1. Introduction
1.1 Motivation and Background
An as-planned schedule can be updated frequently, particularly as a construction project becomes larger and more complex. In the study, the as-built schedule reflects the actual start time, actual completion dates, actual duration of the specified activities during the process or final status. A general contractor typically requires access to as-built schedule information to control and manage construction projects. Updated as-built schedule management is essential to control and manage construction projects, particularly because it enhances communication and coordination among project participants. Promptly sharing the updated as-built schedule with other participants helps them make compatible decisions, which helps to minimize possible disputes. Therefore, updated as-built schedule monitoring and control among project participants should be necessary and important to the general contractor. Until recently, on-site progress data collection has been mainly paper-based. This method has been reported as one of the major problems that causes project delays and cost overruns (Davidson and Skibniewski, 1995). Manual methods, which are impractically slow and do not always achieve the desired result, require a great deal of time and energy. (Navon 2007; Trupp et al., 2004;
Hegazy and Abdel-Monem, 2012). Consequently, collection of as-built schedules from project participants is ineffective, thus reducing efficiency and resulting in a lack of as-built schedule information. This process ultimately results in confusion. With the advent of Internet technology, web-based as-built schedule information management solutions have facilitated information distribution and sharing among project participants.
Utilization of web technology enhances the sharing of as-built schedule information in
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construction projects and has recently become increasingly important due to the ease with which information can be shared through web solutions.
In Taiwan, there currently are practice problems regarding updating an as-built schedule at the jobsite in Taiwan (such as no as-built updating schedule). One of those problems is hard to understand an accurate position or location from text-based illustrations of a traditional schedule. Building information modeling (BIM) is a new industry term referring to parametric 3D computer-aided design (CAD) technologies and processes in the AEC industry (Taylor and Bernstein, 2009). During the construction phase, effectively tracking and managing as-built schedule information integrated with BIM-assisted illustration in construction reduces mistakes. Effective BIM-assisted as-built schedule information sharing allows project engineers to identify a current as-as-built schedule and make accurate decisions in the visual environment. Despite many studies and discussions in academic and practical literature regarding the simulation of 4D approaches (3D computer model + time), few studies on the practical updating of as-built schedules, integrated with the BIM approach during the construction phase, have emerged.
It is vitally important for project managers and onsite engineers to obtain knowledge about construction and to solve any problems that may arise. To enhance the knowledge management, onsite engineers can learn from the experience of other onsite engineers.
Construction experience transfer involves using knowledge gained during the completion of previous projects to maximize the achievement of current project objectives (Reuss and Tatum, 1993). In order to share knowledge between similar projects, construction professionals have traditionally used techniques ranging from annual meetings to face-to-face interviews (Reuss and Tatum, 1993). In addition to experts' memory, construction experience can be recorded in various media, such as documents, databases, and intranets.
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Knowledge management is the collection of processes controlling the creation, storage, reuse, evaluation, and use of experience-based knowledge in a particular situation or problem-solving context. In construction, knowledge management focuses on the acquisition and management of important experience-based knowledge provided by job engineers.
Regardless of whether a project executed by an architectural firm is successful, valuable knowledge can be gained, and should be documented so that onsite engineers can identify what worked and what did not. From the perspective of knowledge management in construction, these experiences and the knowledge gained from them are valuable, as they are accumulated through large investments in manpower, time, and money. Most onsite engineers agree that knowledge management in construction projects is a vital tool construction management. The sharing of knowledge and feedback provided by onsite engineers help to prevent mistakes that have been made in previous projects.
Drawing on knowledge and experience thus eliminates the need to solve many problems from scratch.
1.2 Problem Statement
There have been many problems encountered with this as-built schedule during the construction phase. The one of facing problems is that it is difficult to clearly explain a project without a visual representation while the schedule is being processed. Although there is a great deal of previous researches focusing on the simulation of the 4D approach (3D and time simulations), there are few studies on updating an as-built schedule using the BIM approach. Furthermore, most recent construction projects in Taiwan have applied knowledge management systems to improve construction management during the
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construction phase. In construction projects, knowledge management may involve many important relationships between the presentation and retrieval of knowledge and CAD.
However, most of the shared information during the construction phase is in the form of text-based information. Text-based knowledge management is hard to illustrate acquired knowledge from construction project (no relationship with objects or components of buildings). Furthermore, when knowledge is available for sharing, it is not easy for engineers to understand it directly without 2D or 3D CAD illustrations. Therefore, it is a challenge to provide for the general contractor and onsite engineers models and solutions to enhance the as-built schedule management and knowledge management in this work.
1.3 Research Objectives and Scope
The main characteristics of BIM including illustrating 3D CAD-based presentations, keeping information in digital format, and facilitating the easy updating and transfer of information in a 3D environment. The objectives of this study are to: (1) propose as-built schedule management approach integrated with BIM models for schedule information sharing and tracking visually; (2) provide visual knowledge management approach integrated with BIM models for knowledge sharing and reuse. The scope of research is to manage knowledge and as-built schedule for general contractor during the construction phase. Furthermore, Figure 1 shows the research flowchart of the study.
5 Identify Problem
Identify Research Objectives
Identify Scope of Research
Model Development
Literature Review
BIM Model Management
Model
BIM Schedule Management Updating Model
BIM Knowledge Management
Model
Prototype Development
Case Study and Evaluation
Conclusions
Figure 1. The research flowchart of the study
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