Virtual Futures For Design Construction And Procurement

This book brings together some of the best practitioners andthinkers from around the world to discuss the likely future ofinformation and communication technologies for the constructionindustry. It addresses a range of innovative developments, state of the artapplications, research work and theoretical arguments with regardto the use of virtual technologies in design, construction andprocurement. From a future oriented perspective, the book presentswhat can be expected from the next generation of thesetechnologies.

Making buildings and infrastructure more sustainable represents a key and global challenge. This presents the results of research from the Australia Co-operative Research Centre for Construction Innovation, covering four themes, applied to regeneration as well as to new build: Sustainable Materials and Manufactures; Virtual Design, Construction and Management; Integrating Design, Construction and Facility Management over the Project Life Cycle; and Integration across spatial scales.

Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions in Structural Engineering and Construction addresses the latest developments in innovative and integrative technologies and solutions in structural engineering and construction, including: Concrete, masonry, steel and composite structures; Dynamic impact and earthquake engineering; Bridges and

Innovation in construction is essential for growth. The industry strives to remain competitive using a variety of approaches and needs to engage structured initiatives linked to proven innovation concepts, techniques and applications. Even in mature markets like the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector, where business behaviour is generally considered as being risk averse, it is increasingly important to embed innovation into mainstream business practices. In Construction Innovation and Process Improvement a number of wide ranging issues from construction practice in different countries with different contexts are presented to provide a rich collection of literature embracing theory and practice. Chapters are divided into three broad themes of construction innovation relating to: Theory and Practice; Process Drivers; and Future Technologies. Several questions are posed, including for example: What is particularly unique about construction innovation in theory and practice? What are the major drivers of construction innovation? What factors are needed to support and deliver future construction technologies? In attempting to respond to such questions, the book sheds new light on these challenges, and provides readers with a number of ways forward, especially cognisant of the increased role of globalisation, the enhanced impact of knowledge, and importance of innovation. All these can have a significant impact on strategic decision-making, competitive advantage, and sustainable policies and practices. Part One deals with change management, technology, sustainable construction, and supply chain management; Part Two addresses innovation and process improvement drivers, including strategic management, concurrent engineering, risk management, innovative procurement, knowledge management; Part Three explores future technologies in construction – and particularly, how these can be harnessed and leveraged to help procure innovation and process improvement.

The book contains the papers developed from the presentations at the Distributed Intelligence in Design Symposium, held in Salford in May 2009. In this context, Distributed Intelligence refers to the interdisciplinary knowledge of a range of different individuals in different organisations, with different backgrounds and experience, and the symposium discussed the media, technologies and behaviours required to support their successful collaboration. The book focusses on: how parametric and generative design media can be coupled with and managed alongside Building Information Modelling tools and systems how the cross-disciplinary knowledge is distributed and coordinated across different software, participants and organizations the characteristics of the evolving creative and collaborative practices how built environment education should be adapted to this digitally-networked practice and highly distributed intelligence in design The chapters address a range of innovative developments, methodologies, applications, research work and theoretical arguments, to present current experience and expectations as collaborative practice becomes critical in the design of future built environments.

Project management is of critical importance in construction, yetits execution poses major challenges. In order to keep a project ontrack, decisions often have to be made before all the necessaryinformation is available. Drawing on a wide range of research, Managing ConstructionProjects proposes new ways of thinking about project managementin construction, exploring the skills required to manageuncertainty and offering techniques for thinking about thechallenges involved. The second edition takes the informationprocessing perspective introduced in the first edition and developsit further. In particular, this approach deepens the reader’sunderstanding of the dynamics in the construction project process– from the value proposition inherent in the project mission,to the functioning asset that generates value for its owners andusers. Managing Construction Projects is a unique andindispensible contribution to the available literature onconstruction project management. It will be of particular benefitto advanced students of construction and construction projectmanagement, as well as contractors and quantity surveyors. Reviews of the First edition: "A massive review of the art and science of the management ofprojects that has the great virtue of being a good read wherever itis touched. It spills the dirt on things that went wrong,elucidates the history so you can understand the industry's currentstance, draws on other countries experience and explains the latestmanagement processes. Throughout it is liberally sprinkled withanecdotes and case histories which amply illustrate the dos anddon't for practitioners wishing to deliver projects on time toexpected quality and price. A valuable book for students andpractitioners alike." —John D Findlay, Director, Stent "This is a valuable source for practitioners and students. Itcovers the A-Z of project management in a confident contemporarymanner, and provides a powerful and much needed conceptualperspective in place of a purely prescriptive approach. Theengaging presentation introduces a range of challenges toestablished thinking about project management, often by makingcomparisons between practices in the UK and those of othercountries." —Peter Lansley, Professor of Construction Management,University of Reading "A refreshing and unique study of information management and itsimpact upon international construction project management.... Thebook is well presented and written, logical and succinct and isflexible enough to allow readers to either read from start tofinish or to dip into selected chapters. This book deserves to bean established text for any construction or civil engineering under- and/or postgraduate course." —CNBR, 25th November 2003 "Generous use is made of anecdotes andc case historiesthroughout to support the theory. the book illustrates the mistakesmade by others, and the means to deliver projects on time and tocost." —Building Services Journal, April 2004

eWork and eBusiness in Architecture, Engineering and Construction 2021 collects the papers presented at the 13th European Conference on Product and Process Modelling (ECPPM 2021, Moscow, 5-7 May 2021). The contributions cover a wide spectrum of thematic areas that hold great promise towards the advancement of research and technological development targeted at the digitalization of the AEC/FM (Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Facilities Management) domains. High quality contributions are devoted to critically important problems that arise, including: Information and Knowledge Management Semantic Web and Linked Data Communication and Collaboration Technologies Software Interoperability BIM Servers and Product Lifecycle Management Systems Digital Twins and Cyber-Physical Systems Sensors and Internet of Things Big Data Artificial and Augmented Intelligence in AEC Construction Management 5D/nD Modelling and Planning Building Performance Simulation Contract, Cost and Risk Management Safety and Quality Sustainable Buildings and Urban Environments Smart Buildings and Cities BIM Standardization, Implementation and Adoption Regulatory and Legal Aspects BIM Education and Training Industrialized Production, Smart Products and Services Over the past quarter century, the biennial ECPPM conference series, as the oldest BIM conference, has provided researchers and practitioners with a unique platform to present and discuss the latest developments regarding emerging BIM technologies and complementary issues for their adoption in the AEC/FM industry.

Most construction projects are large and costly. Collaborative working involves two or more stakeholders sharing their efforts and resources to complete the project more effectively and efficiently. Collaborative, integrative and multi-disciplinary teams can tackle the complex issues involved in creating a viable built environment. This tends to be looked at from three interrelated perspectives: the technological, organizational, and social; and of these the key issue is to improve productivity and enable innovation through the empowerment and motivation of people. This book provides insights for researchers and practitioners in the building and construction industry as well as graduate students, written by an international group of leading scholars and professionals into the potential use, development and limitations of current collaborative technologies and practices. Material is grouped into the themes of advanced technologies for collaborative working, virtual prototyping in design and construction, building information modelling, managing the collaborative processes, and human issues in collaborative working.