Network


Latest external collaboration on country level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots.

Hotspot


Dive into the research topics where Yuhan Niu is active.

Publication


Featured researches published by Yuhan Niu.


Journal of Construction Engineering and Management-asce | 2017

An SCO-enabled logistics and supply-chain management system in construction

Yuhan Niu; Weisheng Lu; Diandian Liu; Ke Chen; Chimay J. Anumba; George G. Huang

AbstractLogistic and supply-chain management (LSCM) is of paramount importance to a construction project but is often problematic. Many researchers see LSCM per se as a web of decisions to be made, and attribute problems to a lack of process and information concurrence. This is exacerbated by fragmentation, discontinuity, and heterogeneity in construction LSCM. The bidirectional information flow remains unachieved in the existing sensing-based systems for construction LSCM. Without panoramically interconnecting to other smart abilities such as an automatic action-taking ability, most existing sensing-based systems are insufficient to realize their full potential in facilitating construction LSCM. Building on previous studies on smart construction objects (SCOs), this paper aims to develop an SCO-enabled system that can enhance concurrence of process and information, with a view to informing better decision making in construction LSCM. It does so by first analyzing the problems in prevailing LSCM practices...


Archive | 2018

An Optimization-Based Semantic Building Model Generation Method with a Pilot Case of a Demolished Construction

Fan Xue; Ke Chen; Diandian Liu; Yuhan Niu; Weisheng Lu

Emerging technologies like massive point cloud from laser scanning and 3D photogrammetry enabled new ways of generating ‘as-built’ building information models (BIM) for existing buildings. It is valuable but also challenging to generate semantic models from point cloud and images in automated ways. In this paper, we present a novel method called Optimization-based Model Generation (OMG) for automated semantic BIM generation. OMG starts from a semantic BIM component dataset and a target measurement such as point cloud, photographs, or floor plans. A fitness function is defined to measure the matching level between an arbitrary BIM model and the target measurement without object recognition. Combinations of digital components are then extensively generated as building models regarding semantic constraints. The fittest model that matches the target measurement best is the result of OMG. The proposed method was demonstrated in reconstructing a 3D model of a demolished building. Advantages of OMG include high-level automation, low requirement on measurement, relationship discovery for components, reusable component libraries, and scalability to new environments.


Archive | 2017

The Application Scenarios of Smart Construction Objects (SCOs) in Construction

Yuhan Niu; Weisheng Lu; Diandian Liu

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the application scenarios of smart construction objects (SCOs). SCOs are construction resources (e.g. machinery, device, and materials) that are made “smart” by augmenting them with technologies conferring autonomy, awareness, and the ability to interact with their vicinity. The research starts from a brief review of recent developments of smart technology in different industrial sectors including construction. Based on the definition and properties of SCOs, interviews and site visits are conducted to investigate how SCOs could be applied under different scenarios of the construction industry. Perspectives for future studies are proposed in order to fully realise their potentials. The research encourages a wider adoption of SCOs and smart technologies in improving current construction practices. It also provides academia with a platform for further exploring the innovative uses of SCOs in construction.


Archive | 2017

A SCO-Based Tower Crane System for Prefabrication Construction

Diandian Liu; Weisheng Lu; Yuhan Niu; Hongdi Wang

Prefabrication construction has been increasingly applied to the construction industry. Automation and intelligentization of construction site and construction objects has become the fore for the development of the prefabrication construction. In this study, a SCO-based tower crane system, as the core resource site on the critical path of prefabrication construction, is proposed to make the cranes more intelligent and efficient. A set of smart units are applied to the tower cranes and prefabricated components to make them into Smart Construction Objects (SCOs), enabling the functions of awareness, communicativeness and autonomy. The smart tower crane could “talk” with prefabrication components through sensors and real-time wireless connections. A system operation flow is developed for fetching and placing target components. The SCO-based tower crane system can provide the operation instruments, real-time traceability of the components, and necessary warning. The system is being tested in a pilot project, which is delivered through BIM and prefabrication construction. It is envisaged that the SCO-based tower crane system could significantly improve the safety performance and operation efficiency of the tower crane operations in prefabrication construction.


Journal of Construction Engineering and Management-asce | 2017

Naming objects in BIM: A convention and a semiautomatic approach

Ke Chen; Weisheng Lu; Hongdi Wang; Yuhan Niu; George G. Huang

AbstractA consistent and easily recognizable name is the primary identifier of an object in building information modeling (BIM). Existing naming conventions vary significantly and require extensive...


Archive | 2018

RFID-Enabled Management System Adoption and Use in Construction: Passing Through the Labyrinth with an Improved Technology Acceptance Model

Yuhan Niu; Weisheng Lu; Diandian Liu

The development of radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies has drawn notable attentions in recent studies in the construction industry. However, the initiatives of RFID technologies and RFID-enabled management systems are yet to be fully accepted and adopted in practice. The management systems seem caught in a labyrinth whereby technology developers complain that practitioners are notorious to embrace new technologies, while practitioners view the systems ‘disruptive’, if not useless altogether. By collecting qualitative research data from construction practitioners who are actively engaged in a RFID-enabled management platform implementation, this study explores the factors influencing these practitioners for accepting the system. An extended technology acceptance model (TAM) is proposed as a guiding framework to provide a better understanding of these practitioners’ adoption and use behaviors. Findings mesh with extended TAM indicating that ‘perceived usefulness’ and ‘perceived ease of use’ are of major influence to their attitude toward technology adoption. Moreover, the research demonstrates that the construction practitioners’ attitude are changing and heavily affected by the project managers who take the roles of system execution, or by peers who have harvested the benefits of such system. The findings of this study are not designed to be generalized but to offer a new perspective and insights to future TAM studies.


Archive | 2018

Bridging the Cyber and Physical Systems for Better Construction: A Case Study of Construction Machinery Monitoring and Utilization

Diandian Liu; Weisheng Lu; Yuhan Niu; Fan Xue; Ke Chen

It has been widely accepted that developing and maintaining a cyber system (e.g. Building Information Modeling) representing the corresponding physical system is a promising approach to improve decision-making in construction. However, to bridge the bi-directional coordination between the virtual and the physical system is the prerequisite for the improvement, yet this is the most challenging part for researchers and practitioners. Using tower crane as a case study, the primary aim of this study is to propose a cyber-physical system by articulating its system structure, bridging technologies, and its computational applications. Particularly, a smart core is developed to integrate real-time information on physical machinery on site with their ‘cyber twins’ in virtual, which is developed as a web-based platform. A LEGO® tower crane is built and simulated in lab, showing the cyber and physical systems can be well bridged to facilitate safety management and resource utilization in construction projects.


Archive | 2017

An Investigation of the Latent Barriers to BIM Adoption and Development

Ke Chen; Weisheng Lu; Yi Peng; Linzi Zheng; Yuhan Niu; Steve Rowlinson

The building information modeling (BIM) has been under aggressive promotion by governments throughout the world. By contrast, the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry shows reluctance to adopt BIM in its projects. Two questions are immediate: why the market hesitates with BIM adoption; and whether the governmental compulsory BIM implementation is regarded as reasonable. Previous literature is in-depth but is distant from the market, which have failed in analyzing the basic reasons lying behind. This study aims to provide an alternative explanation. Based on the assumption that any market activity is to maximize economic profits, this study concluded that (1) since BIM adoption involves opportunity costs, stakeholders would choose to adopt BIM at the market-determined time; (2) due to the social costs/benefits of using BIM, the market-determined timing of BIM adoption tends to be delayed, the governments’ enforcing BIM hence is reasonable; and (3) the compulsory requirements on clarifications of the responsibilities and the corresponding benefits among AEC disciplines reinforces the importance of governments in promoting BIM implementation.


Archive | 2017

The Fusion of GIS and Building Information Modeling for Big Data Analytics in Managing Development Sites

Weisheng Lu; Yi Peng; Fan Xue; Ke Chen; Yuhan Niu; Xi Chen

Due to increasing complexity of contemporary site development, more information about sites themselves and their related environmental, geographical, and surrounding infrastructure is highly desired to support informed decision-making. Fusion of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to support decision-making in site development has gained momentum from both academia and practitioners. Nevertheless, innovative applications of GIS and BIM integration are yet to be fully explored. Using several cases in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), this article demonstrates how to integrate GIS and BIM to derive big data for decision-making in construction logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) and construction waste management in site development. In addition, this article proposes a conceptual framework of integrating BIM and GIS for better site development and urban management. The cases in this article not only shed light on big data analytics in a site development setting but also provide useful references to GIS and BIM fusion for better urban management.


Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering | 2016

Smart Construction Objects

Yuhan Niu; Weisheng Lu; Ke Chen; George G. Huang; Chimay J. Anumba

Collaboration


Dive into the Yuhan Niu's collaboration.

Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Weisheng Lu

University of Hong Kong

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Ke Chen

University of Hong Kong

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Diandian Liu

University of Hong Kong

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Fan Xue

University of Hong Kong

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Linzi Zheng

University of Hong Kong

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Yi Peng

University of Hong Kong

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Chimay J. Anumba

Pennsylvania State University

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Hongdi Wang

University of Hong Kong

View shared research outputs
Researchain Logo
Decentralizing Knowledge