Search Results (10)

Human–computer interaction (HCI) with three-dimensional (3D) Building Information Modelling/Model (BIM) is the crucial ingredient to enhancing the user experience and fostering the value of BIM. Current BIMs mostly use keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen as media for HCI. Using these hardware devices for HCI with BIM may lead to space constraints and a lack of visual intuitiveness. Somatosensory interaction represents an emergent modality of interaction, e.g., gesture interaction, which requires no equipment or direct touch, presents a potential approach to solving these problems. This paper proposes a computer-vision-based gesture interaction system for BIM. Firstly, a set of gestures for BIM model manipulation was designed, grounded in human ergonomics. These gestures include selection, translation, scaling, rotation, and restoration of the 3D model. Secondly, a gesture understanding algorithm dedicated to 3D model manipulation is introduced in this paper. Then, an interaction system for 3D models based on machine vision and gesture recognition was developed. A series of systematic experiments are conducted to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed system. In various environments, including pure white backgrounds, offices, and conference rooms, even when wearing gloves, the system has an accuracy rate of over 97% and a frame rate maintained between 26 and 30 frames. The final experimental results show that the method has good performance, confirming its feasibility, accuracy, and fluidity. Somatosensory interaction with 3D models enhances the interaction experience and operation efficiency between the user and the model, further expanding the application scene of BIM. Full article

The modern construction industry is undergoing considerable changes driven by increased specialization, technological advancements, and growing complexity. The integration of smart construction technology is rapidly advancing as a solution to address the aging workforce in the sector. However, the uncertainty and risks associated with soil construction on job sites remain, leading to increased costs during project execution. Recently, construction sites have sought to enhance productivity by leveraging building information modeling (BIM) and smart construction devices. The adoption of smart equipment, such as machine control and machine guidance, is on the rise in both structural and earthwork projects, with ongoing efforts to mitigate uncertainties. This study proposes a practical approach to reduce the uncertainty in earthworks by optimizing soil sharing strategies and equipment allocation from the initial design phase. A BIM model was developed as a solid structure and then segmented using Dynamo. This model was utilized to create a construction plan using Primavera P6, while AnyLogic (8.9.2) was employed to assess the suitability of equipment combinations, ultimately demonstrating the cost-saving benefits of the proposed approach. Through repeated simulations, work efficiency was enhanced by approximately 6.2% compared to the original 2D planning approach. Full article

The architecture, engineering, construction, and operations industry faces an urgent need to enhance construction and demolition waste management in urban areas, driven by increasing demolition and construction activities and a desire to align with sustainable practices and the circular economy principles. To address this need, a systematic literature review on the building information modelling methodology was conducted, employing a structured protocol and specific tools for the analysis of academic studies, based on PRISMA guidelines and StArt software (version 3.4 BETA). Ninety relevant studies published between 1998 and 2024, were analysed and selected from the Web of Science, Scopus, and Engineering Village databases. Findings indicate that China leads in publications with 34%, followed by Brazil (8%) and the United Kingdom (7%). The analysis emphasises the use of drones and LiDAR scanners for precise spatial data, processed by 3D reconstruction tools like Pix4D and FARO As-Built. Revit excels in 3D modelling, providing a robust platform for visualisation and analysis. Visual programming tools such as Dynamo automate processes and optimise material reuse. The study presents a conceptual framework that integrates these technologies with the principles of the circular economy, clarifying the interactions and practical applications that promote the sustainable management of demolition waste from urban buildings and process efficiency. Although the approach promotes material reuse and sustainability, it still faces barriers such as the need for waste segregation at the source, the adaptation of innovative technologies, like the iPhone 15 Pro LiDAR and thermal cameras, as well as associated costs. These factors may limit its adoption in larger-scale projects, particularly due to the increased complexity of buildings. Full article

The trend of using conventional devices like mobile phones, tablets, and the other devices is gaining traction in improving customer service practices. This coincides with the growing popularity of building information modeling (BIM), which has led to increased exploration of various 3D object capture methods. Additionally, the technological boom has resulted in a surge of applications working with different 3D model formats including mesh models, point cloud, and TIN models. Among these, the usage of mesh models is experiencing particularly rapid growth. The main objective advantages of mesh models are their efficiency, scalability, flexibility, sense of detail, user-friendliness, and compatibility. The idea of this paper is to use a conventional device, specifically an iPad Pro equipped with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, for creating mesh models. The different data capture methods employed by various applications will be compared to evaluate the final models´ precision. The accuracy of the 3D models generated by each application will be assessed by comparing the spatial coordinates of identical points distributed irregularly across the entire surface of the chosen object. Various available currently most-used applications were utilized in the process of data collection. In general, 3D representations of the object/area, etc., may be visualized, analyzed, and further processed in more formats such as TIN models, point cloud, or mesh models. Mesh models provide a visualization of the object mirroring the solid design of the real object, thus approximating reality in the closest way. This fact, along with automatized postprocessing after data acquisition, the ability to capture and visualize both convex and concave objects, and the possibility to use this type of 3D visualization for 3D printing, contribute to the decision to test and analyze mesh models. Consequently, the mesh models were created via the automatic post-processing, i.e., without external intervention. This fact leads to the problems of random coordinate systems being automatically pre-defined by every application. This research must deal with the resulting obstacles in order to provide a valid and credible comparative analysis. Various criteria may be applied to the mesh models’ comparisons, including objective qualitative and quantitative parameters and also the subjective ones. The idea of this research is not to analyze the data acquisition process in detail, but instead to assess the possibilities of the applications for the basic users. Full article

A digital twin (DT) system is a virtual system that can provide a comprehensive description of a real physical system. The DT system continuously receives data from physical sensors and user input information and provides information feedback to the physical system. It is an emerging technology that utilizes an advanced Internet of Things (IoT) to connect different objects, which is in high demand in various industries and its research literature is growing exponentially. Traditional physical systems provide data support for the monitoring of physical objects such as buildings through digital modeling techniques, data acquisition tools, human computer interfaces, and building information models (BIM). However, DT can offer much more than data presentation. DT uses the received data to perform operations such as analysis, prediction, and simulation, and finally transmits the analysis results to the physical system as feedback. Compared with other physical systems, DT has the characteristics of bidirectional data exchange and real-time autonomous management. The plant factory control system based on digital twin technology continuously measures the power consumption of electrical equipment through the sensors of the physical system and makes the corresponding virtual color-coded gradient map based on the obtained data. The darker the virtual device is, the more power it currently requires, and just based on the shade of color gives the user a very intuitive idea of the current power usage of the electronic device. There has been extensive research on digital twin technology, but there are few studies on implementing plant factories based on digital twin technology. This paper proposes the idea of combining digital twin technology with plant factories to provide research directions for future smart agriculture. It proves that smart agricultural production with sustainability can also benefit from this idea. Full article

It is necessary to ensure safety in terms of health and accidents through the real-time monitoring of the construction site environment and workers. This problem has become of great importance due to the economic and social implications. Therefore, a sensor-based approach has been found to be beneficial in Building Information Modeling (BIM). Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) technologies are well-suited for the deployment of monitoring systems. A suitable technical solution for node communication in a WSN is Long Range (LoRa) modulation technology. In this study, an autonomous LoRa-based system for the monitoring of a construction site in Lungro, Calabria, Italy, is presented. The spatial monitoring of working personnel is achieved by employing a tracker device with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and a Global Positioning System (GPS) device. Accesses of personnel and gear to the site are registered using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags equipped with protective gear. Fixed-position solar-powered sensor nodes are also employed for structural monitoring, i.e., movement sensors are used to monitor the variation of scaffolding, building structures, and under-work housing inclinations. Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) gateways interface with the nodes and the internet for data exchange, enabling an Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm for the monitoring solution. A comprehensive overview of the workers and structural nodes, along with the RFID access management system and LoRaWAN gateway features, is provided in this article. A description of the web interface is also reported. Full article

The methodology and technology associated with building information modeling (BIM) provide architects, engineers, and historians with concepts and tools that support the development of heritage projects. However, this specific form of BIM orientated towards buildings of patrimonial value—known as historic building information modeling (HBIM)—requires a distinct and additional view, accounting for aspects which are normally not attended to on projects involving new buildings. In an HBIM context, the parametric modeling process, the basis of any BIM procedure, involves the study of shapes, patterns, or standards for the establishment of particular collections of parametric objects, as well as the record of the available technology used to capture digital geometric data. In addition, all the information collected and generated through an HBIM process must be adequately managed, maintained, and archived. In the present study, we intend to list the most recent features of HBIM, based on a bibliographic review, encompassing distinct building situations (preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and structural assessment); different technical equipment (drones, scanners, and photogrammetry); as well as diverse forms of geometric characterization (patterns, geometric rules, or curve generation) and ways of archiving data (stratigraphy, old drawings folders, or as-built models). With the aim of identifying, as an overview, we have presented the principal modeling strategies, technologic devices, and archive procedures, as a contribution to systematizing and organizing the dispersed practical and theorical studies related with HBIM. Full article

People in shared building space have an important role in energy consumption because they can turn on/off equipment and heat/cooling systems. This behaviour can be influenced by giving then locally tailored context information (energy consumption, temperature, luminosity) and information about the cost of their actions. This paper presents an approach to create personalized local energy consumption predictions in a building using past sensor data, correlated with external conditions to create local context predictions. This prediction is sent in real-time to people’s mobile devices in order to influence their behaviour when increasing or decreasing temperature using heating or cooling systems. This information is essential for sustainability actions in shared spaces, where this information can have an important role. Also, the data (temperature) representation in the building information model (BIM) module can help the user understand environment conditions and, together with the user sharing their thermal feelings, can be used to change behaviour. This approach using BIM’s representation models allows Things2People interaction to improve energy savings in these shared spaces. Full article

Self-inspection of buildings is the process of controlling the quality of construction work in order to ensure that the specifications are implemented according to the design. Under current practices, self-inspection is totally dependent on the operator’s skills, being a process that can be time-consuming and sometimes difficult to achieve. The Intuitive Self-Inspection Techniques using Augmented Reality (INSITER; for construction, refurbishment and maintenance of energy-efficient buildings made of prefabricated components) project aims to develop a software tool to support construction workers in self-inspection processes, with the overall objective of reducing major errors and extra costs. Nevertheless, one of the challenges is the lack of interoperability between the various equipment used to carry out self-inspection. Devices and current tools deployed on-site do not speak the same language, which leads to a lack of communication. Therefore, this paper presents a framework under which the equipment would be able to send information in a common format. For this purpose, the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) de-facto standard has been established as a viable data model to represent all the information related to the building project. Along these lines, Building Information Modeling (BIM) information and IFC-compliant databases have been designed for the representation of data coming from Computer-Aided Design (CAD) modeling, laser scanning, thermography and sensor networks. Besides the IFC-data repositories, the framework is a multi-layer architecture with the goal of ensuring interoperability and promoting the stakeholders’ objectives for self-inspection during the entire construction process. Full article

Medium-cost devices equipped with sensors are being developed to get 3D measurements. Some allow for generating geometric models and point clouds. Nevertheless, the accuracy of these measurements should be evaluated, taking into account the requirements of the Building Information Model (BIM). This paper analyzes the uncertainty in outdoor/indoor three-dimensional coordinate measures and point clouds (using Spherical Accuracy Standard (SAS) methods) for Eyes Map, a medium-cost tablet manufactured by e-Capture Research & Development Company, Mérida, Spain. To achieve it, in outdoor tests, by means of this device, the coordinates of targets were measured from 1 to 6 m and cloud points were obtained. Subsequently, these were compared to the coordinates of the same targets measured by a Total Station. The Euclidean average distance error was 0.005–0.027 m for measurements by Photogrammetry and 0.013–0.021 m for the point clouds. All of them satisfy the tolerance for point cloud acquisition (0.051 m) according to the BIM Guide for 3D Imaging (General Services Administration); similar results are obtained in the indoor tests, with values of 0.022 m. In this paper, we establish the optimal distances for the observations in both, Photogrammetry and 3D Photomodeling modes (outdoor) and point out some working conditions to avoid in indoor environments. Finally, the authors discuss some recommendations for improving the performance and working methods of the device. Full article