-life unless it evolves
dynamically by integrating with other emergent
advanced technologies within the wider I4
discipline. This SI will therefore breathe muchneeded technological modernity into contemporary
BIM research, whilst simultaneously forging
stronger linkages with the wider I4 initiative.
Extending BIM capabilities will provide newopportunities for internationally leading researchers
to showcase their inimitable ability to extend
knowledge beyond current constraints ofcontemporary BIM thinking. In doing so, this SI will
provoke broader polemic debate and raiseawareness of the potential to achieve IoT-BIM.
This proposed pioneering Special Issue (SI) will
focus upon one aspect of I4, namely IoT andCIB Newsbuilding information modelling (BIM) integration(IoT-BIM). Consequently, it will provide the firstglobal platform by which construction and civilengineering researchers can contribute to theensuing discourse on this unique phenomenon.
Specifically, the SI will provide researchers with anopportunity to: showcase emergent findings of theirresearch on ‘use cases’ of IoT-BIM; explore
emerging methodologies for achieving IoT-BIM; anddetermine how IoT-BIM can benefit construction
practitioners and the wider socio-politicallandscape. Papers will be particularly encouraged
that: provide real-life case studies of IoT-BIM;
report upon how IoT-BIM implementation disruptsand transforms current construction operations;and report upon managerial and strategic
dimensions of IoT-BIM adoption (such as changes
needed at the project, organisation and industry
levels as well as the impacts upon supply chainpartners).
Aims of special issue
There are three specific aims of this SI. The first is to
rejuvenate the BIM research life-cycle as it advances
through various states of vicissitude before entering
new phases of metamorphosis that create fresh
innovative research endeavours and concomitant
knowledge advancements. The second aim is to
document and impart the palpable benefits of IoT-BIM
through publication of real-life case studies, practicenotes, comparative studies and deterministic modelling
accrued from applied research undertaken. The
products of this will inform professional practitioners
by clearly defining and delineating compelling factual
evidence that will ultimately: i) shape the future
direction of industry practice; and ii) ensure asmoother transition of adoption. The third aim is to
educate and develop future generations of further andhigher education practitioners who represent thevanguard of professional talent who seek a career
within the construction and civil engineering
sector. Hence, this SI is deliberately designed toachieve high impact in terms of shaping future
research endeavours, informing industry practitioners
and enhancing the content of the next generation oftaught curricular.

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Operational research that demonstrates theproductivity and efficiency gains accrued fromadopting IoT-BIM within the construction
supply chain;Computer science research that seeks toexplore and resolve data interoperability andgovernance conundrums;
Environmental management research thatseeks to mitigate the environmental impacts ofsmart construction development activities;
Government policy research that develops
standards, models and platforms for shaping
future policy provisions;
Business research that provides templatebusiness models for adoption and/or prima
facie evidence of financial benefits to beaccrued;
Validation research that assesses the readinessand maturity state of construction
organizations for adopting IoT-BIM;
Supply chain management research that
demonstrates palpable benefits of collaborative
working on virtual information portals;
Exploratory research that seeks to undercover
new roles, and knowledge, skills and abilities(KSAs) required for implementation andadoption.

Guest Editors
Dr M. Reza Hosseini
Deakin University, Australiareza.hosseini@deakin.edu.au
Professor David J. Edwards
Birmingham City University, UK
drdavidedwards@aol.com
Submission details
The closing date

31st October 2020

Information
For full author guidelines and instructions on how tosubmit can be found here.

Themes•••

Real-world case studies;
Conceptual research that uncovers thebarriers, drivers and concepts associated withadopting and implementing IoT-BIM within anorganisation;
Operational research that adopts IoT as a toolto support resource management and decision
making with BIM;

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08-04-2020