Heesom, D and Mahdjoubi, L (2004) Trends of 4D CAD applications for construction planning. Construction Management and Economics, 22(2), pp. 171-182. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
Since the early 1990s, there has been a growing interest in four-dimensional computer aided design (4D CAD) for construction project planning. Commercial 4D CAD applications are becoming more accessible and the use of this technology allows the construction planner to produce more rigorous schedules. A review of the technical competencies of these packages highlights that most of the commercially available packages concentrate on the use of 4D CAD simulations for aesthetic visualization purposes. Very few packages offer the ability to carry out analytical tasks on the developed simulation and this is often left to the interpretation of the user. A thorough appraisal of emerging research developments in 4D planning highlights that this technology is employed for various applications; however, the amount of detail required in a 4D simulation is still ambiguous. A model is proposed to determine the attributes required for use with each of the various applications of 4D CAD simulations. Finally, various lines of future research are highlighted, including the need for improved use of data exchange standards and the automation of linking the construction tasks to the 3D CAD model.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction planning; four-dimensional CAD; simulation; visualization |
| Index terms: | 4D planning, appraisal, visualization, construction project, computer aided design, construction planner, aesthetic, data exchange, becoming, package, automation, construction planning, 4D simulation |
| Subjects: | visualization, contractual arrangements, construction planning, computational design, practitioner, philosophical process, factor and component analysis, design practice, data exchange, production management, automation and robotics |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Design Practice, Site Management, Project Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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