Towards an Integrated Approach to Infrastructure Damage Assessment in the Aftermath of Natural Hazards

Abstract

The world has witnessed an alarmingly increasing number of serious natural hazards. In the aftermath of a hazard, relevant authorities/agencies face, among others, the challenging tasks of rapidly evaluating and assessing the damages to infrastructures and restoring their essential functionality and operation. The availability of reliable, high-quality structural and operational/maintenance data of a structure and its health, before and after a natural hazard, can be instrumental in the rapid assessment of a damaged structure. We collectively refer, in this paper, to the existing as-built and facility operational information about a structure or an infrastructure asset represented respectively in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Infrastructure Asset Management (IAM) systems as Product Lifecycle Data (PLD). Arguably, PLD combined with other post-hazard condition assessment data can provide a more reliable and integrated solution for a rapid damage assessment of buildings and other critical infrastructures. Unfortunately, the application of PLD in this critical area has been unexplored in the literature, and the mapping between PLD and damage assessment methods is loosely investigated. In an effort to address this research gap, this paper provides a critical analysis of the most common structural damage assessment methods and explores the potential of combining them with PLD to provide more reliable, comprehensive, and integrated solution for damage assessment. Findings from this study could be useful for practitioners in selecting the most appropriate and effective methods to conduct damage and safety assessments of critical infrastructures. The study will also assist the further theoretical developments in the integration of PLD with different damage assessment methods.

Construction Theory for a Building Intelligent Operation and Maintenance System Based on Digital Twins and Machine Learning

“…Based on the physical entity of the building and its BIM model, this framework, combined with emerging technologies-such as BIM, Internet of Things, and intelligent sensors-applies intelligent algorithms-such as neural networks and decision trees-to establish a digital twin operation model consisting of geometric, physical, and behavioral aspects and rules. The model is divided into digital twin operation models of building structure, building equipment, and building energy consumption [28]. The data between Based on the physical entity of the building and its BIM model, this framework, combined with emerging technologies-such as BIM, Internet of Things, and intelligent sensors-applies intelligent algorithms-such as neural networks and decision trees-to establish a digital twin operation model consisting of geometric, physical, and behavioral aspects and rules.…”

“…The data between Based on the physical entity of the building and its BIM model, this framework, combined with emerging technologies-such as BIM, Internet of Things, and intelligent sensors-applies intelligent algorithms-such as neural networks and decision trees-to establish a digital twin operation model consisting of geometric, physical, and behavioral aspects and rules. The model is divided into digital twin operation models of building structure, building equipment, and building energy consumption [28]. The data between the digital twin O&M model and the physical building entity interact in real time and are stored according to the O&M model classification on the twin data platform.…”

A BIM-Based Method for Structural Stability Assessment and Emergency Repairs of Large-Panel Buildings Damaged by Military Actions and Explosions: Evidence from Ukraine

“…A wide range of tools has been developed to assess the state of damage to buildings as a result of natural disasters, which can partially be used to assess buildings damaged as a result of military actions [22][23][24][25]. For example, using the Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) method and its modifications [26], Product Lifecycle Data [27] for preliminary assessment of the technical condition of the building, using BIM modeling to evaluate the safety of a building [28], choosing a building strengthening strategy [29], or assessment of emergency risk for post-damage buildings [30].…”