The architecture, engineering, and construction sector requires carbon-intensive materials, such as steel, in the construction process and generates a large amount of waste in the life cycle. This causes global warming and waste problems. The demand for the reuse of construction materials is increasing, although it is not the convention, to reduce the environmental impact. Although the sustainable effect of the reuse of materials has been proven in several studies, materials are not always reused in practice, owing to the lack of an information system for reusable materials and the economic uncertainty. In this study, we propose a framework for designing structures using reusable steel beams. The design framework consists of a material bank and a design support tool. The material bank provides information on reusable materials based on the building information modeling. The design support tool generates efficient material procurement plans and provides information about the environmental and economic impact of the project. In a case study used to verify the framework, CO2 emissions were reduced by up to 77% through material reuse, which was consistent with the results of previous studies. However, owing to the cost of processing reusable materials, the overall cost was found to increase by up to about 40%. Therefore, an economic analysis over the entire life cycle when using reusable materials needs to be done.
Noise barrier tunnels (NBTs) comprise prefabricated components that are easily replaceable, reusable, and have the capacity to improve performance when applied to components as their replacements. Reusing NBTs is more price competitive and environmentally friendly than producing new components. However, determining the remaining life of components before they need to be dismantled, using existing NBTs and their maintenance methods, is a considerable challenge. Therefore, this study used a prototype of the digital twin of an NBT to predict the condition and life of tunnel components using numerical behavior analyses. The prototype of the digital twin used in this study could be used to analyze behaviors using a gyro sensor, thereby enabling life analyses. Girders are structural components that have shorter life expectancies than components close to the ground. Component analysis results indicated that our proposed method confirmed changes in the life of girders and column components. Moreover, a negligible change in the life of the purlin component was confirmed. Life cycles management using digital twins can help reduce NBT installation costs, facilitate resource recycling, and make the installation process eco-friendly as they can aid in identifying components that require replacements in the initial designing stage and establish a procurement plan.
ABSTRACT:The essential role of design process visualization is to capture and represent design information as well as the change of design objects to keep track of reasons behind decision-making activities. The most prominent benefit of BIM, among its wide-spectrum potentials, would be that it made possible to consider simulated building performances such as energy efficiency for critical decision-making criteria even during the early stages of design project. Advanced design process visualization centered around BIM calls for reflecting performance-oriented design information generated from the various simulation tools from the early stages of building project. This will certainly demand a different approach in terms of process modeling and representation strategies. This paper introduces a visualization tool addressing these issues. It is on the top of an Open BIM Server to manage evolving IFC data model in a systematic way, integrating quantitative design data generated from performance evaluation tools. A data model was developed to represent the design process composed of evolving versions and alternatives interwoven with decision-making factors. The system, with its timeline-based interactive user interface, will give a better insight into the design process and easy access to the reasons behind decision-makings in an intuitive way.
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