Industry 4.0 Solutions for Building Design and Construction: A Paradigm of New Opportunities

This book provides in-depth results and case studies in innovation from actual work undertaken in collaboration with industry partners in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC). Scientific advances and innovative technologies in the sector are key to shaping the changes emerging as a result of Industry 4.0. Mainstream Building Information Management (BIM) is seen as a vehicle for addressing issues such as industry fragmentation, value-driven solutions, decision-making, client engagement, and design/process flow; however, advanced simulation, computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, machine learning, deep learning, and linked data all provide immense opportunities for dealing with these challenges and can provide evidenced-based innovative solutions not seen before. These technologies are perceived as the “true” enablers of future practice, but only recently has the AEC sector recognised terms such as “golden key” and “golden thread” as part of BIM processes and workflows.

This book builds on the success of a number of initiatives and projects by the authors, which include seminal findings from the literature, research and development, and practice-based solutions produced for industry. It presents these findings through real projects and case studies developed by the authors and reports on how these technologies made a real-world impact.

The chapters and cases in the book are developed around these overarching themes:

• BIM and AEC Design and Optimisation: Application of Artificial Intelligence in Design
• BIM and XR as Advanced Visualisation and Simulation Tools
• Design Informatics and Advancements in BIM Authoring
• Green Building Assessment: Emerging Design Support Tools
• Computer Vision and Image Processing for Expediting Project Management and Operations
• Blockchain, Big Data, and IoT for Facilitated Project Management
• BIM Strategies and Leveraged Solutions

This book is a timely and relevant synthesis of a number of cogent subjects underpinning the paradigm shift needed for the AEC industry and is essential reading for all involved in the sector. It is particularly suited for use in Masters-level programs in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction.

Farzad Pour Rahimian is a Professor of Digital Engineering and Manufacturing at Teesside University, UK.

Jack Steven Goulding is Professor of Construction Project Management at the University of Wolverhampton, UK and Director of a specialist BIM consultancy service.

Sepehr Abrishami is a Senior Lecturer and BIM Programme Leader at the University of Portsmouth, UK.

Saleh Seyedzadeh is a Data Scientist at Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Scotland, UK.

Faris Elghaish is a Lecturer in Construction Project Management at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.