Keskin, B (2021) A building information modeling (BIM)-centric digital ecosystem for smart airport life cycle management. PhD thesis, Syracuse University, USA.
Abstract
An increasing number of new airport infrastructure construction and improvement projects are being delivered in today’s modern world. However, value creation is a recurring issue due to inefficiencies in managing capital expenditures (CapEx) and operating expenses (OpEx), while trying to optimize project constraints of scope, time, cost, quality, and resources. In this new era of smart infrastructure, digitalization transforms the way projects are planned and delivered. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a key digital process technique that has become an imperative for today’s Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) sector. This research suggests a BIM-centric digital ecosystem by detailing technical and strategic aspects of Airport BIM implementation and digital technology integration from a life cycle perspective. This research provides a novel approach for consistent and continuous use of digital information between business and functional levels of an airport by developing a digital platform solution that will enable seamless flow of information across functions. Accordingly, this study targets to achieve three objectives: 1- To provide a scalable know-how of BIM-enabled digital transformation; 2- To guide airport owners and major stakeholders towards converging information siloes for airport life cycle data management by an Airport BIM Framework; 3- To develop a BIM-based digital platform architecture towards realization of an airport digital twin for airport infrastructure life cycle management. Airport infrastructures can be considered as a System of Systems (SoS). As such, Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) with Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is selected as the key methodology towards designing a digital ecosystem. Applying MBSE principles leads to forming an integrating framework for managing the digital ecosystem. Furthermore, this research adopts convergent parallel mixed methods to collect and analyze multiple forms of data. Data collection tools include extensive literature and industry review; an online questionnaire; semi-structured interviews with airport owner parties; focus group discussions; first-hand observations; and document reviews. Data analysis stage includes multiple explanatory case study analyses, thematic analysis, project mapping, percent coverage analysis for coded themes to achieve Objective 1; thematic analysis, cluster analysis, framework analysis, and non-parametric statistical analysis for Objective 2; and qualitative content analysis, non-parametric statistical analysis to accomplish Objective 3. This research presents a novel roadmap toward facilitation of smart airports with alignment and integration of disruptive technologies with business and operational aspects of airports. Multiple comprehensive case study analyses on international large-hub airports and triangulation of organization-level and project-level results systematically generate scalable technical and strategic guidelines for BIM implementation. The proposed platform architecture will incentivize major stakeholders for value-creation, data sharing, and control throughout a project life cycle. Introducing scalability and minimizing complexity for end-users through a digital platform approach will lead to a more connected environment. Consequently, a digital ecosystem enables sophisticated interaction between people, places, and assets. Model-driven approach provides an effective strategy for enhanced decision-making that helps optimization of project resources and allows fast adaptation to emerging business and operational demands. Accordingly, airport sustainability measures -economic vitality, operational efficiency, natural resources, and social responsibility- will improve due to higher levels of efficiency in CapEx and OpEx. Changes in business models for large capital investments and introducing sustainability to supply chains are among the anticipated broader impacts of this study.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Salman, B |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | complexity; efficiency; optimization; sustainability; systems engineering; airport; natural resources; building information model; building information modeling; business model; capital expenditure; capital investment; data management; digital twin; infrastructure construction; integration; investment; life cycle; owner; stakeholders; cluster analysis; content analysis; statistical analysis; thematic analysis; case study; focus group; interview |
| Index terms: | decision-making, methodology, capital expenditure, integration, mapping, cluster analysis, value creation, thematic analysis, questionnaire, system-of-systems, social responsibility, infrastructure construction, digital technology, digital twin, complexity, triangulation, interview, framework analysis, capital investment, data analysis, digitalization, focus group, strategy, project constraint, content analysis, improvement project, life cycle management, business model, modelling, implementation, interaction, efficiency, building information modelling, case study, platform, mixed method, life cycle, owner, smart infrastructure, data management, transformation, statistical analysis, adaptation, systems engineering, natural resource |
| Subjects: | value management, control systems, computing systems, research design and methodology, business, data collection methods, data analysis and analytics, data science, methods and analysis, civil engineering, performance management, management, systems engineering, information systems, decision analysis, sociology, data management, organizational analysis, user focus, digital engineering, economic analysis, analytical methods, contractual arrangements, environmental resource management, digital technology, digital design, health safety and environment, production management, spatial and geospatial analysis, research methods, economic development, behavioral psychology |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Risk Management, Sustainability, Procurement, Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Quality Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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