Kereshmeh Afsari

PurposeAs video-based interventions are continuously utilized as alternatives to physical site visits, directing students' attention to specific learning contents within videos could increase their comprehension and stimulate their interest. Students' knowledge of construction practice can be reinforced, misconceptions and improper inferences can be reduced by calling out significant learning concepts. However, few studies have formalized practice concepts that could be beneficial in preparing students for the workplace. This paper presents an investigation of construction practice concepts, based on site visits that would be beneficial in complimenting classroom teaching to prepare students for the realities of practice.Design/methodology/approachA mixed methods research approach was employed combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. An online questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and a focus group were conducted with industry practitioners an...

BIM Content Libraries are performing as online sources for building product models. In order to effectively use the product models, it is important to organize them systematically within these databases. But currently there is no standard or guideline for this purpose. Products in these libraries are being categorized based on different criteria such as the object classes in the target platform, by referring to multiple classification systems or based on customized categories. This paper studies some of the BIM Content Libraries and investigates the structure that each library is using for product categorization. It indicates the need for a generic framework for the purpose of product categorization in BIM Content Libraries.

In the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, collaboration within Building Information Modeling (BIM) process is mainly based on transferring files. BIM data is being exchanged in either vendor specific file formats or neutral format using Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) as open BIM standard. However, since the web enables cloud-based BIM services, it provides an opportunity to exchange non-file based data via the web and over the networks. Alternative BIM data sharing solutions have been developed based on the federation of BIM models with BIM server technologies or using an interchange hub for data exchange in real-time. These solutions face several challenges, are vendor locked, and integrate two or multiple applications to a third new system which is tightly coupled. In addition to scalability issues, these data sharing technologies make the collaborating applications dependent upon each other which end up with high complexity. In fact, current cloud-base...

During model-based collaborations in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, files are largely used for exchanging Building Information Model (BIM). But, web as the enabler of cloud computing has provided the opportunities for a network-based data exchange as oppose to a file-based data transfer. Current Cloud-BIM interoperability solutions do not provide a loosely-coupled network-based system with the flexibility to reduce dependencies among collaborating Cloud-BIM applications. Thus, the need for a new interoperability framework is identified in the prior study and major components of the cloud interoperability are specified to improve model-based collaboration during the design and construction of buildings. This paper outlines the components of the new Cloud-BIM interoperability framework known as BIM Synapse that supports a network-based BIM data exchange for loosely-coupled collaboration in cloud. In addition, implementation of major layers of BIM Synap...

Post disaster housing and sheltering is considered a cyclic process which contains a broad range of activities in different characteristics such as social aspects, labor management, and environmental concerns. Most of these issues, if not all, are linked together and can affect each other’s activities and progress. As the population size increases and cities expand and become denser, this link and relation between different tasks become more and more complex. Not knowing the links between each of these elements and how processes are sequenced can result in long delays in the process, cost overruns, and even a poor quality job in the affected region. This research investigates how construction simulation and mapping process can facilitate post-disaster temporary sheltering process by breaking down the process into smaller activities. This approach will lead to considering all affecting elements in work activities, which can result into more accurate decision making and planning.

Bricks have been used in the construction industry as a building medium for millennia. Distinct patterns of bricks depict the unique aesthetic intentions found in Roman, Gothic and Islamic architecture. In contemporary practice, the use of digital tools in design has enabled methodologies for creating new forms in architecture. CAD and BIM systems provide new opportunities for designers to create parametric objects for building form generation. In masonry design, there exists an inherent contradiction between traditional patterns in brick design, which are formal and prescribed, and the potential for new patterns generated using design scripting. In addition, current tools do not provide interactive techniques for the design of the brickwork patterns in a way that changes of the pattern can be managed parametrically while being mapped to the brick wall in real time. An interactive technique can help to inform and influence the design process, by providing constant feedback on the co...

The use of automation and robotics has demonstrated numerous advantages in many industries including manufacturing. Similarly, it is expected that robotic technology plays a key role in achieving a successful construction project. Industrial robots have been used widely in production in a variety of applications in the automotive or manufacturing industry. Industrial robots are large and powerful robots but because of safety concerns for humans who work around the machines, these robots are supposed to be put into a cage during their operations to address safety concerns. On the other hand, the emergence of the collaborative robots has enabled a human worker to work with the machine closely while the human worker is allowed to directly share a common workspace with the robot. Collaborative industrial robots are harmless to the human worker, affordable, and easy to use and program. More importantly, studies on human-robot collaboration have indicated that a better productivity at wor...

Occupant behavior is considered as one of the important factors that can influence the energy consumption of a building, therefore knowing occupant behavior as supporting data can help architects to design more resilient, and sustainable architecture. Employing this data in the design and construction can help with creating more efficient buildings. Simulation can help us to experiment and understand the behavior of the system using these data by creating logical, justifiable, and valid models. Recently, occupancy behavior data has been used in different simulation tools. However, most of the research focusing on indoor navigation does not consider Building Information Modeling (BIM) and its properties while making the occupancy behavior simulation. When it comes to the energy performance of the building, building model should be taken into account as it would help the design team to with a better understanding of the project. In this paper, we used a BIM-GIS platform, to demonstrate how the occupant tracking and behavior pattern extracted from a simulation model using stochastic data can be used as a facilitating information for the design process.

Progress monitoring in the construction industry is mostly a manual process through in-person visual inspection and it leads to inconsistent, time-consuming, labor-intensive, and error-prone data acquisition. The key in progress monitoring is accurate, timely, and regular data collection and analysis during the construction process. Automating the process of regular data collection in progress monitoring can enable systematic recording of construction progress. To achieve this goal, mobile robots with autonomous navigation and high-performance locomotion capabilities can potentially navigate dynamically changing construction workspaces to perform regular data collection. This study identifies fundamentals of robot-enabled procedures for automated construction progress monitoring and explores the opportunities and challenges of utilizing a legged robot in this process. Through collaboration between academia and industry, this study conducts a set of experiments with a four-legged rob...

Most research works have focused predominantly on categorizing temporary houses and have neglected to create an assessment tool for selecting the most optimal temporary housing option based on their performances. This research aims to: (1) investigate the relevant vital indicators affecting the post-disaster temporary house construction process; (2) create a performance indicator (PI) table to help in creating more sustainable and resilient temporary houses; (3) examine each of the existing temporary houses based on the factors derived from the PI table; and (4) create a numerical scale from the evaluation table in order to compare options and measure their performance. This research would act as a guide for stakeholders to find the most appropriate option for the region based on the unique characteristics of the event and the available equipment and facilities

Abstract Building information modeling has been widely adopted by the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry worldwide. The education of this technology has significant contributions to productivity in the construction industry. Problems in building information modeling education have been noticed in many regions. However, building information modeling education has not been thoroughly discussed in China. It is needed to figure out and present the status of building information modeling education and research in this region. This study used literature review and case studies to find out the state of research and education in China. The status of building information modeling research and education in China was revealed. The study applied natural language processing to summarize research areas of building information modeling. The geographical distributions of research and education were created and compared to the geo-plot of the total value of the construction industry by province. The article found three central attitudes towards BIM education and discusses possible reasons why they were close to the trend of changes in the scale of the AEC industry. Neural network tools were used to analyze the causes of this insufficiency. More than half of the education programs are within engineering management. The geographical distributions of research and education comply with the Heihe-Tengchong Line. The comparisons of education in China and America indicated that Building Information Modeling education in China needs to extend knowledge in computer and information technology.

In the building industry, building data such as objects and processes are described in Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data model schema to support a neutral data exchange format for BIM tools interoperability. While IFC specification has been encoded in ifcXML format by buildingSMART to support XML-based data transmission, there is a lack of studies on the implementation of IFC specification using JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) serialization. JSON is a key-value style lightweight data exchange format that has higher parsing efficiency than XML and due to the inadequacies of XML, JSON has been widely used in Web applications, specifically in Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) Web services. This paper highlights the need for JSON implementation of IFC specification and introduces ifcJSON Schema and its data content. The main objective of this study is to outline how IFC specification can be represented in JSON format. Therefore, the study explains the implementation of the IFC standard as a JSON schema to guide the creation of JSON documents. The ifcJSON documents can be used for web-based data transfer as an alternative to XML documents. Since current IFC specification release is IFC4 Add1, the implementation of ifcJSON4 schema is specified and guidelines for generating and validating ifcJSON documents are described. Additionally, this paper implements ifcJSON4 schema in a use case within the precast concrete domain by indicating the data content for a precast building element with its corresponding geometry representation, product placement, and owner history data. The analysis of results indicates that ifcJSON4 schema developed in this paper is a valid JSON schema that can guide the creation of valid ifcJSON documents to be used for web-based data transfer and to improve interoperability of Cloud-based BIM applications.

Collaboration within Building Information Modeling process is mainly based on file transfer while BIM data being exchanged in either vendor specific file formats or neutral format using Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). However, since the Web enables Cloud-based BIM services, it provides an opportunity to exchange data via Web transfer services. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to investigate what features of Cloud interoperability can assist a network-based BIM data transmission for a collaborative work flow in the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (AEC) industry. This study indicates that Cloud-BIM interoperability needs to deploy major components such as APIs, data transfer protocols, data formats, and standardization to redefine BIM data flow in the Cloud and to reshape the collaboration process.

In the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry model-based data exchange methods are mainly based on manual file transfer, data conversion, and data-merge. File-based Building Information Model (BIM) data exchange is either in vendor specific file formats or neutral format using Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). IFC Model View Definitions (MVDs) proposed by the US National BIM Standard can assist cross-platform BIM data exchange. Since BIM applications are steadily moving to the Cloud, the study of Cloud-based BIM data transmission techniques become significant. The main objective of this paper is to investigate how building data transmission can be managed in current Cloud-BIM applications and what challenges exist in the current systems. Therefore, in this study, methodologies for Cloud-BIM data integration are investigated. Features of each technique is specified. The strengths and weaknesses of current systems are indicated with regard to data transmission requirements for Cloud-based BIM applications. In addition, the study investigates the challenges to cross-platform BIM data transfer in making multiple Cloud-BIM applications interoperate. The challenges in current data transmission approaches highlight the need for an effective network-based BIM data exchange to address a collaborative BIM work flow in the Cloud.

The US National BIM Standard proposes facilitating information exchanges through Model View Definitions (MVDs). An MVD, defines a subset of the IFC schema that is needed to satisfy one or many exchange requirements of the AEC industry. In the MVD definition for precast concrete domain specified in precast concrete Information Delivery Manual (IDM), four sets of Exchange Models (EMs) have been specified for four different processes i.e. architectural precast, precast lead project, precast detailer as subcontractor, and precast fabrication and erection processes. This approach identifies 47 exchange models for the lifecycle of a precast concrete project. However, there are many similar exchanges among these EMs that can be combined. Two approaches of Exchange Model consolidation has been proposed and this paper identifies the implementation issues of these consolidation strategies. The main objective of this paper is to define the MVD with limited number of EMs that addresses the problems of existing consolidation strategies to facilitate the MVD implementation and execution. This study suggests combining 47 original Exchange Models to twelve EMs by combining them based on two major aspects. First aspect is with regard to the MVD concepts to ensure that the exchange models are being combined based on similar data they include. Second aspect is the phases of the project that the data exchange is happening considering their exchange disciplines to ensure that the consolidated exchange models are related to similar phase/phases of the project with the same exchange purpose.

SUMMARY: Bricks have been used in the construction industry as a building medium for millennia. Distinct patterns of bricks depict the unique aesthetic intentions found in Roman, Gothic and Islamic architecture. In contemporary practice, the use of digital tools in design has enabled methodologies for creating new forms in architecture. CAD and BIM systems provide new opportunities for designers to create parametric objects for building form generation. In masonry design, there exists an inherent contradiction between traditional patterns in brick design, which are formal and prescribed, and the potential for new patterns generated using design scripting. In addition, current tools do not provide interactive techniques for the design of the brickwork patterns in a way that changes of the pattern can be managed parametrically while being mapped to the brick wall in real time. An interactive technique can help to inform and influence the design process, by providing constant feedback on the constructive aspects of the proposed brick pattern and its geometry. This research looks into the parametric techniques that can be applied to create different kinds of patterns on brick walls. It discusses a methodology for an interactive brickwork design within generative techniques. By integrating data between two computational platforms – the first based on image analysis and the second on parametric modeling, we demonstrate a methodology and application that can generate interactive arbitrary patterns and map it to the brick wall in real-time.

Building classification systems have established standard terminology and semantics for the construction sector. It is critical to use classification systems when dealing with specifications, structuring of documents and cost estimation. Classifying building product models in a standard way is a major step in organizing building product libraries. By giving the proper classification code to the product models, they can be arranged for different purposes such as cost estimation. However, several classification systems have been developed across the globe such as Uniclass in the UK and OmniClass in North America. Each system has been developed for a different purpose since the same collection of objects can be classified with different criteria. This paper studies four classification systems that are being used for classifying building product models. We structured four specific criteria to study these classification systems. We first argue that each criterion has a major role in defining different classification systems. These four criteria are: purpose and properties of the classification system, framework of the system, grouping principle within the system, organization and taxonomies of tables. Then considering these criteria, a comparison among the selected classification systems is presented.

Bricks have been used in the construction industry as a building medium for millennia. Distinct patterns of bricks depict the unique aesthetic intentions found in Roman, Gothic and Islamic architecture. In contemporary practice, the use of digital tools in design has enabled methodologies for creating new forms in architecture. CAD and BIM systems provide new opportunities for designers to create parametric objects for building form generation. In masonry design, there exists an inherent contradiction between traditional patterns in brick design, which are formal and prescribed, and the potential for new patterns generated using design scripting. In addition, current tools do not provide interactive techniques for the design of brickwork patterns that can manage constant changes parametrically, to inform and influence design process, by providing design feedback on the constructive and structural aspects of the proposed brick pattern and geometry. This research looks into the parametric techniques that can be applied to create different kinds of patterns on brick walls. It discusses a methodology for an interactive brickwork design within generative techniques. By integrating data between two computational platforms – the first based on image analysis and the second on parametric modeling, we demonstrate a methodology and application that can generate interactive arbitrary patterns and map it to the brick wall in real-time.

Building Information Modelling is known as a revolution in the industry and it is changing the design process and the way designers create the buildings. Among the stages of design, conceptualization is being affected by BIM adoption as well. BIM has brought a lot of benefits to design but still designers are struggling to implement BIM at the very early stage of the design process. Thus, this study has been conducted to investigate how BIM is transforming concept design process and what could be the possible answer to overcome the barriers of BIM adoption at conceptualization.