bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building Inspector XR: Streamlining Scan-to-BIM with Virtual and Mixed Reality
Authors: Blut Christoph , Kinnen Tristan , Blankenbach Jörg , Heidermann Dirk , Schellong Felix
Published: February 2024

Digitalization in the construction industry is increasingly striving to create digital twins in order to continuously exploit optimization potential in the management and utilization of existing buildings. Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based as-is or as-built documentation represents a promising basis in this context, which requires creating a geometric model for example based on point clouds as well as semantic enrichment in a Scan-to-BIM workflow. Conventionally, this is carried out manually by specialists on 2D screens and often is time-consuming and costly. The project "Building Inspector XR" addresses these issues and presents an intuitive solution for BIM-based as-is/as-built documentation using X-Reality (XR). In Virtual Reality (VR), BIM models are created off-site from point clouds and then are verified in Mixed Reality (MR) on-site. By integrating (partially) automated methods and targeting user-friendliness in our solution, Scan-to-BIM can be realized more efficiently and intuitively. In this paper, the focus lies on the innovative aspects of our XR application which encompass VR and MR environments, automation support, modeling schemes in compliance with BIM standards, and the registration of models in reality for MR. Additionally, the paper shows the interconnected toolchain that facilitates an efficient Scan-to-BIM workflow
The Value of Extended Reality Techniques to Improve Remote Collaborative Maintenance Operations: A User Study
Authors: Coupry Corentin , Richard Paul , Bigaud David , Noblecourt Sylvain , Baudry David
Published: February 2024

In the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector, data extracted from building information modelling (BIM) can be used to create a digital twin (DT). The algorithms of a BIM-based DT can facilitate the retrieval of information, which can then be used to improve building operation and maintenance procedures. However, with the increased complexity and automation of the building, maintenance operations are likely to become more complex and may require expert intervention. Collaboration and interaction between the operator and the expert may be limited as the latter may not be on site or within the company. Recently, extended reality (XR) technologies have proven to be effective in improving collaboration during maintenance operations, through data display and shared interactions. This paper presents a new collaborative solution using these technologies to enhance collaboration during remote maintenance operations. The proposed approach consists of a mixed reality (MR) set-up for the operator, a virtual reality (VR) set-up for the remote expert and a shared Digital Model of a heat exchanger. The MR set-up is used for tracking and displaying specific information, provided by the VR module. A user study was carried out to compare the efficiency of our solution with a standard audio-video collaboration. Our approach demonstrated substantial enhancements in collaborative inspection, resulting in a significative reduction in both the overall completion time of the inspection and the frequency of errors committed by the operators
Creation and Acceptance of Low-Threshold Mobile Training on Sustainability in Construction
Authors: Wolf Mario , Teizer Jochen
Published: February 2024

Many recent developments in mixed reality applications are exploited for research on improving training in the construction industry. While immersive technologies offer indisputable advantages over classic paper- or multi-media-based training material, access to this kind of technology is still very limited in the academic world and even less widespread in industry. In this paper, the authors follow the current trend of creating low-threshold micro-learning nuggets, which are easily consumable on mobile devices but can be accessed in every web browser. This is essential to reach the construction trade workforces, which for the most part will own a smart or mobile device, but neither specialized equipment, nor will there be time or patience for a lengthy setup phase before learning content consumption. The learning content aims to give construction workers a clear vision of what some of the fundamental components of a sustainable construction site should look like and what role they play in achieving the said vision. The learning content revolves around the initial idea of DGNB certification (German: German Sustainable Building Council), waste management, certification of construction wood, handling of harmful substances and chemicals and some general health and safety regulations that impact the emission of dust, noise and vibration. The paper describes the general approach of the planning, orchestration of learning material, development of the learning nugget, and deployment, as well as a study for acceptance and user experience
Prediction of Cognitive Load during Industry-Academia Collaboration via a Web Platform
Authors: Yusuf Anthony , Akanmu Abiola , Afolabi Adedeji , Murzi Homero
Published: February 2024

Web platforms are increasingly being used to connect communities, including construction industry and academia. Design features of such platforms could impose excessive cognitive workload thereby impacting the use of the platform. This is a crucial consideration especially for new web platforms to secure users’ interest in continuous usage. Understanding users’ cognitive workloads while using web platforms could help make necessary modifications and adapt the features to users’ preferences. Users’ usage patterns can be leveraged to predict the needs of users. Hence, the pattern of cognitive demand that users experience can be used to predict the cognitive load of web platform users. This could provide insights, generate feedback, and identify areas of modification that are critical for sustaining acceptability of web platforms. Using recurrent neural network, this study adopts electroencephalogram (EEG) data as a physiological measure of brain activity to predict brain signals (cognitive load) of users while interacting with a web platform designed to connect industry and academia for future workforce development. This paper presents a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) based approach to develop a model for predicting users’ cognitive load via EEG signals. Nineteen (19) potential end-users of the proposed web platform were recruited as participants in this study. The participants interacted with the web-platform in a real case scenario and their brain signals were captured using a five-channel EEG device. The validity of the proposed method was evaluated using root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), and comparison of the predicted and actual EEG signals and mental workload. The results revealed the reliability of the model and provided a suitable method for predicting users brain signals while using web platforms. This could be leveraged to understand users’ cognitive demand which could provide insights for web platform improvements to engender users’ continuous usage
Application of Smart Technologies for Assessing Users’ Well-Being for Immersive Design Strategies: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: D'Ascenzi Eleonora , Getuli Vito , Fiesoli Irene
Published: February 2024

As never before, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of the digital design strategies on the user’s well-being has been questioned. However, a research branch astride digital design and neuroscience able to overcome net discipline borders to analyse users’ well-being seems to be lacking. Today mainly qualitative data are used in the design field for the investigation of users’ quality experience. Although fundamental, they also have great disadvantages such as unanswered questions, unconscientious responses, and respondents’ biases. As such, a systematic state of art review is presented to find methodologies and tools currently used in medicine to identify the impact of digital design strategies (XR) on users’ well-being through quantitative and objective data. The main technologies used for this purpose have been synthesized in a schematic chart by reporting the principal related biometric data (skin conductivity, heart rate metrics and breathing rates), as well as other technologies such as video/images/audio analysis based on sensors and machine learning to reach out mass numbers. In conclusion, gaps and future applications of this innovative approach within the virtual environment have been identified by the authors
Going Beyond Energy Consumption: Digital Twins for Achieving Socio-Ecological Sustainability in the Built Environment
Authors: Nikolic Dragana , Ewart Ian
Published: February 2024

Digital twins have attracted much of the attention from the researchers and policy makers as a potent industry-agnostic concept to support ambitious decarbonization goals. Consequently, much of the latest research has focused on computational methods for building and connecting digital twins to monitor and measure energy consumption and resulting emissions from buildings. At the same time, it has been recognized that achieving a truly sustainable built environment goes beyond environmental sustainability and is much more complex, calling for approaches that transcend any single discipline. Initiatives such as the National Digital Twin in the UK and globally, begin to offer a long-term vision of interconnected, purpose-driven and outcome-focused digital twins, grounded in systems thinking. Such approaches recognize the economic, social and ecological layers as critical data components in these digital ecosystems for understanding the built environment as a whole. Yet, social and ecological sustainability will remain difficult to address without involving allied disciplines and those from the realms of sociology, ecology, or anthropology in a conversation about the critical data sitting at the intersections between human behavior and technological innovation. In this paper, we review and discuss the state of the art research on digital twins to identify the disciplines dominating the narrative in the context of a sustainable built environment. We unpack a techno-rationalist view that emphasizes the sole reliance on technology for problem-solving and argue that by going beyond energy consumption and carbon emissions, digital twins can facilitate a more nuanced assessment of sustainability challenges, encompassing social equity, cultural preservation, and ecological resilience
Application of the Internet of Things (IoT) for Energy Efficiency in Buildings: A Bibliometric Review.
Authors: Nwankwo Nnaemeka , Chinyio Ezekiel , Daniel Emmanuel , Gyoh Louis
Published: February 2024

Buildings are experiencing tremendous transformation, where Internet of things (IoT) is been used to transform traditional buildings into smart structures. While there are viable IoT techniques, developing IoT applications and operations to fully realise the technology's promise is needed. This may be done successfully by bridging the gaps in the present research to establish a foundation for future investigations. This study analysed extant literature in IoT (between 2008 and 2022) through a bibliometric review to tease out critical measures for their integration and transformation. The study adopted a science mapping quantitative literature review approach and employed bibliometric and visualisation techniques to systematically investigate data. The Scopus database was used to collect data and VOSviewer software to analyse the data collected to determine the strengths, weights, clusters, research trends in IoT. Important findings emerging from the study include recent literature by various researchers on IoT applications in buildings. The shift in recent patterns of research from developed to developing countries. Eighty-nine (89) keywords were analysed and divided into six clusters. Each cluster is discussed to present its research area and associated future studies in relation to Smart buildings. This paper uses bibliometric analysis to unpick recent trends in IoT and its relevant application to buildings. The paper provides a blueprint for future IoT research and practice, needed awareness and future strategy directions for IoT applications in construction. This creates opportunities to transition to more sustainable construction sector
Fire Safety Engineering: The Computational Simulation of the Escape in a Historic Building in Bologna
Authors: Tagliatti Stefano , Bragadin Marco Alvise
Published: February 2024

In the field of Fire Safety Engineering (FSE), virtual reality has increasingly assumed an important role, especially for the simulation of fire and escape.
The present work aims at comparing the potential of virtual simulations of the escape of occupants in case of emergency to simulations based on traditional calculations. Above all, the goal is to highlight the greater adherence to reality of the simulations that use behavioural models compared to those that use hydraulic models.
Simulations are performed for the case study of a listed historic tower in Bologna city centre and calculate the Required Safe Escape Time (RSET) in various evacuation scenarios using the innovative Pathfinder® software which, in addition to using flow-based models, is "agent-based", as it manages the variables related to behavioural factors and can model complex escape scenarios faster than hand-made calculation.
Case study results show that RSET times calculated with the behavioural steering mode in the virtual environment are 15-19% higher than the hydraulic mode (SFPE) and therefore demonstrate that the Steering mode is more realistic, as human behaviour significantly influences the evacuation process.
Anyway, all the realistic simulations return safety margin times above 100% of the RSET as asked by national law, highlighting that it is possible to guarantee the safety of the occupants in a particular historical building using innovative Fire Safety Engineering (FSE) approaches, even if the prescriptive rules are not respected
Construction of a Practical Finite Element Model from Point Cloud Data for an Existing Steel Truss Bridge
Authors: Hidaka Nao , Hashimoto Naofumi , Nonaka Tetsuya , Obata Makoto , Magoshi Kazuya , Watanabe Ei
Published: February 2024

The objective of this paper is to develop a semi-automatic method for constructing a practical finite element model from point cloud data of an entire span of a through-type steel truss bridge. In the first step, we introduced practical finite element models for truss bridges based on structural experiments and numerical analyses of a sway bracing located at the end support. We also proposed a basic method for semi-automatically constructing a finite element model of a sway bracing using point cloud data. This method was then extended for an entire of steel truss bridge. The point cloud data is converted to individual data structures which, in turn, are connected to construct a whole structure. The main members, such as upper chords, lower chords, and diagonals, are converted to fiber-based models by automatically creating central axis lines and cross-sections from the point cloud. The slab is converted to shell models by obtaining surfaces and thickness from the point cloud. The effectiveness of the proposed method was confirmed by comparing the analysis results from the finite element model manually created from the design drawing (drawing-model) with those obtained from the model generated by this method (point-cloud-model). The proposed method is more efficient than reading drawings and creating the models manually, and it was confirmed that the point-cloud-model shows response values close to those of the drawing-model within the design load. However, the reproducibility of the response values with more than the design load remains an issue, which can be solved by tuning plate thickness
Combining Large-Scale 3D Metrology and Mixed Reality for Assembly Quality Control in Modular Construction
Authors: Bounaouara Wafa , Rivest Louis , Tahan Antoine
Published: February 2024

The quality control (QC) of assembled modules is an essential process when constructing modular buildings such as hotels and hospitals. Defects that go undetected during module assembly may result in lost productivity in the form of unnecessary transportation, rework or project delays. QC has traditionally been performed using specialized tools and carried out a posteriori in an inspection station dedicated solely to this task. Nowadays, large-scale 3D metrology technology provides a more efficient alternative since it enables accurate measurements to be taken in situ. Additionally, mixed reality (MR) supports the immersive projection of information and guidance instructions. This paper introduces a proof of concept of a framework that combines industrial photogrammetry with the HoloLens 2 MR headset to assist with assembly and QC during the off-site construction phase of modular construction. Many tests were conducted in a laboratory and a factory setting to evaluate the system’s user-friendliness and possible challenges associated with its future implementation. The experiments conducted confirmed that combining 3D metrology with MR offers an interesting solution for integrating QC into the assembly process. However, further work is needed to enhance the measurement workflow and optimize the measurement system’s accuracy
Integrating Real-Time Object Detection into an AR-Driven Task Assistance Prototype: An Approach Towards Reducing Specific Motions in Therbligs Theory
Authors: Yuan Xiang , Mei Qipei , Li Xinming
Published: February 2024

Due to challenges in filling vacant positions and the heightened demands posed on existing staff, employers and project managers are progressively considering the recruitment of inexperienced individuals and seeking strategies to swiftly provide them with essential job-specific knowledge. The potential of industrial AR has been widely researched to support workers in overcoming skill-related knowledge and enhancing industrial processes. However, most studies focus on demonstrating technology usability across different processes and overcoming engineering hurdles on a case-by-case basis. There is no direct benefit analysis on how AR assists construction tasks at human motion level, and how to eliminate the ineffective motions and reduce the duration of effective motions. To fill this gap, this paper first establishes an AR-based near real-time object detection system of small tools and components involved in task processes for egocentric perception of workers in the construction industry. Later, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for scaffolding assembly activities is deconstructed from a manual process into Therbligs-based elemental motions. Finally, this research conducted a comparative study of two prototypes across four dimensions of evaluation. As a step forward in this direction, this paper renews the connotations of Therbligs theory under industry 5.0 era, rethinks the AR-assisted construction task processes, and applies appropriate technologies enhancing the adaptability of AR technology for construction workers’ needs
Human-in-the-Loop Digital Twin Framework for Assessing Ergonomic Implications of Exoskeletons
Authors: Akanmu Abiola , Afolabi Adedeji , Okunola Akinwale
Published: February 2024

Exoskeletons are increasingly being recognized as ergonomic solutions for work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the construction industry. However, users of active back-support exoskeletons are susceptible to various physical and psychological risks, which could be exoskeleton type-or task-dependent. A test bed is needed to enable deployment and assessment of risks associated with exoskeleton-use for construction tasks. This study aims to develop a human-in-the-loop digital twin framework for assessing ergonomic risks associated with the use of active back-support exoskeletons for construction work. A literature review was conducted to identify risks associated with exoskeletons and the technologies for quantifying the risks. This informed the development of a system architecture describing the enabling technologies and their roles in assessing risks associated with active back-support exoskeletons. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify construction tasks that are most suitable for active back-support exoskeletons. Based on the identified tasks, a laboratory experiment was conducted to quantify the risks associated with the use of a commercially available active back-support exoskeleton for carpentry framing tasks. The efficacy of the digital twin framework is demonstrated with an example of the classification of exertion levels due to exoskeleton-use using a 1D-convolutional neural network. The study showcases the potential of digital twins for comprehensive ergonomic assessment, enabling stakeholders to proactively address ergonomic risks and optimize the use of exoskeletons in the construction industry. The framework demonstrates the significance of evidence-based decision-making in enhancing workforce health and safety
Urban Centres Management: A Digital Twin Approach
Authors: Corneli Alessandra , Rotilio Marianna
Published: February 2024

The management of the built environment is a topic that requires reference to the management of complex systems. In fact, the variety of domains involved means that the management of urban centers is not only complicated, and therefore it is not enough to model a set of rules that are representative of phenomena related to the real environment. Not only that, but what is evident is that emergency management lacks the ability to access real-time information that could be decisive. Having tools that provide real-time data, that reprocess it, and that are able to provide an enriched and slightly predictive view of what is happening offers the possibility of having a real impact in the management of the built environment. In this sense, digital twins are a valuable approach to achieving the desired results. Digital twins through the integration of technologies such as lnternet of Things (IoT), simulators, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies make it possible to develop systems capable of exploiting the concept of collective intelligence, in a digital version, through a large number of heterogeneous agents working according to stigmergic mechanisms. This research work aims to propose its own architecture of digital twins for the management of resilient urban centers, with particular reference to the management of post-earthquake reconstruction scenarios
Visualization of Weather-Aware Ambient Heat Risks
With Global Illumination in Game Engine
Authors: Sumida Naotaka , Ozaki Taira , Kubota Satoshi , Dan Hiroshige , Yasumuro Yoshihiro
Published: February 2024

In recent years, the risk of heat stroke has been increasing due to global warming and other factors, and the Ministry of the Environment has been using the heat index to alert people in urban areas. Still, citizens need help knowing the detailed risk information for their neighborhoods. The heat index considers the human body's heat balance and is measured with specialized instruments, so comprehensive and high-density measurement is difficult. In this research, by using global illumination (GI) and primary weather data obtained from the Open Weather Map API for each area, we can realistically render the sunlight condition considering the weather and map and visualize the heat index per pixel based on shaded CG. Furthermore, by reconstructing urban 3D geometry from Google Maps, we have developed a system that visualizes the ever-changing heat index distribution for an arbitrary location in real time. The system has shown the possibility of reducing the number of heat stroke patients by using this system
Safety Training for Rigging Using Virtual Reality
Authors: Lemouchi Rafik , Assaf Mohamed , Al-Hussein Mohamed , Boutouhami Khaoula , Bouferguene Ahmed
Published: February 2024

Tower and Mobile Cranes are some of the most commonly used heavy equipment in all construction sites, and any crane failures could lead to significant human and monetary losses. Moreover, rigging configuration determination is a critical task that requires the rigging crew to have significant experience and knowledge of various failure modes that can be encountered when performing lifting operations. However, despite the criticality of training riggers, there has yet to be a comprehensive tool used to train and guide inexperienced riggers, and hence, more practical tools are needed. This paper proposes a framework for using Virtual reality (VR) and simulation to train riggers to identify the optimal rigging configurations based on the lift type and the external conditions. Through 3D modeling, the critical components of the rigging system are modeled to accurately simulate the rigging system and their performance when faced with critical loading scenarios. The developed framework is expected to allow inexperienced riggers to identify critical failure modes and enhance construction operations' overall safety performance and productivity. Furthermore, several scenarios are assessed based on historical evidence for rigging configuration failures, and the efficiency of the training tool is assessed through real-life scenarios and tests
Evaluation of Immersive VR Experiences for Safety Training of Construction Workers: A Semi-Qualitative Approach Proposal
Authors: Getuli Vito , Fornasari Valentina , Bruttini Alessandro , Sorbi Tommaso , Capone Pietro
Published: February 2024

The diffusion of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and advanced visualization technologies in the increasingly digitalised construction sector is fostering the development and implementation of disruptive approaches for workforce Health and Safety (H&S) training. Project-specific risks, safety procedures and information can be administered through immersive Virtual Reality (VR) experiences where construction site environments and activities are reproduced without exposing the trainees to real hazards. However, despite numerous research and industry applications demonstrating the potential benefits of these technologies, a standardized framework and methodology for the evaluation of VR safety training effectiveness for construction workers is still lacking hence hindering its large scale-adoption and recognition from policymakers. Within the scope of previous authors contributions on the development and implementation of BIM-based VR experiences for construction workers’ safety training, this paper aims to address the evaluation of their effectiveness proposing a novel semi-qualitative approach based on the integration of trainees’ subjective and objective data. A post-experience evaluation questionnaire is developed to collect trainees’ direct and qualitative feedback about the experience immersivity and perceived safety content transfer. Furthermore, the integration with trainees’ spatial tracking data is proposed to complement the qualitative feedback with the quantitative evaluation of their use of the virtual space for safety training purposes. The application of the presented approach in case study is currently undergoing and the related results will be subject of future contributions
Enhancing Collaboration with Blockchain-Enabled Digital Twins: Perspectives from Stakeholders in the Built Environment
Authors: Adu-Amankwa Nana Akua , Pour Rahimian Farzad , Dawood Nashwan
Published: February 2024

This study explores the potential of Blockchain (BC)-enabled Digital Twins (DT) using qualitative semi-structured interviews to investigate the perception of stakeholders in the Architectural, Engineering, Construction and Facility Management (AEC-FM) industry on the relevance of BC-enabled DTs in augmenting stakeholder collaboration. The findings revealed that most interviewees perceived the potential of a BC-enabled DT in fostering stakeholder collaboration, leading to enhanced project delivery. Some participants viewed affordability drivers, whilst some highlighted the desire to fulfil client demands as influencing drivers for BC-enabled DT implementation in the AEC-FM industry. The study’s empirical findings align with evidence from other industrial sectors, proving that BC can ensure data integrity in a decentralised peer-to-peer framework, whilst DTs can leverage that data for effective and reliable decision-making. In the AEC-FM industry, these technologies are nascent; however, their potential integration could tackle critical issues regarding stakeholder collaboration and information fragmentation, leading to value generation in a decentralised and immutable manner. This study offers insights into implementation strategies for a BC-enabled DT collaborative environment and contributes to accelerating the industry’s approach to digital transformation
Fast and Secure BIM Design Using Blockchain: An Example of Makeshift Hospital Project for COVID-19 Treatment in Hong Kong
Authors: Tao Xingyu , Gong Xingbo , Das Moumita , Xu Yuqing , Liu Hao , Cheng Jack C. P. , Zheng Chengliang
Published: February 2024

A crucial action of COVID-19 combat is the quick design and building of makeshift hospitals (MHs). Although adopting building information modeling (BIM) promotes the digitalization and communication of design collaboration, data security vulnerabilities (e.g., lacking traceability and transparency) are detected and have inevitably impeded the efficiency and productivity of the MH project. Such problems often lead to rework and unnecessary disputes, wasting valuable time on projects requiring ultra-fast construction speed. The emerging blockchain technology offers an immutable and traceable collaboration environment. However, limited studies have integrated blockchain in the BIM design process, especially design in emergency projects like MH. Therefore, this paper proposes a blockchain-enabled collaboration (BEC) framework for fast and secure BIM design. The framework is illustrated in an actual MH project in Hong Kong, and results show that: (1) it supports secure and automated BIM data exchange and (2) it saves 23 % of the time in a design coordination case
Zero-Knowledge Proof for Trusted Construction Management: A Preliminary Study of Adaptive Blockchain BIM Identity Authentication
Authors: Kong Lingming , Zhao Rui , Xue Fan
Published: February 2024

Blockchain technology emphasizes trust and collaboration through distributed networks and is deemed to contribute to building information modeling (BIM) based construction collaboration and management. However, the open nature of blockchain introduces severe cybersecurity attacks that undermine the trustworthiness of construction management. One salient point is identity authentication for security BIM data access in the blockchain environment. The traditional public-private key or password authenticate methods are vulnerable to malicious theft. Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is an emerging, password-free method for authenticating identities. It allows one party to prove the truth or falsity of a statement to another party without revealing any meaningful information to the counterpart. Therefore, this study proposes a preliminary user authentication protocol based on the non-interactive ZKP protocol, specifically the zk-SNARK protocol, for adaptive authentication of blockchain BIM. The adaptive authentication recognizes a random subset of on-chain historical BIM operation records to prove the identity according to the protocol. Without revealing any meaningful knowledge to the authentication system, this adaptive data access control prevents password attacks using the BIM records on-chain. Finally, the proposed protocol is deployed on the test blockchain and implemented in a preliminary case study to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The main contribution of this paper is twofold. Firstly, the theoretical contribution is proposing a novel zk-SARKs-based identity authentication protocol that utilizes the on-chain BIM operation records. Secondly, the practical contribution relies on presenting a ZoKrates-based workflow of generating proofs, creating smart contracts, and deploying on the blockchain for verification
A Systematic Literature Review to Identify a Methodological Approach for Use in the Modelling and Forecasting of Capital Expenditure of Hyperscale Data Centres
Authors: King David , Wanigarathna Nadeeshani , Jones Keith , Ofori-Kuragu Joseph
Published: February 2024

The theme of ‘Managing the digital transformation of the construction industry’ emphasises the importance of considering various dimensions of digitalisation and optimising the built environment. This review aims to present methodological approaches from existing literature that elucidate location-related factors impacting the capital cost of data centres. These findings facilitate adjustments to historical cost data when estimating total costs for new data centres. A systematic literature review method was employed to ensure an objective and comprehensive synthesis. In conjunction with Bayes's theory, this review identifies that a Delphi methodology is the most suitable methodological approach for forecasting and modelling capital expenditure for hyper-scale data centres. The methodology enables collective decision-making and consensus building, recognising the stakeholder's pivotal role in shaping the future of data centres. These findings offer valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in forming a methodological approach for further investigations into the location-related factors impacting the capital cost of data centres. Embracing this knowledge allows us to align research and practice, ensuring that these practices become integral to shaping the future of data centres and the digitalisation and optimisation of the built environment
University Asset Digitalization Guidelines: The Pilot Case of Politecnico di Milano Real Estate
Authors: Di Giuda Giuseppe Martino , Cacciaguerra Elisa , Paleari Francesco , Schievano Marco , Campi Stefano , Tucci Alessandro
Published: February 2024

This study describes a multi-year project aimed at digitizing the real estate assets of an Italian university, specifically the Politecnico di Milano. The objective is to enhance and streamline university asset management through the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology. BIM fosters a collaborative environment among stakeholders, facilitating the digitalization of asset management processes. The project focuses on modeling the university’s assets in a BIM environment, for the creation of a repository of structured information that will streamline and optimize the processes related to the buildings' life cycle. This initiative aims to enhance real estate management services, optimize space utilization, and ultimately elevate user satisfaction within the university community. The project commenced with an in-depth analysis of the technical areas within the university responsible for design, construction, redevelopment, and overall real estate asset management. Each of these areas was evaluated for strengths, constraints, and critical points. Various approaches to BIM integration were explored to enhance digitalization processes. Based on these initial assessments, a comprehensive set of methodological and operational guidelines was formulated, encompassing modelling, management, and data-sharing aspects of digitalization. This paper provides an overview of the initial phases of the project, highlights its strengths, and identifies areas for improvement and testing in future project development. Emphasis is placed on standardizing information to ensure consistency throughout the asset's entire life cycle
BIM-GIS and BI Integration for Facility and Occupancy Management of University Assets: The UNITO Pilot Case
Authors: Di Giuda Giuseppe Martino , Accardo Daniele , Gasbarri Paola , Meschini Silvia , Tagliabue Lavinia Chiara , Scomparin Laura
Published: February 2024

The integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) with Business Intelligence (BI) is promising for managing vast and diffused assets. It enables valuable insights into asset performance and resource uses, supporting savings, improved efficiency, and sustainability. The research proposes a web-based Asset Management System application (AMS-app) via BIM-GIS-BI integration, providing an updated digital representation of university assets by combining spatial, performance, and operation data with related analytics. The AMS-app was developed in the context of the University of Turin's strategic plan as a pilot case to improve asset management procedures through a data-driven approach. Indeed, campuses are complex assets managed by multiple actors through still document-based and fragmented databases, often leading to ineffective and untimely decision-making processes. The AMS-app represents a valuable decision support system for facility managers aimed at asset monitoring and user experience improving through better and more sustainable decisions concerning space, occupancy, and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). To demonstrate the effectiveness of the BIM-GIS-BI integration through the AMS-app, several case studies were implemented with the following objectives: (i) the digitalization of university building data, (ii) the optimization of courses timetables according to space availability, (iii) the optimal workstations management, and (iv) the analysis, monitoring and optimizing of IEQ and comfort via IoT networks. The paper illustrates the advantages and applicability of the developed methodology through the case studies, and further developments in university asset management
Towards a Framework for Railway Network Assets Management Based on BIM/GIS Integration
Authors: Mangia Mattia , Di Biccari Carla , Roupé Mattias
Published: February 2024

Complex infrastructures such as railway networks face increasing challenges related to resource allocation, external events, constraints, and demands. Therefore, it is crucial to optimize the Asset Management (AM) phase to ensure the value and functionality of the assets. The integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can support this phase, but it can only yield benefits with a comprehensive approach that considers and addresses the specific needs and resources of the assets and their AM organization. The main benefits include improved data management, manipulation, information visualization and optimized resource allocation. This study describes an intermediate step towards developing a BIM/GIS integration framework for AM that can guide both researchers and practitioners. The framework aims to bridge theory and practice by incorporating insights from literature reviews and case studies. Its main objectives are to provide a comprehensive multi-stakeholder view and methods for effectively integrating BIM and GIS in this context. To develop the framework, the study employed focus groups, interviews, and practical BIM/GIS tests, which provided insights reported in this article. Furthermore, the study provides research directions for effective BIM/GIS integration in infrastructure AM
Integration Between Enterprise Resource Planning and Building Information Modelling
Authors: Federici Paola , Julea Daniela , Comai Sara , Raj Kavita , Mastrolembo Ventura Silvia , Rigamonti Giuseppe , Vassena Giorgio Paolo Maria , CIRIBINI Angelo Luigi Camillo
Published: February 2024

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is an integrated business management system aimed at monitoring and maximizing resources and efficiency; on the other hand, Building Information Modelling (BIM) represents a broad series of approaches to design, based on the development of virtual models that cover the building’s whole lifecycle. The integration of ERP systems within the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry, while promising, has yet to reach the same results that its use has achieved in other fields. Although BIM and ERP are traditionally systems employed in different disciplines, they both deal with data integration and customization, and are designed to reconcile varied and scattered information. A mutual incorporation could allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the project starting from the initial phases, while also granting a more streamlined construction process and a reduction in errors and complications later on. The aim of this paper is to identify the possible connections between the two systems examining a case study, starting from an analysis of the current state of the art regarding this implementation, and by evaluating both the existing limits and the future possibilities of this implementation, for both small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the industry at large
Development of an Automated Workflow in the Field of Fire Prevention Using Building Information Modeling
Authors: Donato Vincenzo , Bongini Andrea , Sparacino Marco
Published: February 2024

The research focuses on an approach for the development of an automated workflow in the field of fire prevention for the validation of BIM models regarding “Subjected Activities” (according to Italian law - Presidential Decree 151/2011), with reference to the contents of the Horizontal Technical Regulation of the Fire Prevention Code. In fact, since 2019, the Italian Fire Department, through the Fire Digital Check project, is seeking to digitize the Fire Prevention Code in order to allow professionals to integrate their BIM models with the objectives required by the fire regulations. The workflow proposed involves three distinct processes, integrating them within a single workflow: study of the technical regulations and transposition into the digital environment using proven methods such as RASE, Tx3 and TIO, information modelling of a case study and implementation of validation algorithms using Solibri software. One of the main points of the proposed process is to use an open and interoperable format such as that offered by the IFC schema for the information exchange between the different software involved
A Preliminary Investigation of Knowledge Management Tools for the Construction Sector
Authors: Kologlu Bartu , Artan Deniz
Published: February 2024

Knowledge management (KM) is used by construction firms to establish organizational memory (OM) and consequently improve their performance by learning from past mistakes and best practices. Knowledge is the input to innovation; thus, the industry must adopt better ways of managing knowledge for advancement in the construction processes. Knowledge management consists of locating, modifying, and sharing knowledge to meet the needs of the current fast-paced sector. Various tools have been developed to support KM and OM in construction companies, however, it is very important to adequately address the needs of the sector for successful implementations. The aim of this study is to analyze the existing KM tools and evaluate their compatibility with the necessities of today’s sector. First, knowledge types in the construction industry were outlined, and existing KM tools were evaluated. Then, expert interviews were performed with two representatives from a prominent construction and a prominent consulting firm to delineate the contemporaneous KM practices as well as the KM needs in the construction industry. Finally, current practice in KM in the construction sector is evaluated, and a vision is developed for a more effective KM approach that could support OM in construction firms
Integrated GeBIM Requirements Definition for Digital Building Permit
Authors: Mastrolembo Ventura Silvia , Comai Sara , Noardo Francesca , Raj Kavita , CIRIBINI Angelo Luigi Camillo
Published: February 2024

The development of methods for building permit issuing supported by digital tools could improve the current mostly manual procedures for processing regulatory information and related compliance processes. Several studies are currently addressing the challenge of building permit digitalisation, mostly considering building information models as the source data for automating the regulations checks. However, many of the main checks, that usually represent the major bottlenecks of the compliance checking process, need a joint representation of the new proposed construction and its context, which could be effectively represented in a (3D) geographical information system. This study aims at supporting the automation of building permitting by addressing the rule interpretation as an input to model preparation and code checking. In particular, the regulations interpretation in this case is functional to the definition of data requirements and checking rules referring to a joint GIS and BIM (GeoBIM) framework. The approach is developed and tested in the case of an Italian municipality of 45.000 inhabitants. This paper describes the interpretation of distance-related regulations by adopting a semantic mark-up and sentence-centric approach. The resulting level of information need has been represented in conceptual models (object, attributes, relationships) as an essential input to city and building model preparation. While the case study is specific in location and regulations, the type of issues encountered are a generally applicable example for the building permit use case. Future works will extend the methodology to additional three European municipalities between 45.000 and 1.000.000 inhabitants, in three European countries, to address the need for a flexible and scalable approach
Evaluating the Comprehension of Construction Schedules of an Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Sulbaran Tulio
Published: February 2024

Construction schedules are an important tool to communicate with the project stakeholders and are critical for the project management team to plan, coordinate, and manage construction projects. Each construction project has a unique schedule that is created based on the construction drawings, specifications, contracting requirements, construction methods, and the judgment of the project management team. Therefore, each construction schedule is unique in many aspects such as the number of activities, the names of the activities, the duration of those activities, and the relationship between the activities. The names of the activities are of particular interest as they are the critical core unit to creating the schedule. Furthermore, the activities are the ones that bring together all other aspects of the schedule. Unfortunately, there is no standard naming conversion for those activities and they vary from project to project as well as from project management team to project management team. This inconsistency of the activity name makes it extremely challenging for both humans and machines to understand the meaning and scope of the activities. Thus, the problem that this paper addresses is the challenge faced by machines to comprehend the activities of a construction schedule. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the ability of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation to comprehend activities in a construction schedule. This research was conducted following a mixed research method. The AI implementation training was done by providing the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Master Format activity list to a Sentence Transformer. Then the AI was given the task of interpreting the activities of a construction schedule according to the 50 Divisions of the CSI Master Format. A group of senior construction students was also given the same interpretation task. The evaluation was done by comparing the results of the AI vs the humans for each of the activities in the construction schedule. The result was that the AI has 0.56 accuracy, 0.50 precision, 0.85 recall and, 0.64 F1 Score. This result is very promising and it supports further research to refine the AI to increase its ability to comprehend construction schedule activities. Upon achieving a higher level of comprehension an AI could be used to assist humans in the preparation of construction schedules or perhaps prepare drafts of the construction schedules for the human to review