Bridging the gap between stakeholders in building projects is crucial to ensure a consistent and efficient flow of information during the design and planning stage of the project.One major and highly influential category of information is the social intentions, which reflect the overall comfort and well-being of building occupants. In this paper, we present our co-creation approach for developing a software tool “ProSpect Plugin” that will enable architects to explicitly document social design intentions in building models.The plugin is integrated into Autodesk Revit and is being developed iteratively through rounds of carefully planned interactions with potential users.
Automating as-built documentation enhances efficiency, safety, and quality in construction projects. This study explores a quadruped robot equipped with a LiDAR sensor for autonomous navigation and mapping. We evaluate three open-source LiDAR-SLAM algorithms in diverse indoor environments: a long hallway, a cellar, and a stairwell. Results reveal the strengths and limitations of each algorithm, providing critical insights into their suitability for as-built documentation in complex scenarios. By addressing challenges in dynamic and constrained settings, our findings contribute to advancing robotic solutions for autonomous as-built documentation in varied architectural environments.
Despite advancements in data connectivity and regulations in the construction industry, integrating standards in daily workflows has seen limited progress. The industry necessitates easier access to standards to accelerate its digitalisation. This research enhances access to BIM-related standards by developing, aligning and validating an ontology that includes standards’ metadata, terminology, and relationships. The proposed MNS ontology relates these standards to topics of interest for construction industry professionals, paving their easier access to relevant documents. It also makes first steps towards machine-interoperable standards. The ontology is open and quarriable, to serve a broader community, and ultimately to integrate standards in construction practices.
Future construction project managers need to know about BIM and information systems. So education on this is essential in a Construction Management and Engineering CME) master programme. But the possibilities for this are limited as the study programme is broad and students have very different backgrounds and interests.This paper presents an overview of BIM and information systems education in our CME master programme. It describes the introductory course, the elective courses and examples of graduation projects. The aim is to share experiences that can be useful for colleague educators in the field.
Wicked challenges such as energy and material shortage have prompted educators in AECO disciplines to adopt CBL methods. This paper explores the potential and limitations of using BIM as an education platform to address these challenges within an inter-disciplinary setting. Through two cases at TU Delft, one re-design of a routine building information management course and a new demo-course with joint-interdisciplinary groups, the research evaluates BIM's role in preparing students for real-world energy and circular transitions. Findings highlight BIM's capacity to bridge academic learning and professional practice, while also identifying areas for improvement in its pedagogies.
Human-robot collaboration (HRC) may be leveraged to improve building inspections by allowing robots and humans to jointly perform inspection tasks. However, HRC methods lack intuitive interfaces for seamless collaboration and contextual building information exchange, limiting collaboration and efficiency. This paper proposes a BIM-based HRC framework using mixed reality (MR), enabling operators to visualize inspection data, to control robots, and to monitor inspection processes in real time. The BIM-based HRC framework is implemented using MR headsets and validated through collaborative inspections of an indoor office environment, showcasing the potential of the framework to advance collaborative building inspections and improve inspection accuracy and efficiency.
Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems are widely used to assess the condition of civil infrastructure. Sensor malfunctions in SHM systems may result in erroneous assessments, illuminating the need for secure archiving of malfunctions. However, methods with online functionality for secure archiving of sensor malfunctions in SHM systems have not been reported yet. This paper presents a system for secure archiving of sensor malfunctions based on blockchain technology, designed as a modular add-on for SHM systems. Using a public blockchain framework, the blockchain-based archiving system is implemented and validated for two use cases, demonstrating the potential of blockchain for SHM systems.
Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is an additive manufacturing technique, popular due to its versatility and cost-effectiveness. However, FFF machines, such as 3D printers, are prone to runtime errors, wasting time and material, while requiring constant human supervision. This paper presents a defect detection approach for FFF processes based on artificial intelligence, combining convolutional neural networks and computer vision. The defect detection approach is validated using 3D prints designed to mimic common FFF defects. The results demonstrate the capability of the proposed approach to automatically detect defects in FFF processes, thereby reducing time and material waste as well as the need for human supervision.
Tower cranes play an essential role in lifting heavy building elements, which often poses significant hazards to workers. However, automated methods for crane monitoring remain underdeveloped. This paper introduces a data-driven method to track crane trolley trajectories and identify associated hazards. The method utilizes RTK-GNSS to capture spatial movements of the trolley. By analyzing changes in height and speed, a lifting operation can be divided into distinct stages. Integrating the trajectory of the workers and trolley with the site model and schedule allows for incident detection. The proposed method offers a cost-effective and implementable alternative for crane safety monitoring.
