Bansal, V K and Pal, M (2009) Extended GIS for construction engineering by adding direct sunlight visualisations on buildings. Construction Innovation, 9(4), pp. 406-419. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose – The applications of geographic information systems (GIS) are described in the civil engineering literature for generation, visualisation and evaluation of the construction schedule. GIS use is also explored for construction quantity takeoffs and cost estimation. The purpose of this paper is to supplement the already explored capabilities of GIS in construction by providing the methodology for direct sunlight visualisation on buildings. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed methodology for direct sunlight visualisation is to calculate the solar angles and use them for spatial distribution representation of the amount of sunlight received on different faces of a building by rendering it with the colour of varied gradients. The colour gradient on any face of a building depends upon the amount of direct sunlight received. The solar gain is demonstrated through the multi-dimensional data visualisation like sun angle variations with diurnal and annual cycles in a navigable 3D animation. Findings – GIS-based methodology provides the planner a way to control the natural lighting and solar gain on a building which can be combined with the project schedule, quantity takeoffs, cost estimate and 4D visualisation in a single environment. Beginning with this idea, the planner may store and share information about a construction project, site and surrounding geography. Originality/value – Most of the existing 4D CAD technologies do not have project management capabilities and are used mainly for the planning and design stage of a construction project. In comparison, GIS-based tools may be used in different stages. These are more management-based and allow more collaborative and cooperative relationships between designer, constructor and client. By using a GIS-based approach, construction documents like schedules, drawings, quantity takeoffs, cost estimates, project specifications and direct sunlight visualisations are more consistent with each other.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; geographic information systems; project management |
| Index terms: | drawing, face, data visualization, sunlight, specification, cost estimating, visualization, variation, methodology, construction project, documents, design stage, 4D visualization, designer, spatial distribution, sun, construction industry, cost estimate, geographic information system, project management, construction engineering, planner |
| Subjects: | profession, professional practice, geographical analysis, data science, renewable energy, energy systems, financial and cost management, psychology, technical documentation, visualization, production management, contractual condition, professional development, project management theory and practice, design practice, research methods, engineering methods, industry analysis, geographical techniques and analysis |
| Topics: | Contract Administration, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Cost Management, Engineering Principles, Information Management, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management |
| 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