Alhamami, A (2021) Standardized qualification framework for achieving energy efficiency training for BIM. PhD thesis, Cardiff University, UK.
Abstract
The European construction sector is facing unprecedented challenges to achieve ambitious energy efficiency objectives and generalize near-zero energy buildings during an economic crisis that is dominated by reduced investments, and a search for cost effectiveness and high productivity. Moreover, the industry is experiencing a digital revolution and the Building Information Modelling (BIM) approach has been gaining interest across Europe. The member states of the EU have implemented many different approaches through regulations and maturity targets, which have to constantly face the traditional low-tech and informal practices of construction businesses. This fragmented sector is dominated by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). In addition, the qualifications of the current construction workforce are not good enough to satisfy the work-related demand. The main courses have concentrated on construction and design, while training courses target more technical participants. This research aims to leverage the take-up of information communication technology and BIM by introducing a significant upgrade for the qualifications of the EU construction workforce. This research aims to pave the way towards a fundamental step change in delivering systematic, measurable, and effective energy-efficient buildings through BIM qualifications to handle construction projects with a view to effectively address European energy and carbon reduction targets. It also aims to promote a well-skilled leading generation of decision makers, practitioners, and blue-collar workers in BIM for energy efficiency. The principal output of this research is a standardized qualification framework that includes: (1) a skills matrix related to BIM and energy efficiency, harmonized thanks to the European Qualifications Framework standard, to assess and support energy efficient handling of BIM projects, and (2) a skills map that will help to widely distribute the BIM skills required during the project lifecycle to achieve energy efficiency based on the Royal Institute of British Architects Plan of Work.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction sector; skills; workforce; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; building information modelling; communication; lifecycle; training; Europe; energy efficiency; productivity; construction project; investment; regulation; architect |
| Index terms: | step-change, cost-effectivenes, face, regulation, practitioner, zero-energy building, construction project, plan of work, construction sector, carbon reduction, Europe, qualification, energy efficiency, building information modelling, productivity, project lifecycle, Royal Institute of British Architects, lifecycle, architect, energy-efficient building |
| Subjects: | project delivery, sustainability and energy, profession, political science, information systems, industry analysis, economics, management, professional institution, operations management, psychology, practitioner, innovation studies, climate science, project completion, sustainable design, production management, educational resources, physical geography and landforms |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Geographical Context, Project Management, Education, Governance, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here