Digital fabrication, BIM and early contractor involvement in design in construction projects: a comparative case study

Abstract

Digital Fabrication (DFAB) is a systemic innovation with low adoption rates in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) projects. Managing requirements of a new design process is one major challenge for the increased DFAB adoption. For other types of innovations, practices such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) improve design management by integrating process, information and organisation in construction projects. In theory, BIM and ECI could improve design management and increase the adoption of DFAB. However, the relationship between DFAB, BIM and ECI has not yet been studied thoroughly. There is a need to understand new paradigms of DFAB design management in regard to process integration, information integration and organisational integration. This study undertakes a comparative study of four DFAB adoptions in AEC projects with varying levels of BIM and ECI implementation. The design processes of DFAB are traced using swimlane process diagrams. From this, relationships between DFAB, BIM, and ECI are derived using a quadripartite interrelationship diagram. This work illustrates the proposed relationships in DFAB adoption in design using a fishbone diagram. This work concludes with potential future research in design management for digital fabrication, including five takeaways for practitioners to adopt and manage DFAB in the design process of construction projects.

Developing a conceptual framework for the application of digital twin technologies to revamp building operation and maintenance processes

“…According to [51,52]; illustrative case studies serve primarily to make the unfamiliar familiar and to give readers a common language about the topic in question. The same approach has been performed in construction-related studies of a similar nature, such as [53][54][55]; and [56]. For instance [56], used four polar-type illustrative case studies to examine the workflows of application of digital fabrication, BIM and early contractor involvement that improve design management in construction projects.…”

“…The same approach has been performed in construction-related studies of a similar nature, such as [53][54][55]; and [56]. For instance [56], used four polar-type illustrative case studies to examine the workflows of application of digital fabrication, BIM and early contractor involvement that improve design management in construction projects. It is considered useful to help this study to demonstrate the empirical relevance of a theoretical proposition concerning the DT concept and its adoption in the real world when relevant, and representative use cases are identified, compared and synthesized.…”

Designing for Digital Fabrication: An Empirical Study of Industry Needs, Perceived Benefits, and Strategies for Adoption

“…While the majority of scholarship on digital fabrication focuses on technical implementation, a growing number of recent studies have started to explore the specific management processes required to adopt digital fabrication in construction (Bock 2015). Literature such as Bock and Linner (2015) and Ng et al (2021) suggest Robot-Oriented Design and Design for Digital Fabrication (DfDFAB) to foster a rethinking of the design process and integrate process, organization, and information for adopting digital fabrication.…”

“…They include data information sharing (technological), data ownership (contractual), and the need for workforce training (organizational). Moreover, Hall et al (2020), Pan (2019), andNg et al (2021) compare various digital fabrication adoption cases in current practice through multiple-case-study methods and explore the circumstances of adopting digital fabrication.…”

“…For technical development of digital fabrication, literature discusses fabrication information, motivation for digital fabrication, digital twin in digital fabrication provision, as well as the requirements in the design process for design modeling, design review, and design documentation. For example, Ng et al (2021) identifies that specific fabrication information (e.g., codes and specifications) is required during the design process that includes modeling, review, and documentation in the studied cases; Bock (2015) also reveals that the industry adopts digital fabrication for various motivations such as productivity and cost-effectiveness. Hall et al (2020) presents digital systems integration that enables configuration and kit-of-parts for product optimization.…”