fu, C; Kaya, S and Aouad, M K G (2007) The development of an IFC-based lifecycle costing prototype tool for building construction and maintenance: Integrating lifecycle costing to nD modelling. Construction Innovation, 7(1), pp. 85-98. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose – This paper intends to focus on interoperability issues in IT-based the lifecycle costing (LCC) applications and on improving LCC decision making based on cost performances of various options of constructing techniques and materials, excluding energy calculations. Design/methodology/approach – This project mainly is an IT development project based on industry foundation classes (IFC) models. The LCC tool is fully compliant with the system architecture of the nD modelling tool, and is based on the integrated nD modelling interfaces, which are IFC compliant and integrated with an interactive virtual reality environment. The functions of the LCC tool also provide integrated costs, database management and automatic calculations of some complicated LCC algorithms. Findings – The advantages identified are as follows: First, this IFC-based LCC tool demonstrates the interoperable delivery of building design information across different CAD systems. Second, the development techniques adopted in this case are more practical and cost- effective due to the easily accessible auxiliary tools. This also promotes the flexibility of the IFC-based development. Research limitations/implications – The lack of real historical data of LCC collected from previous projects is still a major barrier to applying this tool in practice. The future research and development of this LLC tool will look at the lifecycle costing of building service and energy consumption. Originality/value – The paper introduces the development of IFC based applications in lifecycle costing.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | decision making; life cycle costs; modelling |
| Index terms: | decision-making, methodology, system architecture, research and development, cost performance, prototype, building construction, life cycle cost, virtual reality, energy consumption, industry foundation classes, lifecycle, modelling, costing, option, interoperability, building service, building design, nD modelling, database |
| Subjects: | systems and processes, decision analysis, research management, building construction, data management, digital design, economics, accounting and finance, research methods, architectural design, analytical methods, project delivery, energy systems, modelling and simulation, engineering systems, virtual reality, design theory, computational design |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Cost Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Project Management, Digital Applications, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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