93887 research outputs found
Sort by
A BIM-Enhanced Approach to Evacuation Planning in University Environments for Optimizing Safety
No full textIn an era of dynamic challenges, ensuring safety in large public spaces is crucial. The spatial layout and arrangement of obstacles in the built environment significantly impact evacuation performance. This research explores crafting evacuation plans and egress strategies, focusing on how spatial layouts and obstacles impact performance, with an emphasis on the complex environment of university campuses. This goal can be achieved by utilizing BIM, which serves as a persuasive resolution to the aforementioned challenges, thereby improving the evacuation planning procedure and significantly enhancing pedestrian safety. The BIM model focuses on providing comprehensive information about all possible evacuation routes accessible to every individual within the structure, guiding them along the most efficient trajectories using A*-algorithm. To evaluate the efficiency of this approach, the study utilizes a university building with some modifications as a case study. Two trials were carried out by changing the location of the hazard. The findings reveal that the first trial took 3 seconds to map all evacuation routes on the floor. After repositioning the hazard in the second trial, the model only took 2.2 seconds. Comparing the proposed path with the traditional route showed significant improvements in both distance and evacuation time. In the first trial, the proposed path proved to be 19.7 meters shorter and 15 seconds faster than the traditional route, reducing the original evacuation time by 21.5%. The second trial delivered even more impressive results, with a 20-meter decrease in distance and a 15.4-second improvement, achieving an 18.92% reduction in the evacuation time
The implementation of UN sustainable development goals using facilities management standards in South Africa
Get PDFThe suite of ISO 41000 standards for facility management (FM) seeks to address 17 of the 24 UN sustainable development goals (SDG). Implementing these ISO systems will enhance SDG’s management and operations of facilities. In their daily actions, facility managers are in a unique position to guide facility and property owners in implementing sustainability measures without expensive construction changes to the building fabric. A viewpoint paper through the review of the literature and South African laws and regulations was undertaken to determine areas that incorporate SDGs into the management of facilities. South African institutional reports, and local standards were reviewed to develop a detailed set of guidelines towards achieving these goals. The outcome of the study included measures that can be incorporated in the FM areas of maintenance, utility management, hygiene, waste management, landscaping, and transport. These measures can have a significant impact towards sustainability and are recommended for FM practitioners and for further research into SDG’s in the field of FM
Evaluation of Temporary Structures Contractual Frameworks: An Industry-Wide Survey Study
No full textTemporary structures are integral to construction. Yet, the complexities and risks associated with these structures often need to be more adequately addressed in standard construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) contracts. This gap in practice underscores the need for an in-depth exploration of contractual challenges and potential improvements related to temporary structures. This study investigated the barriers to including comprehensive risk provisions in standard CM/GC contracts for temporary structures and assessed industry professionals\u27 perspectives on their effectiveness and potential improvements. Employing a survey questionnaire distributed across all 50 states in the United States, the research garnered 465 valid responses from various industry sectors and organizational sizes. The findings reveal a significant consensus among professionals regarding the inadequacy of current CM/GC standard contracts in addressing the risks of temporary structures. Over half of the respondents attribute this gap to a transfer of liability to construction contractors, while others cite strategic avoidance of comprehensive terms to prevent legal disputes. Interestingly, most respondents acknowledge the importance of incorporating detailed contractual provisions for quality, safety, and environmental issues, recognizing their role in enhancing contractual robustness. However, opinions are divided on the need to detail owner/client responsibilities and the effectiveness of provisions for schedule and price impacts. The study suggests an industry-wide need for more robust contractual terms, particularly in managing legal obligations and specific risk types associated with temporary structures. These insights contribute to understanding the current contractual challenges and pave the way for adopting innovative contractual frameworks in the construction industry
Advancing Sustainability through Smart Building Concepts in Developing Countries: Insights from Ghana
Get PDFThe last decade has seen a paradigm shift in building sector research from sustainable building to smart building, and it is anticipated that these two concepts will merge, meeting the increasing demands of the United Nations sustainable development goals 3, 9, 11, 13, and 17. However, it is discernible from prior studies that developing countries lack the proper means to adopt the smart building concept to achieve sustainability in the building sector, and this has received inadequate attention in existing studies. Thus, this study identifies the critical factors to adopt the smart building concept for sustainability throughout the building lifecycle stages in developing countries by considering Ghana. This is achieved through a quantitative approach comprising 227 expert surveys and data analysis tools including disparity test and criticality analysis. Twenty-one critical factors were revealed to facilitate smart building adoption for sustainability, with the top three entailing “sensors implementation to manage light level, air quality, temperature, fire alarm, and smoke detector”, “implementation of backup energy”, and “implementation of energy-efficient electrical appliances”. Seven dimensions of the critical factors to be considered in decision-making towards a holistic approach to adopt smart building for sustainability include the “building control system”, “energy management system”, “building automation system”, “IT network connectivity”, “enterprise management systems”, “green building construction” and “safety and security management systems”. These findings could influence policymaking in the building sector of developing countries towards sustainability, specifically realising the sustaianable development goals 3, 9, 11, 13, and 17. By drawing lessons from Ghana, this study adds to the knowledge body by highlighting the critical considerations for formulating a blueprint for developing countries to achieve sustainability via smart building concept in the building sector
A new approach to sustainable healthcare facility management: The case of Türkiye
Get PDFTypes of healthcare facilities (HF) range from simple medical clinics to large integrated hospitals. Today, HF are expected to fulfill their service responsibilities in an uninterrupted and continuous manner in an environment of constantly developing medical treatment services, support services, maintenance and repair activities, and changing laws, codes, requirements, and standards related to the health and safety of patients, staff, and visitors. A major change in the provision of healthcare services was initiated in Türkiye in 2003, where healthcare delivery models in other developed countries were taken as examples. As a result of these changes, new integrated HF began to come into service under the model of City Hospitals . With this transformation, there is a better understanding of how facility management (FM) should be delivered in such buildings, and how it should function similar to modern examples in other places around the world, parallel with the new delivery structure. The “City Hospitals” model aims to reduce service costs while ensuring the sustainability of HF by maintaining high service standards. In order to achieve these goals, it requires the FM unit to fulfil its duties and authorities in a much broader and more effective manner. In this study, the concept of sustainability is examined within the framework of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN), aligned with its fundamental objective of \u27ending poverty in all its forms everywhere,\u27 and through the social, environmental, and economic dimensions commonly accepted as the core aspects of sustainability. The study also explores FM and HF practices, comparing studies conducted in Türkiye with applications from various regions around the world. Conclusions from this study can be used to further refine the most appropriate model for service delivery in healthcare facility management (HFM)
Deep Learning-based 3D Point Cloud Semantic Segmentation for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Systems in Open Ceiling Building Structure
Get PDFDeep learning-based semantic segmentation of point clouds is a vital tool for efficiently generating accurate as-built Building Information Models (BIM) by automating the identification and classification of building components. While traditional deep learning models have primarily focused on segmenting visible structural elements such as columns, walls, doors, windows, and furniture, the growing popularity of open ceiling designs presents unique challenges. Open ceiling environments expose Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) components, including pipes, ducts, and electrical conduits, which are often characterized by overlapping geometries, visual similarities, and intricate spatial arrangements. These complexities raise questions about whether existing deep learning-based semantic segmentation models can effectively classify MEP components in such challenging environments. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the performance of RandLA-Net, a lightweight deep learning-based semantic segmentation model, for accurately classifying MEP components in open ceiling environments. Using LiDAR technology, 3D point cloud data was collected within a building featuring an open ceiling design, where components were manually annotated to train and test the model. The performance of the model was evaluated through metrics such as overall accuracy (OA) and mean Intersection over Union (mIoU). The results showed an OA of 90.86% and a mean IoU of 83.1%, indicating that the existing RandLA-Net model is capable of effectively segmenting MEP components alongside structural elements, even within the challenging context of open ceiling designs. The findings suggest that RandLA-Net has strong potential for addressing the complexities of MEP component classification in open ceiling environments. Furthermore, the study highlights the opportunities for enhancing semantic segmentation methods to achieve even greater precision in as-built BIM generation, supporting improved maintenance planning and operational efficiency in complex architectural settings
Measuring Success of Transport Infrastructure Projects
No full textTransport infrastructure projects have traditionally been evaluated using financial performance metrics and adherence to project schedules; however, recent research emphasizes the importance of adopting a multidimensional framework that incorporates economic, social, environmental, and technological considerations. Success in such projects now demands balancing value-for-money, return on investment (ROI), and long-term financial sustainability with broader societal objectives such as accessibility, equity, and inclusivity. Environmental sustainability, including reducing carbon footprints, enhancing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable practices, has become a critical determinant of project outcomes. Additionally, technical performance indicators, such as reliability, safety, service quality, and user satisfaction, provide essential insights into operational effectiveness and public acceptance. To meet these evolving demands, policymakers and project managers must adopt integrated strategies that align infrastructure development with stakeholder expectations while addressing global challenges like climate change, urbanization, and resource scarcity. However, significant gaps remain, including the absence of standardized evaluation metrics and the limited incorporation of ex-ante assessments in project design, which hinder the ability to holistically assess success. Addressing these issues is crucial to advancing infrastructure solutions that foster sustained economic growth, enhance social well-being, and uphold environmental stewardship, thereby ensuring the long-term resilience and effectiveness of transport infrastructure projects
Achieving the UN Sustainability Goals: The Role of Digital Product Passports in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industry
No full textThe Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry’s extensive resource consumption, solid waste and carbon dioxide emission generation hinder the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Digital product passports (DPPs) have been proposed to enhance the industry’s circularity and sustainability performance, thereby enabling the achievement of SDGs. However, among the few DPP studies, none of them specifically focuses on identifying which United Nations (UN) SDGs can be achieved by adopting DPPs in the AEC industry. This paper presents a systematic literature review exploring the role of DPPs in achieving the UN SDGs. Synthesis of the reviewed papers that meet the inclusion criteria uncovered that adoption of DPPs in the AEC industry enables the achievement of SDG 3, SDG 7, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG 15 and SDG 17. Additionally, the findings highlight the key features of DPP. This research provides a foundation for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to advance the global agenda for sustainable development within the AEC industry
AI-based Safety Training Systems for Hispanic Workers in Construction
No full textHispanic workers represent about one third of the total workforce of the construction industry in the United States. Nevertheless, this demographic has disproportionately higher rates of fatalities and injuries. Each year, over 300 Hispanic workers lose their lives due to construction related incidents. Various efforts have been made to prevent casualties among this population, of which safety training has been found to be the most effective. However, traditional safety training methods have not been found to be adequate, particularly failing to address barriers such as language differences, cultural factors, immigration concerns, and issues related to construction operation skills. A potential solution to effectively address these challenges is to utilize advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve safety training and outcomes for Hispanic workers. The objective of this prospective research is to develop AI-based safety training systems for Hispanic workers which provides personalized and adaptive training for better knowledge retention and engagement through the enhancement of four core aspects such as communication, culture, workers’ rights, and construction operational safety. By addressing these critical challenges, this study designs the foundation for healthier and safer workplace for Hispanic laborers. In the broader context, the proposed intelligent training systems create a platform with comprehensive safety programs that connect vulnerable groups of workers across the U.S. construction industry
Challenges in Developing Digital Twin Systems: Insights from a Case Study
Get PDFThe United States faces significant challenges with its aging infrastructure, which is both deteriorating and expensive to maintain and rehabilitate. Bridges, being core components of connecting communities and facilitating trade, receive considerable attention from the public and government agencies. However, the traditional ways of monitoring bridge health conditions, often reliant on visual inspections, are inadequate for ensuring their sustained performance. In recent years, the concept of digital twins offers innovative solutions that have the potential to transform the ways the industry can monitor the structural performance of bridges. This approach pairs physical assets with their digital counterparts, leveraging real-time data and simulations to improve the life cycle performance. For example, digital twin technology can enhance the management workflow of bridges and strengthen the decision-making process for replacing bridge components and addressing emergencies by providing real-time status and forecasting future performance. Previous reviews on digital twins in literature have predominantly concentrated on theoretical frameworks and potential industry applications. These studies have not yet engaged in the issues related to implementation and the insights gained from real-world case studies. This research provides insights gained through meetings with stakeholders, practitioners, and professionals involved in a DT proof of technology project. The findings from this research reveal several key design interfaces—both technical and organizational—that pose challenges to the successful implementation of DT systems. This paper aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by providing a detailed analysis that highlight the challenges of interoperability and interorganizational collaboration in the creation of system of systems level DTs