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Point Cloud Completion for MEP Components Using Deep Learning Techniques
Get PDFPoint clouds are increasingly leveraged for as-built model reconstruction of facilities, and these reconstructed models play a key role in applications for digital twins and sustainable building. However, point clouds of Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems often experience extensive occlusions, which heavily affect the performance of model reconstruction. To tackle this problem, this study adopts deep learning (DL)-based point cloud completion algorithms to complete occluded MEP point clouds. To overcome the scarcity of datasets, this study utilizes parametric BIM modeling and occlusion simulations to generate point cloud datasets for MEP components. Based on generated datasets, the effectiveness of PoinTr DL algorithms and five distinct training strategies for point cloud completion are investigated. The results indicate that: 1) The PoinTr model with pre-train strategy achieved the best CD-L2 score of 0.330, demonstrating effective completion even with 75% missing of point clouds. 2) the completion of point clouds for real-world MEP components showed favorable results, underscoring the practical applicability of this approach
Brain Activity Patterns While Viewing Construction Signs: AN EEG Study of Attention and Memory Encoding
Get PDFTo support efforts to improve safety communication within a construction setting, this study investigated the neural correlates of attention and memory encoding from subjects viewing construction signs to observe whether neural oscillations during viewing relate to participants’ subsequent recall of the safety information. The study recruited seventeen participants with construction-related backgrounds and collected electroencephalography (EEG) data as participants viewed construction signs. A subsequent memory test using hit rates categorized participants into groups with excellent versus poor memory of the signs. Event-related time-frequency analyses examined frontal gamma (associated with attention) and prefrontal theta (associated with memory encoding) oscillations as a function of the two groups. Results indicate that participants with excellent memory performance exhibited significantly higher frontal gamma activity during the 900–1000 ms post-stimulus window, suggesting enhanced attentional engagement. In contrast, participants with poor memory performance showed elevated prefrontal theta activity during the 800–1000 ms window, indicative of increased cognitive effort and less-efficient memory encoding. No significant differences manifest in the parietal alpha and temporal theta between the two groups. These findings highlight the importance of attentional processes and efficient memory encoding when comprehending construction signs, with design implications (i.e., pictogram + text condition) for more effective safety signage to improve workers\u27 cognitive processing and memory retention
Generative Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality: Emerging Future of the Building Component Inspection Training
No full textThe assessment of building components, which is typically performed through visual inspections, is critical to the maintenance planning and other decisions made during the operation and use stage of the building life cycle. This paper introduces a framework leveraging generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) and virtual reality (VR) to improve facility inspectors\u27 training, which eventually can help with the informed decisions that stakeholders should make. Buildings are complex facilities that demand precise and unbiased condition evaluations. Traditional training approaches rely heavily on limited texture images and descriptions collected in prior studies, which restrict the range of conditions inspectors can study and limit their ability to recognize varied deterioration accurately. This gap in training materials prevents the effective transfer of critical knowledge to trainees, hampering their preparation for real-world scenarios. Our solution integrates the immersive environment of VR with the capabilities of Gen AI. This approach simulates deterioration processes for different building components, such as boilers and pipes, in various conditions, providing an interactive VR training environment. Trainees can thus engage in hands-on practice in condition identification and assessment. Advancing training in Gen AI transforms textual descriptions of component states into realistic visual textures, offering trainees a rich diversity of examples to study. This methodology aims to reduce the subjective nature of inspections and improve learning outcomes. This study proposes a framework for implementing Gen AI to produce realistic textures and develop immersive VR simulations, thereby enhancing the training environment for facility inspectors. The proposed AI-based VR framework is applied to enhance inspector training for a hypothetical scenario to demonstrate its implementation. This innovative framework has the potential to improve professional training and serve as a training application in other sectors requiring exacting and impartial assessments
Assessment of Awareness and Integration of Industry 4.0 Technologies to enhance Construction H&S Site Operation in South Africa
Get PDFThe study focused on establishing an alternative to the traditional methods of mitigating construction accidents by exploring the usage of technology to monitor the movement of workers and construction equipment with the hopes of avoiding an accident before it occurs. Construction accidents is a topic that has been thoroughly investigated in the construction industry for several decades as the industry has been plagued with fatalities and injuries throughout its history however, the high number of accidents is persisting. The Eastern Cape region is no exception with high numbers of accidents that have a high cost of accidents. This research was particularly focused on the Gqeberha construction industry to establish the main causes of falls from height and struck accidents and whether industry 4.0 technologies can mitigate these accidents. However, to mitigate these accidents, the study had to determine their causes/influencers. The study employed a quantitative research approach which prompted the use of a questionnaire among SACPCMP-registered construction professionals working for medium to large contractors that are registered with the ECMBA. The findings of the research indicated that the respondents are somewhat slightly have awareness and practical knowledge of elements of industry 4.0 technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Global Positioning System (GPS) would enhance strategic intents to tackle H&S challenges on construction site and for worker safety. Thus, the findings clearly indicates there is somewhat moderate level of awareness of some of emerging technologies that would enhance and improve health and safety and well-being of construction workers on site. Therefore, study recommends that the construction site operations would be effectively and safely manged if there is a rapid access to accurate and trustworthy onsite information are met through integration of industry 4.0 technologies’ which have capability to locate and monitor the resources on a construction site with technological animated information and action-data
Developing Amenities to Create More Sustainable and Inclusive Human Settlements
No full textSustainable human settlements are the totality of any organised human community whether a city, town or village. This includes amenities such as parks, sports facilities, libraries, schools and clinics. Rapid urbanisation and a lack of resources in many developing countries, such as South Africa, mean that some human settlements may not have these amenities. A lack of amenities in human settlements affects the quality of life and hampers the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those for health (SDG3), education (SDG4), inequality (SDG10), and sustainable cities (SDG11). In South Africa, a lack of amenities in human settlements also affects the fulfilment of education, health and environmental rights outlined in the South African Constitution. Addressing amenity gaps must therefore be an urgent priority. This study aims to provide insight into how this can be done. In particular, it intends to contribute to the development of policy on amenities in human settlements. To achieve this objective, draft policy statements are prepared that make proposals on the type of amenities required and how these can be developed and managed. A survey of key human settlement stakeholders is used to evaluate these statements and gauge levels of support for proposals. Findings from the survey indicate that support is mixed but that there is strong overall support for the proposed amenity policy statements. These findings are drawn in making recommendations for the development of policy on amenities in human settlements. The positive findings indicate there is a strong basis for the South African government to use policy statements piloted in the study as inputs in their policy development process for amenities in human settlements
Modelling and Visualizing Urban Construction Logistics and Environmental Effects with Digital Twins
Get PDFIn urban settings, where cities want to pursue ambitions of clean air and zero emission transport, the construction industry with its heavy freight encounters greater difficulties and challenges than other sectors to meet the increasingly stringent emission reductions and building codes. Various construction innovations have been deemed to improve construction logistics. Solutions are offered to increase logistics efficiency, reduce construction transport movements, and related emissions.
Governments are aiming their policy instruments at incentivizing and enforcing these reductions and addressing the mitigation of other urban effects, such as reducing road damage, safety issues, disruptions and congestion. Governments and firms want to assess and demonstrate the effects of new policies and logistics measures taken in advance. Digital Twins (DT) can play a role here. However previous DT applications have often been representing building as objects statically, and not necessarily representing building as a process dynamically, including logistics, transport movements and the environmental effects including emissions.
The goal of this paper is to present a research through design approach to develop and test a DT application for modelling construction logistics, and visualizing the environmental effects. By doing so, the approach has intended to explore and demonstrate the use of DT to show the feasibility of logistics innovations. The research reported has assessed the application possibilities of DT to model and interpret construction processes and logistics, and visualizing dynamic parameters including transport movements and environmental effects. The application has been illustrated through a practical case in the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands
Mapping Public-Private Partnerships with Smart Retrofitting in Built Infrastructure Facilities: A Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Review
No full textAgainst the backdrop of burgeoning global interest in sustainable development, this study pioneers a bibliometric analysis and systematic review focusing on the intersection of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and smart retrofitting (SR) for built infrastructure facilities, including both buildings and civil engineering infrastructure facilities. As the demand for intelligent and eco-friendly solutions escalates, integrating the particular strengths of PPPs with those of SR, charters a new course that synergises and extends the reach of each approach by itself. Drawing on the relevant research publications from the ‘Scopus’ database, this paper utilizes the ‘VOSviewer’ software to unravel the collaborative landscapes within the field, followed by a qualitative manual review of case studies presented in the identified literature. By scrutinizing co-authorship patterns and connections among influential authors, countries and keywords, the bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the current state of research and collaboration in this field. The qualitative review encompasses built asset upgrades showcasing various applications of PPPs in retrofitting, renovation, refurbishment and redevelopment projects. The systematic review further highlights key challenges and perceived benefits associated with implementing PPPs specifically in SR. These revelations serve as a useful reference for researchers and practitioners engaged in both PPP and SR by offering valuable insights into the collaborative dynamics and potential avenues for strengthening partnerships toward more sustainable urban development
Comparison of Ageing-Friendly Supporting Facilities between Self-financed and Government-subsidized Residential Care Homes: Evidence from China
No full textAgeing-friendly supporting facilities are commonly implemented in residential care homes for older people. These facilities not only support the daily activities of older people but also affect their physical and psychological health. However, the development of ageing-friendly supporting facilities usually varies among homes due to differences in construction and operational funding. In order to better accommodate older residents, it is essential to compare the ageing-friendly supporting facilities across different residential care homes and identify the key variances. A total of 69 samples were collected from two primary categories of residential care homes in China, namely self-financed homes and government-subsidized homes. Eighteen ageing-friendly supporting facilities items were identified. An independent T-test was applied to compare the significant differences between the two types of residential care homes. Both categories received relatively high scores for supporting facilities related to accessibility and safety (e.g., the height of the toilet, ease of using beds, anti-collision facilities for wheelchair users, etc.), particularly in self-financed residential homes. However, leisure facilities in self-financed residential homes were thanfound to be significantly inferior compared to those in government-subsidized homes. To further understand the needs of older residents, the characteristics (i.e., gender and level of independence) were also considered. Female older people tended to be more particular about regular cleaning, similar to independent residents. Moreover, older people requiring special care rated leisure facilities lower than the independent individuals. Based on the findings, practical recommendations were provided for improving ageing-friendly supporting facilities in both types of residential care homes, with the aim of enhancing the living environment and the well-being of older residents
Desktop-scale robot tape manipulation for additive manufacturing
Get PDFAdvancements in additive manufacturing and robotic automation have enabled diverse fabrication techniques using various materials. However, small-scale tape placement for three-dimensional (3D) printing remains underexplored, with most research focused on large-scale composite manufacturing using carbon fiber prepreg tapes. This work presents an innovative, automated, and cost-effective tape placement system that extends traditional methods beyond carbon fiber prepreg. We developed a customized tape print module (TPM) integrated with a robotic arm, enabling precise and versatile tape placements. Our system supports non-linear toolpaths, complex patterns, and controllable placements on multi-plane surfaces, creating overhangs without support. We demonstrate circuit printing with copper tape for high-current applications and 3D structure printing through layer-by-layer placement. Our research highlights the system’s potential for electronic applications, such as circuits and tactile sensor fabrication. This approach democratizes advanced tape placement, offering new possibilities for 3D printing, sensor fabrication, and packaging, particularly for researchers and small-scale manufacturers
Perceived and Recorded Temperature in Aircraft Cabins during 143 Flights
Get PDFThis essay reports on the perceived and recorded temperature in aircraft cabins during 143 flights. In each flight, passengers reported their experience. They recorded temperature and humidity after boarding and one hour later. The reports show that fewer than half of the passengers perceived the temperature as “good.” Most passengers (39%) perceived it as hot, and some (17%) perceived it as cold. Comparing the temperatures with guidelines shows that 18% of the recorded temperatures in the cabin were empirically too hot and 2% empirically too cold. The differences between passengers in what they perceive as a good temperature are large, indicating that a possibility to adapt aircraft temperature individually is important