Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2014
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.01.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Civil engineering |
|
| 5.04.00 |
Social sciences |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T220 |
Technological sciences |
Civil engineering, hydraulic engineering, offshore technology, soil mechanics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.01 |
Engineering and Technology |
Civil engineering |
AEC, civil engineering, construction informatics, construction information technology, computer integrated construction, finite elements method, robotisation, engineering construction, construction management, project management, risk management, semantic web, web services
Researchers (21)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
We define e-construction as the building-construction sector where information and communication technologies are used in order to increase the efficiency, product quality and safety. The aim of the research programme is to develop these technologies, to study the consequences of their use and to incorporate them into practical engineering work in the following fields:
-Computer supported modelling, which enables better precision of construction analyses and implicate safer and more economic products.
-The use of e-technologies enables re-thinking of the industry organization; it enables better organisational, risk and knowledge management and will move construction industry closer to other knowledge based industries.
-The use of e-technologies is fundamentally changing the way of engineering communication as well as documentation which is increasingly more digital-based and semantically rich. Introduction and implementation of e-technologies also demands sufficiently qualified user.
Significance for science
Since the mid-1990s, the group has been one of the globally important centres of construction informatics with recognised scientific achievement. This is proven by publications in leading journals, continued participation (often of coordination or scientific-technical coordination nature) in EU FP projects (projects of more than 1 100 000 EUR in the last five years), memberships in editorial boards of journals (more than 20 in the last five years) and international congresses (several dozen). The group was one of the few centres that defined construction informatics as scientific discipline in international context. The paper the coordinator wrote was awarded “Top Cited Paper “ by Advanced Engineering Informatics journal. Topic 1) Numerical simulation of structural and material behaviour. With continuous improvements in computational infrastructures, computer simulations are becoming the third pillar – the first two being theoretical modelling and experimental testing – supporting advanced research in engineering. In that context the group has made use of advanced computational mechanics for the research in civil engineering. In particular, the group used it in order to deal with various aspects of simulations of behaviour of structural materials and structures. The innovative research results are leading lead to further improvement of the usage of computational mechanics in civil engineering academic and practical environments. Topic 2) Structured and semantic data. We are achieving better understanding of ontological and epistemological problems related to the representation of the built environment. Namely, BIMs are one of the semantically richest problem areas, characterized by a large variety of concepts. The study of data exchange problems brought answers to questions about parsimonious levels of data entropy and explained real information needs of civil engineering on the basis of actual use cases. A conceptual framework for the understanding of technology, BIM Cube was designed. Topic 3 and 4) Internet and communications in construction and Advanced engineering computing environments: As an advanced user of processing and cooperation infrastructures the group was actively shaping developments in these fields. The study of communications’ digital trails brought empirical answers regarding who, how and why communicates and participates and better insight into how construction processes are really conducted. With Internet science methods, the technology's impact of society through construction products and environment was be better explained. Newly emerging infrastructures are providing civil engineering access to extremely efficient computing resources if applicable, real time response and high level reliability and security. Topic 5) Knowledge transfer. Methods of knowledge transfer and co-creation are better understood. There is more information on how open access promotes the development of science. New understanding of how to transfer new knowledge to students and practice and how technologies, improved reality, virtual reality, tangible interfaces, etc. influence it was acquired.
Significance for the country
The program was aligned with the Strategic agenda of European Technological Platform and covers the following major fields of the platform: (1) value added services; (2) industrialization; (3) Digital models; (4) intelligent construction and building; (5) interoperability; (5) support for collaborative work; (6) knowledge sharing and increase in productivity; and (7) support with the information and communication technologies and transfer into practice. The program was also aligned with the Slovenian Development Strategy that encourages global competitiveness, innovation, use of ICT, learning, training and investments into R&D. Similar role has ICT in national R&D programme and reforms under Lisbon strategy. Research program eConstruction applies this horizontal priorities related to the use and advancement of ICT to construction sector. The specific impacts include: • Industry has been given a more precise tools for the in- silico experimentation with materials and structural solutions. Various industries showed interest, including, for example, the manufacturers of prefabricated houses. • State of the art knowledge of information modelling was applied at the construction of the complex of buildings - Faculties of Ljubljana University. Through this process a larger number of companies was exposed to the to the advantages of this technology . • High throughput computing infrastructure was made available to local research community and industry. We engaged Slovenian industry in the framework of EU projects, where, as an academics, we have been partners for a long time. • We have made a decisive contribution to the National Competence Center TIGR , which was set up by the best researchers and the best companies in the field of sustainable construction. • New discoveries in the field of knowledge transfer were put to use in the teaching process at the FGG and is also having an impact on the culture of scientific publications of the Faculty staff.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
