Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2015
- December 31, 2018
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.01.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Civil engineering |
|
| 5.01.00 |
Social sciences |
Educational studies |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T002 |
Technological sciences |
Construction technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.01 |
Engineering and Technology |
Civil engineering |
civil engineering, construction, construction informatics, construction information technology, building information modelling, numerical methods, numerical modelling, cloud computing, grid computing, web services, education paradigms, scientific communication, technology transfer
Researchers (17)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Due to its impact on the built environment where people live and work, civil engineering is one of the industries where the development of technologies will have a significant impact on Horizon 2020 and global challenges. Construction informatics is linked to exponential developments in computing and is therefore that field of civil engineering where changes and benefits are potentially largest.
The most important technological development in civil engineering today is related to digitalization. The goal of E-Construction programme is to create knowledge and technologies for further digitalization of construction industry in all stages of the buildings’ lifecycle. The work is structured into four areas:
Area 1: Building information modelling (BIM). It creates a digital model of future or existing buildings that fulfils information needs in the entire life-cycle. We will study theoretical problems related to computer representation of the built environment well as technical problems related to data exchange in 5D space (3D space, time and money). Big Data technologies and concepts of Internet of Everything in the built environment will be developed.
Area 2: Numerical modelling. It enables effective and accurate “in-silico” simulations of behaviour of materials, structural elements and entire structures. Increasingly powerful computing infrastructures enable new theoretical models and computational algorithms. We will be reseaching these for civil engineering problems, including material models for different (traditional as well as advanced) structural materials, models for computation of limit load, limit ductility and stability of structures, models for studying localized failure of materials, heat transfer and shape optimization.
Area 3: Processing and communication infrastructures. They provide infrastructure for the above and at the same time enhance the quality of construction processes through better cooperation by the people. Web service, grid- and cloud-type infrastructures provide access to resources which otherwise would not be available to industries such as civil engineering or individuals. Digital track left by digitalized processes enables the study of relationships between actors in construction processes.
Area 4: Knowledge co-construction and transfer. Due to a large gap between possibilities offered by R&D and the actual use in the industry, special attention is given to studying the transfer of knowledge. Work will be dedicated to addressing the reform of teaching curricula, knowledge co-creation and transfer to practise and scientific communication.
The programme will be executed by the group, which has been one of the globally leading centres for construction informatics since the mid 1990s. This is demonstrated by the participation in and management of many EU projects, editing scientific journals, guest lectures and professorships at foreign universities, etc.
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 expected scientific contributions include:
· Information modelling: 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 will bring answers to questions about parsimonious levels of data entropy and explain real information needs of civil engineering on the basis of actual use cases.
· Numerical modelling: 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 will make use of advanced computational mechanics for the research in civil engineering. In particular, the group will use it in order to deal with various aspects of simulations of behaviour of structural materials and structures. The innovative research results are expected which will lead to further improvement of the usage of computational mechanics in civil engineering academic and practical environments.
· Processing and communication infrastructures: As an advanced user of processing and cooperation infrastructures the group will actively shape developments in these fields. The study of communications’ digital trails will bring 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 will be better explained. Newly emerging infrastructures will provide civil engineering access to extremely efficient computing resources if applicable, real time response and high level reliability and security.
· Knowledge co-construction and transfer: Methods of knowledge transfer and co-creation will be better understood. There will be 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 will be acquired.
Significance for the country
Due to its impact on the built environment, i.e. place where people work and live, civil engineering is a technology that will have a significant impact on solving major global challenges. These challenges are the central focus of EU’s Horizon 2020 as well. With its built environment quality, civil engineering participates in the global talent competition, therefore addressing the problem of globalization and demography; The majority of energy is used in buildings and traffic while its production influences global warming; The quality of buildings is critical for health and well-being of people. At the same time, civil engineering remains an important local industry with guaranteed 10 % share of gross domestic product.
Construction informatics is the field of civil engineering where changes and potential benefits are greatest. Being influenced by the exponential growth in ITC the developments in and around construction informatics has greatest potential for substantial cost savings and better quality. In particular in the light of the crisis of civil engineering in Slovenia, an intense digitalisation is part of its revival. We are observing that recent market developments are forcing it to seek for new knowledge and enhance its price efficiency, time effectiveness and product quality. This is seen in major construction investments in Slovenia in which experts from the proposed programme participate.
Specific contributions are the following:
· Information modelling: Unpredicted work and costs that plague construction contracts and public procurement are significantly lower due to information management and quality BIM models. In particular in the context of the new EU Directive on public procurement that introduces the concepts of “quality” and “life-cycle costing”, the BIM approach is crucial.
· Numerical modelling: An increasing interest for computer simulations that are based on computational mechanics is evident in many Slovenian engineering and technological companies. The cooperation with such companies will be strengthened, resulting in higher reliability and better resource use.
· Processing and communication infrastructures: Computer infrastructures provide access to high-end services also for companies that cannot afford their own infrastructures due to only occasional needs; many of such companies exist in civil engineering. Communication infrastructures provide efficient construction communication platform that is suitable for companies with different IT maturity.
· That the programme has an area dedicated to knowledge transfer shows by itself the importance we attribute to the impact on study and industry.
The group will continue with international post-graduate student cooperation and exchange in established European (e.g. Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan, TU Dresden) and US (e.g. Stanford University) universities.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2015,
2016,
2017,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2015,
2016,
2017,
final report
