Integrated Design Studios: Education to Overcome Silo-thinking and Enable Full BIM-exploitation in AEC

An investigation into Building Information Modeling (BIM) application in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry in Gaza strip

PurposeThe provision of an accessible and inclusive built environment is both a common regulatory requirement for architects and facilities managers, and a critical issue of equitable access for people with disability. Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is key to ensuring appropriate building accessibility is provided and maintained. Improved Building Information Modelling (BIM) integration with Facilities Management (FM) will enable more effective POE over time. This study aims to define and demonstrate the practicability and utility of a particular configuration of emerging BIM and related digital technologies, applied in the field.Design/methodology/approachA field study approach is applied to investigate the practicability and utility of the technology configuration and POE procedures. A proposed technology configuration is applied to evaluate 21 accessible bathrooms across three university buildings in Sydney, Australia. First, a checklist of technical functionality for a POE of accessible bathrooms particular to the field study FM context is established. The checklist is based on a review of recent literature, relevant standards, best practice guidelines, expert opinions, and the organisational requirements. Then, a technical and procedural approach to POE and BIM integration with FM is defined and applied in the field. Finally, a quantitative analysis of the results is presented and discussed relative to both the particular and general FM contexts.FindingsThe use of low-cost BIM and related technologies can usefully be applied in the field to promote a more progressive integration of BIM with FM and provide enhanced baseline models for ongoing POE. A rudimentary risk assessment of key accessible bathroom features (in the context of this field study) identified that the Toilet: toilet rolls location is unsatisfactory across all bathrooms surveyed and represents an immediate and high-risk failing. Other high-risk issues highlighted in this study included: Approach: access; Entrance: door fittings and security; and Layout: hazards.Practical implicationsThis study offers a blue-print for building practitioners to adopt and progressively integrate low-cost BIM and related technologies with extant FM systems. The study also promotes an improved approach to effective POE practice in general, and to the assessment of accessible bathrooms in particular.Originality/valueRecent reviews highlight key barriers to BIM integration with FM and significant limitations to current POE practice. Proposals for BIM integration with FM tend to focus on the comprehensive use of BIM. This study demonstrates the practicability and utility of a more progressive approach to BIM adoption and integration with FM in general. The study is also novel in that it shows how low-cost BIM and related technologies can be used as a baseline reference for ongoing POE. Building practitioners can adopt and adapt the technology configuration and approach to support a range of POE applications. This field study has identified immediate and high-risk potential failings of the accessible bathrooms provided on one university campus in Sydney, Australia.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a revolutionary stride of technology in the orthodox construction and procedures in conventional Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry which is stressed upon for its delay on embracing new technologies. The strength of BIM has been disvalued in the eyes of many professionals, to think of BIM as just another ‘software’ which is in reality, a ‘process’ of attaining an outstanding collaboration among each and every stakeholder throughout a project’s life cycle. Hence, the philosophy of Supply Chain Management (SCM) in a construction project can be achieved effectively with the BIM’s promise of flexible and transparent interaction among Construction Supply Chain (CSC) contributors. However, the complexities in CSC of a conservative setup has been more composite with the intervention of BIM. Consequently, the BIM project stakeholders have encountered complications on the effective application of BIM on CSC while reaching the envisioned goals of BIM. Thus, the intention of this study is to develop a foreseeable information flow model related to construction supply chain in a BIM aided project. In order to attain the aim, an extensive literature synthesis was piloted to develop a conceptual informational flow model among CSC stakeholders of a BIM project. This contemporary research outlines that the CSC of a BIM project is much interactive and flexible with its collaborative effort of stakeholders when compared to the clashes among professionals in traditional setups. In a practical context, the roles and duties of BIM project stakeholders identified in BIM standards, have slightly differed due to real-world complications in construction industry. Besides that, BIM standards have laid down charismatic arrangements on information flows among BIM project stakeholders, which is in reality, a complex and random setup. Hence, the research outcome has successfully answered the complications by laying down guidelines for any outsider to the BIM field to recognise what would be the contribution of each stakeholder throughout the BIM project’s life cycle.

Building information modelling (BIM) provides major potential to improve project performance through its integration with emerging technologies, which are proven benefits in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, such as better data sharing, increased productivity, safety improvement and enhanced visualization. As the evolution of BIM integration with the emerging technologies has progressively increased its influence on the (AEC) sector, an architectural academic programme must introduce BIM through its integration with the new technologies practices into architectural academic programs, in order to fulfil the requirements of this sector. The chapter’s objective is to provide students, academic researchers and practitioners with a comprehensive updated review of the importance of adopting BIM integrated with emerging technologies in the architectural academic programme. The methodology comprises literature review to investigate the current developments in this subject area by reviewing and explaining the use of BIM integration with emerging technologies in construction project phases and presents practical examples of architectural projects that used these technologies. The chapter concluded that architectural education that supports emerging technologies has great impact on AEC. The chapter suggested considerable guidelines to facilitate introducing BIM integration with emerging technologies in the architectural academic programme and to find the possibility of applying the guidelines in architectural academic programs.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a pedagogical practice in the project-based assessment of architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) students’ interdisciplinary building design work adopting BIM. This pedagogical practice emphasizes the impacts of BIM, as the digital collaboration platform, on the cross-disciplinary teamwork design through information sharing. This study also focuses on collecting students’ perceptions of building information modeling (BIM) effects in integrated project design. Challenges in BIM adoption from AEC students’ perspective were identified and discussed, and could spark further research needs.Design/methodology/approachBased on a thorough review of previous pedagogical practices of applying BIM in multiple AEC disciplines, this study adopted a case study of the Solar Decathlon (SD) residential building design as the group project for AEC students to deliver the design work and construction planning. In total 13 different teams within the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, each group consisting of final year undergraduate students with backgrounds in architecture, civil engineering, and architectural environmental engineering, worked to deliver the detailed design of the solar-powered residential house meeting pre-specified project objectives in terms of architectural esthetics, structural integrity, energy efficiency, prefabrication construction techniques and other issues such as budget and scheduling. Each team presented the cross-disciplinary design plan with cost estimate and construction scheduling together within group reports. This pedagogical study collected students’ reflective thinking on how BIM affected their design work, and compared their feedback on BIM to that from AEC industry professionals in previous studies.FindingsThe case study of the SD building project showed the capacity of BIM in enabling interdisciplinary collaboration through information exchange and in enhancing communication across different AEC fields. More sustainable design options were considered in the early architectural design stages through the cross-disciplinary cooperation between architecture and building services engineering. BIM motivated AEC student teams to have a more comprehensive design and construction plan by considering multiple criteria including energy efficiency, budget, and construction activities. Students’ reflections indicated both positive effects of BIM (e.g. facilitating information sharing) as well as challenges for further BIM implementation, for example, such as some architecture students’ resistance to BIM, and the lack of existing family types in the BIM library, etc.Research limitations/implicationsSome limitations of the current BIM pedagogy were identified through the student group work. For example, students revealed the problem of interoperability between BIM (i.e. Autodesk Revit) and building energy simulation tools. To further integrate the university education and AEC industry practice, future BIM pedagogical work could recruit professionals and project stakeholders in the adopted case studies, for the purpose of providing professional advice on improving the constructability of the BIM-based design from student work.Practical implicationsTo further integrate the university education and AEC industry practice, future BIM pedagogical work could recruit professionals and project stakeholders in the adopted case study, for the purpose of providing professional advice in improving the constructability of the BIM-based design from student work.Originality/valueThis work provides insights into the information technology applied in the AEC interdisciplinary pedagogy. Students gained the experience of a project-based collaboration and were equipped with BIM capabilities for future employment within the AEC job market. The integrated design approach was embedded throughout the team project process. Overall, this BIM pedagogical practice emphasized the link between academic activities and real-world industrial practice. The pedagogical experience gained in this BIM course could be expanded to future BIM education and research in other themes such as interoperability of building information exchange among different digital tools.

Background: The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is one of the sectors that contribute the most to the Palestinian economy. However, it now suffers from many problems, one of which is not adopting new innovations, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM recently achieved far reaching consideration in the AEC industry. Aim: This research aimed to understand the contribution of BIM to the enhancement and application of Knowledge Areas (KAs) in the AEC industry in Palestine. Methods: A quantitative survey was utilized in the pilot study. Thirty copies of the questionnaire were dispersed to respondents from the target group. The completed questionnaires were analyzed to test for statistical validity and reliability. After the pilot study, the questionnaire was validated and dispersed to the entire sample, comprising respondents from the target group who were selected by convenience sampling. Eighty copies of the questionnaire were dispersed, and 71 copies of the questionnaire were obtained from the respondents with a response rate of 88.8%. Results: To draw meaningful results, the gathered information was analyzed by utilizing quantitative data analysis techniques, including the RII, Pearson correlation analysis, and Factor analysis. Conclusion: The results illustrated the extent of enhancing the application of KAs in the AEC industry using BIM technology from the highest to lowest as follows: Cost Management (CM), Time Management (TM), Resource Management (REM), Procurement Management (PROM), Scope Management (SCM), Stakeholder Management (STM), Integration Management (IM), Quality Management (QM), Communication Management (COM), Risk Management (RM), and Safety Management (SM). As an example, BIM is effectively applied to each KA, and high efficiency is achieved when BIM is applied to TM by 4D modeling; to CM by 5D modeling; to REM by collaboration; to PROM by quantity takeoff; to SCM by element-base; to STM and IM by using integrated project delivery; to QM by using clash detection; to COM by centralized, structured data management, and information flow; to RM by constructability; and to SM by automated safety code checking.

With the continuous development of digital technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), the teaching methods for architecture major in higher vocational colleges have also undergone major changes. New technologies and instruction methods in Engineering Cost Budgeting teaching can stimulate students’ learning interest and improve education quality and students’ comprehensive learning ability. In order to improve the teaching level of engineering cost budgeting major and stimulate students’ interest in learning, this work first introduces backpropagation neural network (BPNN) into engineering cost estimation (ECE). Then, the BPNN-based ECE model is trained by the sample data to estimate the project’s total quotation and comprehensive unit price. The error between the real and predicted values is analyzed. Second, the building information modeling (BIM) technology and virtual reality (VR) technologies are integrated into teaching engineering cost budgeting. The investigation, research, and analysis are conducted before and after applying BIM and VR technology in practical teaching. The results show that the proposed BPNN-based ECE model-estimated total quotation and comprehensive unit price fit well the sample values. The BPNN-based ECE model can be applied to teaching engineering cost budgeting. It can improve the calculation accuracy, and the relative error can be controlled within a certain range and has a certain potential to replace manual budgeting. It can provide some reference for the research of engineering cost technology. Classroom teaching under the integration of BIM and VR technologies can improve the students’ homework quality, academic performance, and teaching quality to a certain extent. Integrating BIM and VR technology in classroom teaching can enhance students’ communication, cooperation ability, oral defense scores, comprehensive scores, and professional skills.

PurposeIn the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, a “digital divide” exists in technology adoption because SMEs (who often form the bulk of AEC organisations in most countries) are thought to be “Late Majority” and “Laggards” in the adoption of Building information modelling (BIM) technology. Larger organisations not saddled with financial and socio-technical constraints might be considered as being among the “Early Majority” or “Innovators”. It is crucial to understand how these organisations differ in their speed of BIM technology adoption and the rationale for this difference. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential causes of the digital divide and suggest solutions for bridging the gap.Design/methodology/approachUsing mixed research method, data were collected through online questionnaire survey of over 240 global respondents as well as a semi-structured interview with nine experts for which statistical and thematic analyses were used, respectively.FindingsOrganisations can be zoned into “layers” and “levels” of BIM technology adoption and their size is not always significant in terms of the speed at which they adopt BIM. The digital divide is unequal across layers/levels and large organisations utilise technologies across the BIM maturity levels depending on project circumstances. A conceptual model for BIM technology was developed to aid identification of the “Laggards” and “Late Majority” from the “Innovators” through which change agents can customise adoption strategies for each group.Originality/valueThe developed model could serve as a tool for engagement and policy making and it contributes to the body of knowledge in the field of BIM technology adoption.

PurposeThere is a need to develop the understanding of asset owners concerning the constraints of building information modelling (BIM) implementation, and its subsequent value realisation activities in asset management (AM) cannot be overstated. This is because the life cycle cost of a built asset is three times more than construction costs and five times more than the initial investment outlays. Hence, this paper investigated and identified the key issues and challenges of realising BIM business value in AM.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted an explorative and deductive approach. A qualitative four-stage research design strategy was adopted using 10 semi-structured interviews and document analysis to collect data. These were analysed through qualitative thematic analysis.FindingsThe study identified 15 key barriers and classified them from the perspective BIM governance dimensions, namely people, process and technology. Furthermore, the study identified that more process-based challenges are experienced than people or technology. Of the identified challenges, three are people-related, eight are process-related and four are technology-related.Practical implicationsThe analysed results focussed on the development of the understanding of asset owners, policymakers and researchers regarding the complex challenges that hinder BIM utilisation and value realisation in AM. The findings of this paper support progress towards enhanced BIM adoption in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry by highlighting the significance of the identified challenges, their nature (people-, process- or technology-based) and the resultant effect on BIM business value realisation during asset operations.Originality/valueThe original contribution of this study was the exploration and identification of the current challenges experienced by asset owners in implementing BIM during asset operations and how these affect the derivation of BIM business value.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a valuable technology for design in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Creating BIM-based computer games is a new application area of BIM technology that can provide an additional dimension to its utility by allowing facility users and designers to ‘visit’ the facility before it is completed. Scholars report that BIM games can be used in various areas such as construction site safety, building operation and design. Besides, games can aid in communicating architectural concepts to people not familiar with building construction. In this article, the integration of BIM and gaming is explored by analysing some of the issues emerging when integrating these technologies. A case study of a Norwegian construction project where a BIM model served as a graphical environment to develop a staff training game has been conducted. The findings are constructed by applying a relatively fresh theoretical approach, namely: Alter’s Theory of Workarounds. The article explicates how practitioners cope with BIM-gaming integration challenges. Moreover, the consequences of their actions are elaborated. We find that existing approaches for resolving interoperability challenges are not properly applied in practice. Finally, we suggest key factors to improve BIM-gaming integration.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to summarize the latest research of BIM adoption in construction engineering and management (CEM) and propose research directions for future scholarly work. During the recent decade, building information modeling (BIM) has gained increasing applications and research interest in the construction industry. Although there have been review-based studies that summarized BIM-based research in the overall architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) area, there is limited review that evaluates the current stage of BIM-based research specifically in the CEM sub-area.Design/methodology/approachCEM falls into the scope of AEC. It involves construction-related tasks, activities and processes (e.g. scheduling and cost estimates), issues (e.g. constructability), as well as human factors (e.g. collaboration). This study adopted a holistic literature review approach that incorporates bibliometric search and scientometric analysis. A total of 276 articles related to BIM applied in CEM were selected from Scopus as the literature sample for the scientometric analysis.FindingsSome key CEM research areas (e.g. CEM pedagogy, integrated project delivery, lean and off-site construction) were identified and evaluated. Research trends in these areas were identified, and analyses were carried out with regard to how they could be integrated with BIM. For example, BIM, as a data repository for ACE facilities, has substantial potential to be integrated with a variety of other digital technologies, project delivery methods and innovative construction techniques throughout the whole process of CEM.Practical implicationsAs BIM is one of the key technologies and digital platforms to improve the construction productivity and collaboration, it is important for industry practitioners to be updated of the latest movement and progress of the academic research. The industry, academics and governmental authorities should work with joint effort to fill the gap by first recognizing the current needs, limitations and trends of applying BIM in the construction industry. For example, it needs more understanding about how to address technical interoperability issues and how to introduce the integrated design and construction delivery approach for BIM implementation under the UK BIM Level 2/3 framework.Originality/valueThis study contributed to the body of knowledge in BIM by proposing a framework leading to research directions including the differences of BIM effects between design-bid-build and other fast-track project delivery methods; the integration of BIM with off-site construction; and BIM pedagogy in CEM. It also addressed the need to investigate the similarities and differences between academia and industry toward perceiving the movement of BIM in construction field work.

The construction industry needs modern construction methodology and technology to improve sustainability and production performance. Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology supports improving the quality of products by reducing design and construction defects, risks to the health and safety of workers, and reduce overall project cost and delivery time. The BIM has capabilities, but it is still undiscovered and unable to exploit the full scale of its benefits in the Architectural Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. There is a trend to adopt the BIM level 1, which is limited to 2D and only in a few cases 3D models uses in the design and construction of residential and commercial buildings, particularly in Nepal. Hence, this paper focuses on providing insight into the BIM benefits and identifies the potential barriers while adopting BIM Level 3 in Nepal. This was accomplished by developing a 4DBIM model of a multi-story residential building in Nepal and conducting the industry survey via focus group with the AEC professionals based on the developed 4DBIM model. A comprehensive literature review was conducted and presented the findings of the BIM benefits and barriers while adopting BIM. The study found that commercial and governmental projects can immediately be adopted BIM technology. It is concluded that the unavailability of skilled BIM users and the lack of proper policies for BIM adoption are key barriers in Nepal. Hence, the new policy is required to achieve and exploit the full scale of the BIM benefits and improve the project delivery in terms of quality, cost and time including the health and safety of workers and the sustainability of the AEC industry.

Building information modeling (BIM) mandates are becoming more widespread because BIM allows design and construction teams to operate more productively and also enables them to collect the data they generate during the process for use in operations and maintenance tasks. As a result, professionals in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries are expected to possess excellent BIM expertise. Despite the fact that the developing world has largely not adopted BIM, many studies have been conducted on BIM usage, awareness, drivers and barriers with a focus on the developing world. Numerous studies have pointed to the professionals’ lack of BIM expertise in the developing world’s AEC sector as a major barrier to BIM deployment. Nevertheless, no research has been conducted to assess the variables impacting the level of BIM expertise among professionals. After a detailed review of the literature, the study developed five study hypotheses and created a conceptual model to help assess the variables impacting the level of BIM expertise of professionals in the AEC industry in the developing world. After that, a questionnaire survey was carried out to collect data from 103 seasoned professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry. Nonparametric tests, such as the Kruskal–Wallis, pairwise post hoc Dunn, Mann–Whitney, Pearson’s correlation and the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS SEM) tests, were adopted to assess the relationships between the level of BIM expertise of professionals (BE) and the following variables: (1) profession (P), (2) the frequency of BIM use by professionals (BF), (3) the highest dimension of BIM adopted by AEC firms and companies (BD), (4) professionals’ perception of BIM (PB) and (5) the BIM implementation barriers (BIMIBs). P, BF, BD and PB were found to have a substantial impact on the level of BIM expertise acquired by professionals. With regards to professionals’ perception of the BIM software and process, only one (PB3–BIM is not useful to our company at the moment) out of ten of them was found to have a significant impact on BE, highlighting the impact of employers on the level of BIM expertise of professionals. In addition, the study discovered that any resolution made in an attempt to tackle the lack of/insufficient level of BIM expertise among professionals would prove futile without significant effort from the higher education sector (HES) of the developing world and the entire world at large. The study’s conceptual, empirical, managerial and theoretical implications and findings would serve as a roadmap for researchers, professionals and academics in developing nations as they endeavor to seek more ways of increasing BIM expertise among their professionals and to encourage BIM usage throughout the project lifecycle.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF BIM REQUIREMENTS THROUGHOUT A WHOLE LIFE CYCLE OF A PROJECT

Building-information-modeling enabled life cycle assessment, a case study on carbon footprint accounting for a residential building in China