2006-07 - Construction Innovation

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PROGRAM C: DELIVERY AND MANAGEMENT OF BUILT ASSETS
PURPOSE:
TO DELIVER WHOLE-OF-LIFE PROJECT VALUE FOR STAKEHOLDERS FROM
BUSINESS NEED, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, THROUGH TO OWNERSHIP, ASSET
MANAGEMENT AND REUSE THROUGH:
IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND USE OF INFRASTRUCTURE
INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND VALUE
EFFECTIVE DELIVERY AND MANAGEMENT OF BUILT ASSETS.
Automated Estimating for Civil Concrete Structures
Research project 2005-008-C
Team Collaboration through Wireless Computing
Research project 2002-057-C
Project duration: 1 November 2005–1 December 2006
Project leader: Robin Drogemuller/Kwok-Keung Yum, CSIRO
Project members: Brisbane City Council: Darren Leeson
John Holland Group: Gerry Shutt
Queensland Department of Main Roads: John Spathonis
RMIT: Guillermo Aranda-Mena
Project duration: 28 September 2004–1 March 2007
Project leader: Stephen Kajewski, QUT
Project members: John Holland Group: Justin Lee
QUT: Sugiharto Alwi
The University of Sydney: Andy Dong, Brian Lee, Mary Lou Maher
Woods Bagot: David Marchant
This project assessed whether it is feasible to
extend the benefits of automatic estimating
from buildings to civil concrete structures
(mainly concrete bridges). Currently there is
no automatic estimator for bridges. Design
drawings are carried out in 2D (plan and
cross sections). The industry typically uses
traditional processes in which design and
construction are separated. During tendering,
cost estimating is on a critical path between
design and construction. An automatic
Robin Drogemuller
estimator for bridges requires a 3D model
for each bridge design. However, designers are resistant to changing
current 2D practices to produce 3D models, unless there are clear
drivers from the design and construction value chain. The project
examined the existing design and construction practice, assessed
the capability of existing software systems used in design and
estimating, and developed recommendations on how bridge
designers, estimators and contractors can move from their current
practice to 3D integrated modelling and estimating. Queensland
Department of Main Roads will reference this research in futuredecision
making regarding automation of design and estimation
interfaces in civil construction.
This project had two streams that
considered the use of pervasive computing
technologies. The first context is the
construction site deployment of mobile
computing devices. The second context
is the use and development of intelligent
rooms based on sensed environments and
new human-computer interfaces (HCI) for
collaboration in the design office. Together,
these two streams presented a model of
team collaboration that relied on continuous
Stephen Kajewski
communication to people and information to
reduce information leakage. The project involved an examination of
recent developments in mobile ICT with a view to adopting a limited
range of industry-specific software applications. Such ICT allows the
contractor and consultant real-time interaction with the collaborative
Internet-based project portal and the information contained therein.
The associated software applications allows many of the more
repetitive project administration and communication activities to be
more easily captured in an electronic format, thus eliminating the
requirement for extensive manual data re-entry, processing, and
communication. Based on feedback from industry participants,
John Holland Group and Woods Bagot, two versions of the mobile
computing application for defect management were developed, each
customised to the defect management process in practice with the
respective industry participants.
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