Prefabricated construction enabled by the Internet-of-Things

Abstract Prefabricated construction has been used for public rental housing in Hong Kong. In order to speed up housing delivery, Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) have employed advanced technologies, including Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), in some of their pilot prefabrication-based construction projects. However, the information obtained from BIM and RFID is not well connected and shared among relevant stakeholders. This paper introduces a multi-dimensional Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled BIM platform (MITBIMP) to achieve real-time visibility and traceability in prefabricated construction. Design considerations of a RFID Gateway Operating System, visibility and traceability tools, Data Source Interoperability Services, and decision support services are specified for developing the MITBIMP. A case study from a real-life construction project in Hong Kong is used as a pilot project to demonstrate advanced decision-making by using cutting-edge concepts and technologies within the MITBIMP to providing a basis for real-time visibility and traceability of the whole processes of prefabrication-based construction.

[1]  Kjeld Svidt,et al.  Prototype development of an ICT system to support construction management based on virtual models and RFID , 2009, J. Inf. Technol. Constr..

[2]  Jouni Ikonen,et al.  Use of embedded RFID tags in concrete element supply chains , 2013, J. Inf. Technol. Constr..

[3]  Ning Gu,et al.  Information lifecycle management with RFID for material control on construction sites , 2013, Adv. Eng. Informatics.

[4]  Ya Hong Dong,et al.  Comparing carbon emissions of precast and cast-in-situ construction methods – A case study of high-rise private building , 2015 .

[5]  E. Ergen,et al.  An Overview of Approaches for Utilizing RFID in Construction Industry , 2007, 2007 1st Annual RFID Eurasia.

[6]  Simaan M. AbouRizk,et al.  A framework for an automated and integrated project monitoring and control system for steel fabrication projects , 2011 .

[7]  Vivian W. Y Tam,et al.  Towards adoption of prefabrication in construction , 2007 .

[8]  Ke Chen,et al.  Bridging BIM and building: From a literature review to an integrated conceptual framework , 2015 .

[9]  Arash Shahi,et al.  Onsite 3D marking for construction activity tracking , 2013 .

[10]  Naai-Jung Shih,et al.  3D Scan Information Management System for Construction Management , 2006 .

[11]  Frédéric Bosché,et al.  Tracking the Built Status of MEP Works: Assessing the Value of a Scan-vs-BIM System , 2014, J. Comput. Civ. Eng..

[12]  Muhammad Arslan,et al.  CoSMoS: A BIM and wireless sensor based integrated solution for worker safety in confined spaces , 2014 .

[13]  Danijel Rebolj,et al.  Integrating resource production and construction using BIM , 2010 .

[14]  Salman Azhar,et al.  Building Information Modeling (BIM): Trends, Benefits, Risks, and Challenges for the AEC Industry , 2011 .

[15]  Burcu Akinci,et al.  A formalism for utilization of sensor systems and integrated project models for active construction quality control , 2006 .

[16]  Yusuf Arayici,et al.  An approach for real world data modelling with the 3D terrestrial laser scanner for built environment , 2007 .

[17]  Ray Y. Zhong,et al.  Big Data for supply chain management in the service and manufacturing sectors: Challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives , 2016, Comput. Ind. Eng..

[18]  Hanbin Luo,et al.  Real-time safety early warning system for cross passage construction in Yangtze Riverbed Metro Tunnel based on the internet of things , 2013 .

[19]  Chan-Sik Park,et al.  A framework for construction safety management and visualization system , 2013 .

[20]  Ray Y. Zhong,et al.  A big data approach for logistics trajectory discovery from RFID-enabled production data , 2015 .

[21]  E. Chan,et al.  Prefabrication and barriers to entry—a case study of public housing and institutional buildings in Hong Kong , 2006 .

[22]  Su-Won Yoon,et al.  An RFID and BIM based Simulator for Construction Material Logistics and Progress Management , 2011 .

[23]  Ray Y. Zhong,et al.  Visualization of RFID-enabled shopfloor logistics Big Data in Cloud Manufacturing , 2015, The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology.

[24]  Kasun Hewage,et al.  Building Information Modeling (BIM) partnering framework for public construction projects , 2013 .

[25]  Burcu Akinci,et al.  Automated Recognition of 3D CAD Objects in Site Laser Scans for Project 3D Status Visualization and Performance Control , 2009 .

[26]  Tristan Randall,et al.  Construction Engineering Requirements for Integrating Laser Scanning Technology and Building Information Modeling , 2011 .

[27]  Frédéric Bosché,et al.  Automated progress tracking using 4D schedule and 3D sensing technologies , 2012 .