Life Cycle Management Of Infrastructures Research Articles

Building Information Modeling Applications in Civil Infrastructure: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2020 to 2024

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has emerged as a transformative technology in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, with increasing application in civil infrastructure projects. This study comprehensively reviews the research landscape of BIM applications in civil infrastructure through bibliometric analysis. Based on data from the Web of Science database, 646 relevant papers published between 2020 and 2024 were collected, and 416 papers were selected for in-depth analysis after screening. Using bibliometric methods, the analysis reveals the evolution of research trends, identifies key contributors and influential publications, and maps the knowledge structure of the field. Our study shows a significant increase in research output over the past five years, particularly in studies focusing on the integration of BIM with emerging technologies such as Digital Twins, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Machine Learning. The results indicate that the United States, China, and the United Kingdom lead in terms of research output and citation impact. Additionally, based on clustering results and representative keywords, several key research clusters were identified, including BIM in infrastructure lifecycle management, BIM collaboration in large-scale projects, and BIM for sustainable infrastructure design.

Stochastic Multiphasic Multivariate State-Based Degradation and Maintenance Meta-Models for RC Structures Subject to Chloride Ingress

The objective of this paper is to propose tools for the lifecycle management of infrastructure by showing the slow degradation processes for which inspection data are accessible, especially the data obtained from non-destructive testing (NDT) and structural health monitoring (SHM). One major characteristic of these degradation processes is their multiphasic nature; consequently, they can be discretised into different phases with specific physical kinematics where specific maintenance actions and measurement techniques can be performed. Within this framework, we propose implementing a degradation meta-modelling approach fed with measurements (NDT, SHM). This approach is based on state-dependent stochastic processes for modelling the degradation and maintenance of reinforced concrete structures that are subjected to chloride-induced deterioration. The benefit of using multiphasic degradation meta-models in the lifecycle management of infrastructure is illustrated through numerical examples that include single and multi-action management policies.

Dynamic Automated Infrastructure for Efficient Cloud Data Centre

We propose a dynamic automated infrastructure model for the cloud data centre which is aimed as an efficient service stipulation for the enormous number of users. The data center and cloud computing technologies have been at the moment rendering attention to major research and development efforts by companies, governments, and academic and other research institutions. In that, the difficult task is to facilitate the infrastructure to construct the information available to application-driven services and make business-smart decisions. On the other hand, the challenges that remain are the provision of dynamic infrastructure for applications and information anywhere. Further, developing technologies to handle private cloud computing infrastructure and operations in a completely automated and secure way has been critical. As a result, the focus of this article is on service and infrastructure life cycle management. We also show how cloud users interact with the cloud, how they request services from the cloud, how they select cloud strategies to deliver the desired service, and how they analyze their cloud consumption.

Dynamic Material Flow Analysis of Cement in Iran: New Insights for Sustainability of Civil Infrastructures

In this article, a Dynamic Material Flow Analysis (DMFA) model is presented that characterizes the stocks and flows of cement from 1963 to 2063 in Iran. Using cement consumption data for the period of 1963-2018 an attempt is made to provide reliable estimates of the present as well as future cement in-use stocks and discards (from 2019 to 2063) to relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Road and Urban Development, Department of Environment, public and private utilities, and the construction and cement industries. Based on a normal lifetime distribution, a flow dynamic model is developed for each cement end-use category including buildings, infrastructures and others. Each sub model is simulated with 9 scenarios made from combinations of 3 scenarios for future cement consumption growth rate and 3 scenarios for the mean lifetime of the structures. For the base scenario, the model-derived estimate of in-use cement stock and cumulative discard for the year 2063 is 2191 million metric tons (Mt) and 1856 Mt, respectively. Such a great discard should be considered in policy making for better life cycle management of cement in Iran. The main finding of the paper is that by increasing the mean lifetime of the structures (especially buildings), the amount of cumulative cement discard in 2063 can be drastically decreased (generally over 50%) and this decrease will not be affected considerably by the cement consumption growth rate in the future. So this can be a reliable strategy for the sustainable life cycle management of infrastructures in Iran.

Infrastructure BIM Platform for Lifecycle Management

Recently, the application of the BIM technique to infrastructure lifecycle management has increased rapidly to improve the efficiency of infrastructure management systems. Research on the lifecycle management of infrastructure, from planning and design to construction and management, has been carried out. Therefore, a systematic review of the literature on recent research is performed to analyze the current state of the BIM technique. State-of-the-art techniques for infrastructure lifecycle management, such as unmanned robots, sensors and processing techniques, artificial intelligence, etc., are also reviewed. An infrastructure BIM platform framework composed of BIM and state-of-the-art techniques is then proposed. The proposed platform is a web-based platform that contains quantity, schedule (4D), and cost (5D) construction management, and the monitoring systems enable collaboration with stakeholders in a Common Data Environment (CDE). The lifecycle management methodology, after infrastructure construction, is then completed and is developed using state-of-the-art techniques using unmanned robots, scan-to-BIM, and deep learning networks, etc. It is confirmed that collaboration with stakeholders in the CDE in construction management is possible using an infrastructure BIM platform. Moreover, lifecycle management of infrastructure is possible by systematic management, such as time history analysis, damage growth prediction, decision of repair and demolition, etc., using a regular inspection database based on an infrastructure BIM platform.

Requirement Management for the 3D Pavement Model Over the Lifecycle

This article addresses the structuring of data relating to the pavement that form a part of road infrastructure, and its development throughout a project lifecycle. Modelling of the information necessary for pavement design, construction, operation, servicing and maintenance is proposed. The defined data model is accompanied by a representation of exchanges between actors and of the key processes for management of requirements with product lifecycle management tools. In this use case, the use of a digital model in infrastructure life-cycle management is addressed via the pavement component, with the aims of defining a complete information model associated with pavement, by identifying and structuring the data exchanged between the different actors and in the different project phases. These are represented by the processes within which these exchanges, bringing out the different viewpoints of the actors involved: owners, designers, builders, operators, etc.

NDT for need based maintenance of bridge cables, ropes and pre-stressed elements

Infrastructure is subject to continuous ageing. This has given life cycle management of infrastructure an increasingly important role. Reliable inspection and monitoring tools are therefore in demand. A reliable prognosis of the condition and behaviour of a structure is an important basis for an effective service life management. Furthermore, traffic loads and loads due to changing environmental conditions increased during the last years and will increase in the future. Repair and maintenance have to be performed, which requires reliable concepts and measurement of data, which is preferably gained through non-destructive methods. Furthermore, infrastructural constructions often have to be reconditioned when they are in use i. e. they cannot be torn down and rebuilt. Therefore, reliable diagnosis of the state of ‘hot spots’ is required. Within the frame of the Franco-German project FilameNDT steel wires of external tendon ducts and prestressing strands, prestressing rods, and stay cables are investigated. With regards to this field of application, practical relevance can only be gained when easily applicable and long ranging methods are used. The evaluation of extended structural elements using non-contact movable systems {bulk wave and guided wave application [Piezo, electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT)], magnetic flux leakage (MFL), Micromagnetic methods} and those of localized elements based on elastic guided wave propagation—are complementary since they can be applied according to the various accessibility conditions of the tested objects. Inspection and monitoring scenarios were developed, hot spots were identified, and lab tests as well as field tests were carried out. A real cable stayed bridge in the Saarland region is available for monitoring within the frame of the project. Results from local investigations using guided waves and from monitoring field tests with micromagnetic sensors are presented and discussed. The results show the scenarios where the non-destructive methods are applicable and how the results can be used for structural health monitoring and maintenance concepts.

Optimal threshold-based network-level transportation infrastructure life-cycle management with heterogeneous maintenance actions

Transportation infrastructure life-cycle management deals with maintenance decision making of transportation facilities such as pavement, bridges, and railways under budget constraints. In practice, transportation agencies adopt threshold-based rules for maintenance planning because they are intuitive and easy to implement. However, the thresholds are often determined based on engineering judgment without any systematic approach. Therefore, maintenance budgets cannot be used effectively and facility conditions are not optimized. This research uses hybrid dynamic models to represent threshold-based maintenance for transportation infrastructure in a realistic manner. Hybrid dynamic models combine continuous states such as pavement roughness and age with discrete states such as maintenance history. These models are also capable of considering multiple maintenance actions with heterogeneous effects. Based on facility conditions and maintenance thresholds, corresponding maintenance actions are selected automatically and the facility switches between deterioration modes to reflect the effects of the chosen action. Furthermore, to consider users’ reactions to maintenance actions and accurately predict deterioration for a network of facilities, threshold-based maintenance is formulated as an upper-level problem, and user response is incorporated as a lower-level problem. This leads to a bi-level programming problem where maintenance thresholds are decision variables, which is solved with a modified tabu search algorithm. The proposed methodology is validated with the road network of an urban area and the generated maintenance thresholds are reasonable and robust, which shows that the methodology has great potential to support transportation infrastructure life-cycle management in practice.

Qualification of a truly distributed fiber optic technique for strain and temperature measurements in concrete structures

Structural health monitoring is a key factor in life cycle management of infrastructures. Truly distributed fiber optic sensors are able to provide relevant information on large structures, such as nuclear power plants or nuclear waste disposal facilities. The sensing chain includes an optoelectronic unit and a sensing cable made of one or more optical fibers. A new instrument based on Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR), enables to perform temperature and strain measurements with a centimeter scale spatial resolution over hundred of meters and with a level of precision equal to 1 μ strain and 0.1 °C. Several sensing cables are designed with different materials targeting to last for decades, either embedded in the concrete or attached to the surface of the structure. They must ensure an optimal transfer of temperature and strain from the concrete matrix to the optical fiber. Based on the European guide FD CEN/TR 14748 “Non-destructive testing – Methodology for qualification of non-destructive tests”, a qualification method was developed. Tests were carried out using various sensing cables embedded in the volume or fixed to the surface of plain concrete specimens and representative-scale reinforced concrete structural elements. Measurements were performed with an OFDR instrument, while mechanical solicitations were imposed to the concrete element. Preliminary experiments seem very promising since measurements performed with distributed sensing systems are found comparable to values obtained with conventional sensors used in civil engineering and with the Strength of Materials Modelling. Moreover, the distributed sensing system makes it possible to detect and localize cracks appearing in concrete during the mechanical loading.

Computing in Civil Engineering—Lessons Learned from the 2005 ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering

On July 12–15, 2005, a group of approximately 170 researchers and practitioners met in Cancun, Mexico, for the 2005 International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering to present and learn about current research and developments on information technology in civil engineering. The conference was geared toward professionals and researchers who are interested in computing in a wide range of civil engineering disciplines, such as infrastructure life-cycle management, construction engineering and management, structural engineering, environmental engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulic engineering, sustainability, and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The six keynote speakers presented brilliant talks that introduced the major themes and topics of the conference. Ian F. C. Smith of Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne EPFL talked about the opportunities and challenges in using sensors in structural engineering and strategies for appropriate interpretation of sensor data. He introduced innovations in the field of measurement science and devices that employ such technologies as global positioning, acoustic emission, electric potential drop, interferometry, holography, photogrammetry, MEMS, and optical fibers. He presented a new methodology for sensor placement by using entropy, and a model-based approach for structural diagnosis was used to illustrate the potential of multimodel reasoning. Amr S. Elnashai of the University of Illinois at Urbana– Champaign introduced a framework for the computational or hybrid computational-experimental investigation of complex structures, their foundations, and underlying soil when subject to strong earthquake motion. The presented framework comprises a central integrator and peripheral components where available geotechnical and structural analysis platforms commercial packages or research analysis tools were combined to represent the most salient features of the response. Elnashai presented an extremely interesting example of a complex bridge that was modeled in ZEUS-NL, the structural computational platform of the Mid-America Earthquake Center, and OpenSees, the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center product, which models the soil strata by using UCSD geotechnical models.