Lamine Mahdjoubi

Trends of 4D CAD Applications for Construction Planning

Since the early 1990s, there has been a growing interest in four‐dimensional computer aided design (4D CAD) for construction project planning. Commercial 4D CAD applications are becoming more accessible and the use of this technology allows the construction planner to produce more rigorous schedules. A review of the technical competencies of these packages highlights that most of the commercially available packages concentrate on the use of 4D CAD simulations for aesthetic visualization purposes. Very few packages offer the ability to carry out analytical tasks on the developed simulation and this is often left to the interpretation of the user. A thorough appraisal of emerging research developments in 4D planning highlights that this technology is employed for various applications; however, the amount of detail required in a 4D simulation is still ambiguous. A model is proposed to determine the attributes required for use with each of the various applications of 4D CAD simulations. Finally, various lines of future research are highlighted, including the need for improved use of data exchange standards and the automation of linking the construction tasks to the 3D CAD model.

Providing real-estate services through the integration of 3D laser scanning and building information modelling

There is an opportunity for real-estate services sector to deliver more accurate, faster and quality building surveys and information models. This paper reports on a study, designed to establish automated procedures for the development of a digital model to assist in faster and better services and delivery of real-estate services by integrating 3D laser scanning and BIM technology. It proposes an intuitive and interactive building model that is easy to query and navigate, and thus support property developers, buyers and sellers in the property sales sector. An outline of the new approach is provided to illustrate the benefits of the proposed method to the real-estate services sector. The key arguments in the paper are consolidated by the results of a qualitative study amongst real-estate professionals, which sought to determine the added value of BIM-3D laser scanning in comparison to conventional building surveying and Computer Aided Design (CAD) methods.

Towards a framework for evaluation of computer visual simulations in environmental design

Research has been conducted into the assessment of visual simulation as a credible method for predicting future environments, especially in building and landscape evaluation. Despite this work a conceptual framework to guide research and practice in this field has not been developed. The recent and increasingly widespread use of computer simulation in design has created an urgent need to develop a conceptual framework which can test prevailing assumptions and provide the basis for the development of an accepted theory in the field. This paper proposes such a framework, and identifies and relates the significant variables, which impact upon the application of visual simulation in an environmental design, task-orientated context.

REALMEDIA: providing multimedia-based real-estate services through the Internet

This paper presents the design and implementation of a software system, known as REALMEDIA, which provides Web-based, multimedia real-estate services on the Internet. REALMEDIA is innovative in that it is designed to provide both on-line services to clients and a tool for maintaining the system to real-estate agent. The software consists of a web-based interface, a client side editor and an application server. The web interface is used by both the customer and the real-estate agent to request particular services. When used by a customer, it allows the potential buyer to select and view desired properties, and to make an appointment with agents. Multimedia information, which integrates text, graphics and video clips, are presented to the customer. When used by the agent, the web interface allows the agent to dynamically update the contents of the web page and to manipulate property details through the Client Side Editor. The application server acts as a bridge between the Web Interface and the Client Side Editor. The computational architecture and major components of REALMEDIA as well as its implementation using JAVA, TCP/IP and FTP will be described.

A Dynamic VR System For Visualizing Construction Space Usage

Due to the dynamic nature of the construction site, the planning of workspaces required by construction tasks is difficult, with various research efforts focusing on this problem. 3D visualisation techniques are becoming increasingly used in the construction industry for various applications, and one such area is the support for construction space planning. This paper reports on the development of an interactive virtual reality system that allows the allocation and visualisation of construction workspace in a 4D (3D+Time) environment. Preliminary research highlighted that one of the most problematic areas for space planning involves specialist trade contractors. The development of the tools described in this paper was undertaken with input from various specialist contractors in the UK. The paper describes 3 developed tools. The first allows the construction planner to assign ‘strategies’ to tasks and building products to develop ‘dynamic’ construction plans that show progress of construction and in progress products during each week of the project. The second presents an interactive mark up tool that allows planners to add space objects to each weekly layout and the final tool allows the viewing of the construction (including work spaces required) in a 4D virtual reality interface.

Challenges to BIM-Cloud Integration: Implication of Security Issues on Secure Collaboration

Emerging information technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) offer the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry enormous potential to develop collaborative workflows. Cloud computing has similarly gained popularity in the IT service provision for efficient web based data exchange and storage with enormous potential benefits for BIM, resulting in recent calls for their integration. Security and privacy concerns, however, continue to impede wide spread adoption of both technologies. The implication of real and perceived threats on secure collaboration is analysed systematically, towards formulation of a research agenda. It is observed that, secure collaboration threats within the AEC need appropriate characterization in relation to four levels of protective solutions, namely: infrastructure and technical, information partitioning and protection, legal and contractual management and relationship management. This will aid appropriate selection or adoption of the best available cloud technology offerings towards appropriate fit of BIM-cloud integration. Research towards formulation of this agenda is proposed through a high level project-based security or risk assessment framework for BIM-cloud integration and adoption.

Emergency Response in Complex Buildings: Automated Selection of Safest and Balanced Routes

The extreme importance of emergency response in complex buildings during natural and human-induced disasters has been widely acknowledged. In particular, there is a need for efficient algorithms for finding safest evacuation routes, which would take into account the 3-D structure of buildings, their relevant semantics, and the nature and shape of hazards. In this article, we propose algorithms for safest routes and balanced routes in buildings, where an extreme event with many epicenters is occurring. In a balanced route, a trade-off between route length and hazard proximity is made. The algorithms are based on a novel approach that integrates a multiattribute decision-making technique, Dijkstras classical algorithm and the introduced hazard proximity numbers, hazard propagation coefficient and proximity index for a route.

A framework to assist in the analysis of risks and rewards of adopting BIM for SMEs in the UK

AbstractBuilding information modelling (BIM) adoption amongst larger construction firms and innovators seems to be on the increase. However, there is evidence to suggest that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are currently lagging behind and are losing out in winning publicly funded projects. Guidance and frameworks to assist SMEs to make an informed decision about BIM adoption are currently lacking. There has been no systematic effort to date to bring together the results of research in SMEs’ BIM adoption. Consequently, this paper seeks to bridge this gap and provide a conceptual framework to give a theoretical foundation to the study of brokering risks and rewards in the adoption of BIM for project delivery. This framework is comprehensive and includes trading off risks and rewards associated with several criteria, such as stage of involvement, project value, funding, and the procurement route chosen. The approach has been validated by a representative sample of BIM users and the findings of the...

Effects of interactive real-time simulations and humanoid avatars on consumers’ responses in online house products marketing

Interactive product presentation techniques have recently gained importance in online marketing of house products. Real-time simulation offers a high level interactive presentation with more powerful features to present product functions and variations. This article presents a novel computational approach for engaging and supporting consumers in making informed choices about purchasing house products. It involved the development and testing of an online interactive real-time simulation for house product marketing (the Virtual House Showroom-VHS). This model also included optional humanoid avatars, representing a virtual buyer–seller experience. The research assessed the effectiveness of the VHS on consumers’ cognitive and affective responses. In particular, it examined whether consumers’ responses to real-time simulation with a humanoid avatar are significantly different from their responses to the model without the avatar. Participants (n = 110) were organized into two groups. Group 1 (n = 56) evaluated VHS without the humanoid avatar and group 2 (n = 54) appraised the model with the avatar. The results confirmed that interactive online real-time simulation technologies without the avatar have significant effects on consumers’ cognitive learning, affect, and behavior. However, it was found that the humanoid avatar had no significant effect on respondents’ decision-making. Further research was suggested to improve the usability of real-time simulation in the marketing of house products.

Insights of architects’ knowledge of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) in relation to low carbon housing design and delivery in the UK

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to report research conducted to explore the insights of UK architects on the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) in relation to low carbon housing design and delivery.Design/methodology/approach – To explore the awareness and knowledge of CSH in low carbon housing design and delivery in the UK, a mixed method approach comprising of interviews with architects in practice and academia were combined with questionnaires to UK sustainable architectural practices.Findings – The results confirmed that, although UK architects are aware of CSH, it is only very few (11.8 per cent), who have the expert knowledge. This is in comparison to 52.9 per cent of those with some knowledge, and 35.3 per cent of those who are very knowledgeable in the use and implementation of CSH to design and deliver low carbon new homes in the UK.Research limitations/implications – The findings of this study are based only on the sustainable architects in the UK, therefore the findings may not represent th...