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While project benchmarking based on key performance indicators is regarded as a crucial technique for mature project delivery in the construction industry, incorporating it into an organization's routine is a cumbersome and time-consuming endeavor as it entails considerable time and human efforts for collecting and providing project information, and validating the quality of collected data. To overcome this challenge, this paper introduces an approach that leverages Building Information Modeling (BIM), which allows for a more streamlined benchmarking process. The approach presented in this paper focuses on healthcare projects which have been benchmarked using a comprehensive set of cost, schedule, dimension, and planning performance metrics through a mature sector-specific benchmarking program at Construction Industry Institute (CII). As an initial step in the formulation of such a tool, this paper investigates the potential of leveraging BIM for benchmarking through close scrutiny of contents embedded in real-world models collected from six healthcare projects. Functional requirements were, then, established to realize a BIM-based benchmarking tool for healthcare projects by developing conceptual process flow, use cases, and data flow diagrams. The requirements are further illustrated in mock-ups of a prototype system.

Security of payment (SOP) issues still persist in the construction industry despite numerous investigations and incremental reforms. Various solutions and policies have been proposed and analysed in-depth in previous studies. However, limited studies have focused on the integration of advanced technologies to address SOP issues. The aim of this research is to develop a comprehensive framework that integrates practical advanced technologies to address SOP issues in the construction industry. A concurrent mixed-method design was adopted to (a) identify the industry's perspective on what advanced technologies can be accepted to address SOP issues through a questionnaire survey, and (b) identify the use of advanced technologies through a live construction project as a case study. Subsequently, a data flow diagram framework was developed to articulate the whole process flow of how the system delivers automatic payments to subcontractors upon the completion of their contractual obligations and work done. This research contributes new and practical insights into the application and integration of smart sensors, oracles, BIM, blockchain technology and smart contracts in addressing SOP issues in the construction industry.

The municipal drainage system is a key component of every modern city's infrastructure. However, as the drainage system ages its pipes gradually deteriorate at rates that vary based on the conditions of utilisation (i.e., intrinsic conditions) and other extrinsic factors such as the presence of trees with deep roots or the traffic load above the sewer lines, which collectively can impact the structural integrity of the pipes. As a result, regular monitoring of the drainage system is extremely important since replacement is not only costly, but, more importantly, can disturb the daily routines of citizens. In this respect, closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspection has been widely accepted as an effective inspection technology for buried infrastructure. Since sewer pipes can run for thousands of kilometers underground, cities collect massive amounts of CCTV video footage, the assessment of which is time-consuming and may require a large team of trained technologists. A framework is proposed to realize the development of a real-time automated defect detection system that takes advantage of a deep-learning algorithm. The framework focuses on streamlining the information and data flow, proposing patterns of input and output data processing. With the development of deep learning techniques, a state-of-the-art convolutional neural network (CNN) based object detector, namely YOLOv3 network, has been employed in this research. This algorithm is known to be very efficient in the field of object detection from the perspective of processing speed and accuracy. The model used in this research has been trained with a data set of 4056 samples that contains six types of defects (i.e., broken, hole, deposits, crack, fracture, and root) and one type of construction feature (tap). The performance of the model is validated with a mean average precision (mAP) of 85.37%. The proposed output of the system includes labeled CCTV videos, frames that contain defects, and associated defect information. The labeled video can serve as the benchmark for assessment technologists while the multiple output frames provide an overview of the condition of the sewer pipe.

As an essential problem in construction management, the resource-constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP) has been studied for decades; however, an integrated information model that fully supports the RCPSP solving process is still lacking. Though building information modeling (BIM) was proposed to meet the data requirements in the building life cycle, some scheduling and resource information are not considered in information transfers between the information model and the RCPSP mathematical model. This paper presents an integrated approach that enables fluent data flow from the information model to the RCPSP model for construction scheduling. Within this approach, a work package-based information model is proposed to capture all the required data of the RCPSP. Then, a semiautomatic method that integrates multisource data is introduced to form the proposed information model, and an adaptive data transmission method is used to support a designed multimode resource-constrained project scheduling problem (MRCPSP) model. The models and approaches are validated using the data of an actual project, demonstrating the feasibility and efficiency. This study contributes a novel integrated approach to formalizing a construction information model using a semiautomatic data integration approach, covering the information requirement and enables fluent data flow in the RCPSP solving process. Meanwhile, the work package-based information model is a successful attempt to introduce previously-gained knowledge into automatic schedule generation processes. Future work, such as extending the information model, creating new methods for RCPSP model generation, and data analytics, can bring new opportunities to apply more complex and intelligent methods in project scheduling and construction management.

The general principles of recording data flow within a construction organisation are considered in order to specify an integrated management information system. Recommendations for the initiation of a management information system are also made together with a range of possible objectives. structured systems development is suggested to build a logical model that shows the interrelationship of data processing. The need for interactive system is developed together with the requirement of a structured approach based on a selection of objectives. Finally a system for main contractor control and for directly employed resource control is proposed.

In integrated CAD different techniques are used to model various features (informations, activities, data and data flow) of the problem domain. Because they model the same real world topic, all aspects developed using different techniques must be compatible and able to cooperate. Since most modelling techniques were developed independently, co-operation is not encouraged. We propose an object oriented modelling approach borrowed from object oriented software design that offers methods and notations for both static and dynamic aspects of state and behaviour of models and yields smoother development into implementations with object-oriented languages and databases. The paper discusses the motives, the details of the OO modelling approaches and an example from the domain of standards representation. It has been found out that particularly the introduction of the mechanism concept enables and forces us to think about new features of our models.