The past few years have seen new entrants into the construction sector backed with unprecedented levels of funding from venture capital funds or other large investment firms. These entrants seek to leverage industry 4.0 principles for the digitalization and industrialization of construction. In addition to new technologies, these firms also bring new business models that depart from the project-based tendering system found in traditional construction. The first new business model is vertical integration. These firms are structured as integrated hierarchical firms, keeping control of product architecture and processes in-house. These firms control production by developing their own off-site factories. The second new business model is digital systems integration. These firms leverage an integrated cloud-based product configurator to enable mass customization. Using principles of capital-light industry 4.0 supply chains, digital system integrators can manufacture parts from periphery supply chain partners suppliers, including new sectors such as automotive, aerospace, manufacturing or industrial. The third new business model is the transformation of an existing project-based business toward industrialized construction through the creation of a spinoff factories. The chapter includes examples of the three business models and concludes with a discussion of how new business models may be catalysts for potential disruption of the established construction sector.

The current digital fabrication workflow requires many iterations between design and manufacturing. Automated manufacturability analysis can reduce the number of iterations at the design stage. However, existing approaches that leverage design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) do not consider detailed product features and production capabilities. To address this limitation, this paper utilizes an ontology-based approach to connect design and manufacturing knowledge. The developed manufacturability analysis system (MAS) involves semantic reasoning to analyze manufacturability by combining feature-based modelling, production capability modelling and manufacturing rules. The system was tested on a timber panelized project to demonstrate complex manufacturability analysis capability. The testing proves that the system could provide real-time feedback to the designers, leading to fewer design iterations. Thus, the paper is a first step towards automated fabrication-aware design and the results from the study lay the foundation for future research on connecting knowledge for interdisciplinary rule checking

Material passports have been proposed to collect, store, and share material information to promote circularity in the construction sector. However, the current recommendations for material passports focus on material information at a building scale with little attention to its implications on a city scale. To address this limitation, this paper provides directions for developing a material passport ontology that could be used to collect, store, share, and retrieve data at multiple scales of abstraction. It describes the requirements for a material passport ontology and provides recommendations for integrating existing ontologies. This paper is relevant to researchers developing information management platforms to enable a circular economy.

Construction management courses are increasingly teaching digital technologies and automation. The default method to teach construction scheduling remains the critical path method, which suffers from lack of automation, lack of dynamic change processes, and wrong assumptions about resource and spatial availability. New methods to automate construction scheduling, sometimes referred to as generative construction scheduling, have been developed but are seldom taught in construction management courses. This paper describes the design of a new curriculum to teach one new approach to construction scheduling called the Tri-Constraint Method. The proposed five-lesson, flipped-classroom curriculum is designed to illustrate limitations of the critical path method, explain the theoretical and computational foundations of a generative scheduling algorithm, and provide practical experience through implementation with state-of-the-art software. To measure the impact of the curriculum on student learning, the paper conducts a descriptive statistical analysis, a paired t-test, and an examination of qualitative feedback. Students who entered the course with either low or high prior knowledge of construction scheduling showed significant improvement in their understanding of the key concepts and the algorithmic approach behind the generative construction scheduling. Overall, this paper demonstrates how curriculum design in engineering informatics can combine theoretical understanding and practical implementation to understand generative construction scheduling. The dissemination of this and similar teaching curricula can ensure that future engineering practitioners avoid “black box” implementations of automation software in their future careers.

In the context of shifting the built environment to a circular economy, this paper first provides a meta-synthesis of the literature that clarifies the strategies related to the asset lifecycle in the circular economy (CE) context. The definitions of forty-two approaches, classified into seven categories (A to G) were analysed to identify their differences and similarities using a text mining method. Based on the definitions, approaches’, their needs and requirements, and their benefits and impacts have been listed. Four variables have been identified: the asset phases (V1), the sustainable approaches (V2), the benefits and impacts (V3) and the needs and requirements (V4). As the main contribution to knowledge, two diagrams have been drawn to picture the relationships between, first, V1, V2 and V3 and secondly V1, V2 and V4. An additional contribution is semantic information captured and drawn in a Force Directed Graph (FDG) to clarify the diversity of existing approaches and their relationships. More than a hundred approaches/concepts are staged in a diagram and their links are identified. Particularly the importance of the design phase and its related approaches are developed. The FDG illustrates the complexity of the building projects involving multiple stakeholders. The paper also provides the limitations of the variety of approaches that should be overcome to achieve CE. In particular, the limitations of reuse (components cannot be reused indefinitely) and limitations of design-only approaches (like prefabrication where deconstruction is not prepared). Further research is recommended about the Product Service Systems associated with Extended Producer Responsibility that appears to be key enablers for the CE. Work is also needed to define the circularity of buildings and the associated circularity assessment tools. The outputs could be used to rationalise policies to foster these approaches to enable the construction sector to develop strategies to overcome the current obstacles to the transition to a circular economy.

Digital fabrication is growing in adoption within the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Because digital fabrication often requires a systematic rethinking of the design process, research emphasizes new understanding is needed for digital systems across multiple areas, including technical development, technological systems, organizational contexts, contractual provisions, and business models. Despite the importance of a system view, the current body of knowledge does not yet provide a consistent identification nor a comprehensive evaluation of factors and their complex interdependencies with one another. To fill this knowledge gap, this work categorizes and identifies the industry needs and perceived benefits under five areas. Next, the authors conducted a questionnaire survey, which received effective responses from 114 industry stakeholders. The authors analyzed the responses using Rao-Scott chi-squared tests of independence to identify 70 pairs of correlated categories. This work further investigates the variables' correlations using heat map visualization. Two variable-correlation mappings are presented as follows: (1) a multiaspect mapping of 292 variable correlations under 10 categories of the industry needs of fabrication information and aspects in design modeling, review, and documentation; and (2) a single-aspect mapping of 26 correlations regarding the industry needs for various benefits of digital systems to adopt digital fabrication. Thereby, this work proposes seven strategy propositions to achieve the benefits of digital systems when adopting digital fabrication in design. The consistent identification of the needs and their interdependencies constitute an integral part of knowledge in construction management.

Automated parsing of design data will increasingly be a prerequisite for efficient data- and analytics-driven management of building portfolios. The high complexity and low rigidity of building information modelling (BIM) model exchange standards such as Industry Foundation Classes result in considerable differences in data quality and impede direct data availability for analytics-based decision support. Mis- or unclassified building elements are a common issue and can lead to tedious manual reworks. At the same time, scan-to-BIM processes still require considerable manual effort to identify subclass element geometry. This work leverages the benefits of a three-dimensional lightweight, geometric algorithm to generate meaningful geometric features autonomously that assist shape classification in erroneous design models and pre-segmented point clouds. Geometric deep learning is introduced in two steps; a discussion about the benefits of graph convolutional networks (GCNs) is given before a set of experiments on BIM element data sets is conducted. Utilising explainable artificial intelligence methods, the GCN performance is made suitable for human-algorithm interaction. Leveraging element geometry solely, the classification reaches a promising average performance of above 83% for the model-healing task with a reduced computation time. The encoded geometric knowledge from the design models is shown to be helpful in showcasing examples of segment classification in point clouds.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of an end-to-end simplified and automated reconstruction pipeline for digital building assets using the design science research approach. Current methods to create digital assets by capturing the state of existing buildings can provide high accuracy but are time-consuming, expensive and difficult. Design/methodology/approach: Using design science research, this research identifies the need for a crowdsourced and cloud-based approach to reconstruct digital building assets. The research then develops and tests a fully functional smartphone application prototype. The proposed end-to-end smartphone workflow begins with data capture and ends with user applications. Findings: The resulting implementation can achieve a realistic three-dimensional (3D) model characterized by different typologies, minimal trade-off in accuracy and low processing costs. By crowdsourcing the images, the proposed approach can reduce costs for asset reconstruction by an estimated 93% compared to manual modeling and 80% compared to locally processed reconstruction algorithms. Practical implications: The resulting implementation achieves “good enough” reconstruction of as-is 3D models with minimal tradeoffs in accuracy compared to automated approaches and 15× cost savings compared to a manual approach. Potential facility management use cases include the issue and information tracking, 3D mark-up and multi-model configurators. Originality/value: Through user engagement, development, testing and validation, this work demonstrates the feasibility and impact of a novel crowdsourced and cloud-based approach for the reconstruction of digital building assets.

Purpose: The dynamic nature and complexity of construction projects make it challenging to ensure that the engineer-to-order (ETO) materials supplied onsite match changing needs. The quick and efficient communication of required changes in material fabrication, delivery and use, due to changes in the design and construction schedules, is needed to address the challenges. This study aims to provide a novel integrated management framework with its embedded informatics to help major stakeholders efficiently absorb agility during communication to deal with required changes and improve workflows. Design/methodology/approach: An integrated management framework is developed that integrates the milestones in look-ahead plans and structured iterative processes for major supply chain stakeholders to quickly disseminate information emanating from changes in design, schedules, production and transportation. A prototype system is devised including the informatics to support the framework, which consists of BIM-RFID functional modules and a central database and uses a client-server architecture. The usefulness of the prototype is illustrated using a construction of part of a fictive but realistic high-rise building. Findings: The integrated management framework with the informatics provides major stakeholders with the ability to coordinate their activities efficiently and stimulate their agility (measured by process time) in planning and controlling material information. Although only a fictive example was used, it is shown that the use of the system is likely to result in a substantial reduction in the time required to deal with required changes when delivering ETO materials onsite (by 18% in the example). Research limitations/implications: The functionalities of the prototype system can be easily scaled up to coordinate changes in the design and scheduling of other types of materials. More functional developments are needed to show the extent of the possible improvement for entire construction projects. Future work should focus on investigating the possible improvements for other types and sizes of construction projects, and eventually in real-world construction projects. Practical implications: By fitting the look-ahead plans into structured iterative processes through digital data sharing, stakeholders increased their capability to quickly capture required change information and resolve associated problems. This is particularly useful for the management of ETO supply chain processes, where prefabricated elements such as ductwork, plumbing, and mechanical systems typically have to be modified because of last-minute design and schedule changes. Originality/value: Unlike traditional information technology (IT) based supply chain management practices, this research is characterized by a process-centered management framework that provides explicit decision points over iterative planning processes for major stakeholders to manage material information. The iterations through digital data sharing allow stakeholders to quickly respond to last-minute changes on site, which fundamentally achieves workflow agility in the construction supply chain context.

This paper investigates how hospitals can achieve increased flexibility and adaptability using a modular adaptable hospital design (MAHD) methodology. MAHD can be used to improve hospital lifecycle operation, including a potential implementation strategy and feasibility analysis. Drawing from 27 semi-structured interviews and design review sessions with 19 international groups of healthcare, design, engineering, and construction experts, the paper proposes a MAHD Design Methodology framework. This includes an evaluation framework composed of five design categories and 23 sub-categories complemented with a set of design guidelines developed by the researchers. The resulting design guidelines explain the process of designing and building hospitals with new MAHD technologies. The paper concludes by identifying a future implementation pathway for MAHD with the ultimate goal of applying the new modular adaptable design and construction techniques in a real hospital project. The contribution is a methodological approach for designing and constructing hospitals that can achieve greater economic, social, and environmental benefits due to non-disruptive lifecycle adaptability.

Typical construction project management and production management courses teach the critical path method, in which only the precedence constraint is considered while scheduling activities. By contrast, the tri-constraint method is an object-based scheduling method that considers activity precedence, resource constraints, and spatial availability. However, the tri-constraint method is only taught at few universities to date. This paper outlines the creation of a new curriculum to teach the theory and application of the tri-constraint method. The paper describes a proposed five-lesson, flipped-classroom curriculum for teaching the tri-constraint method. In class one, we introduce students to the limitations of the critical path method. In class two, we teach the fundamental algorithm behind the tri-constraint method. In classes three to five, we demonstrate how the tri-constraint method can be scaled using a BIM-based smart scheduler, in partnership with the software company ALICE Technologies Inc. During this period, students learn how to model constraints, generate millions of schedules, and explore tradeoffs and interventions for further schedule optimization. The paper concludes by describing how the curriculum was implemented in Autumn Semester 2020, summarizing preliminary qualitative feedback from the students, and reflecting on future improvements. The proposed curriculum is now available for usage or adaptation by the broader construction informatics research community to be integrated into construction project and production management courses.

Adoption of digital fabrication (dfab) in AEC promises great advantages in productivity, sustainability, and new design and delivery opportunities. Companies are interested in adopting dfab, but lack an overview of emerging dfab technologies and their use potential, as well as tools to evaluate their match with the own needs and business interests. Based on a qualitative analysis of five emerging dfab technologies, we developed an easy-to-use scoreboard to guide firms’ decision-making when adopting dfab technologies towards industrial implementation.

The Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry finds itself in an accelerating shift towards the use of more digital fabrication (DFAB) technologies. DFAB promises great advantages in AEC, but its adoption is so far lagging and there are few examples of building projects employing DFAB at scale. To facilitate DFAB adoption, we need to identify its challenges and opportunities of in the project context and understand its implications beyond project boundaries. To do this, this paper conducts a single case study on DFAB HOUSE, the first project to introduce several fundamentally new DFAB technologies to construct a fully functional building. Using Qualitative Content Analysis, we provide an overview of the challenges to consider and the strategies available to successfully adopt DFAB technologies in construction projects, establishing a socio-technical framework for DFAB adoption in AEC projects. We find that full-scale projects are an effective exploration method of DFAB in AEC, implementation at scale increases acceptance of DFAB in AEC, and projects are instrumental in establishing an emergent praxis of DFAB.

Digital fabrication (DFAB) for construction automation is emerging in the industry. However, DFAB requires better integration of fabrication-related information and organisation into the design process. Discrete processes in traditional delivery models such as Design-Bid-Build can hinder DFAB implementation when stakeholders find it hard to manage project costs. Target Value Design (TVD) has been proposed as possible approach to manage the DFAB design process, but management of DFAB using TVD is still new in the industry. Meanwhile, existing educational games have been successful at teaching players the basic principles of TVD principles. However, these games do not explicitly consider how players should select from advanced fabrication processes. They also have not yet been adopted for online play. This work presents an overview of an online TVD for DFAB game that can 1) help players understand basic TVD principles and 2) explicitly considers fabrication processes and resulting production times as an additional project value. The paper presents the results of a validation case played by 36 construction professionals, researchers and students in December 2020. Overall, this work contributes to the body of knowledge in learning and teaching TVD, online lean games, and technology adoption.

Cloud manufacturing is an emerging manufacturing paradigm to enable rapid production for mass customization. Industrialized construction shares a similar production environment with manufacturing products, so it has a great potential to utilize the paradigm. Previous studies never examined cloud manufacturing in the construction context. This work takes the industrial difference into account and proposes a cloud manufacturing framework by ontology modeling. Three ontologies, including ifcOWL, OPW, and OWL-S, are linked to support the design to the manufacturing process of a building project. The framework benefits the design data and manufacturing data integration, and enhances the resource sharing by semantic web service.

The use of robotics in construction improves safety and productivity in construction sites. However, there are limitations for construction managers to monitor robotic construction processes. This is due to the lack of well-developed human-robot collaboration interfaces. Digital Twin (DT) and Mixed Reality (MR) are two emerging technologies that can help to address these limitations by enhancing human-robot interaction, for on-site construction processes. However, DT in MR for human-robot interactions in robotic construction processes has not yet been widely studied in research or in practice. This work explores effective human-robot collaboration for automated construction processes using on-site real-time DT of robotic process in a MR construction environment. First, a DT prototype of a robotic construction process establishes a two-way communication between the physical and virtual models of the robot arm. Next, real-time process data is collected from the robot and sent to the visualisation and database platforms. This work describes the workflow in order to send the real-time data to the MR headset for direct visual feedback and direct interaction with the robot arm. The prototype is validated using a case study demonstration of a robotic masonry construction process. By demonstrating this proof of concept for real-time DT of robotic construction processes in MR, this work contributes to construction management for digital fabrication through human-robot collaboration. This work concludes with potential future research directions including data access and manipulation for digital processes in construction sites.

Digital Fabrication is an emerging systemic innovation in the architecture, engineering and construction sector. However, the design process for digital fabrication lacks an integrated management process or digital collaboration platform. One reason may be a lack of industry stakeholder needs for such processes and platforms. To explore and facilitate such solution in the current practice, more information about the socio-technical industry requirements on such solution and its implementation to support and manage the BIM-based design process of digital fabrication is needed. To fill this gap, this work conducts an industry-needs analysis through content analysis and an online survey of 144 project stakeholders. Based on the results, this work identifies the most needed fabrication-related information, tools and roles at different design stages and the requirements of platform-based management, which include a common virtual environment for collaboration and a common data environment for data management. Moreover, this work shows that fabrication-related information and new roles are required by project stakeholders since the early design stage. The paper concludes by proposing a conceptual management framework for BIM-platform-based integration for design for digital fabrication in construction projects and identifying potential future research directions on the topic.