One potential goal of globalization for CIFE member companies is to stretch their virtual design and construction (VDC) modeling expertise horizontally across borders. This CIFE goal raises interesting questions.
- Is managing VDC in a global context largely the same as managing it in a domestic context? If it is not, then what aspects are different?
- How are differences in certain national contexts important to the implementation of global VDC?
The proposed research, through contrasting case studies on the implementation and benefits of 3D and 4D in the U.S., Europe and China , aims to provide initial answers to the above questions.
Research Goals
This proposed research attempts to contribute to the understanding of 3D/4D CAD implementations in the U.S., Scandinavia and China by:
- comparing their VDC implementation strategies and actions as well as expected and realized benefits;
- identifying and analyzing the relevant country context factors that influence the similarities or differences across nation.
Predicted Impact
- Practically contribute to the understanding of "how VDC is implemented globally?"
- Academically contribute to the formalizationof a framework for global VDC implementation
Research Update
Till March 2006, we have:
- Obtained preliminary findings of how VDC implemented differently in the U.S. from that in Finland;
- Updated the framework that currently consists of 4 main categories, 14 factors, and 74 measures;
- Developed three criteria to assess the descriptive power of this framework;
- Published one conference paper "An Analytical Model to Evaluate and Compare 3D Modeling Productivity on Construction Projects" for the 11th International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering;
- Been in the process of preparing a CIFE Technical Report " A Framework and Case Studies on the Implementation and Impacts of 3D/4D Modeling Across Projects".
Ju will visit Finland in April and May. The purposes of the trip are to:
- Update our research partners in Finland on the research results from the CIFE Seed Research (04-05);
- Conduct in-depth case studies on two Finnish Projects;
- Teach Finnish research partners how to use the framework to document and compare the practices of 3D/4D modeling across projects.
How is VDC Implemented Globally - Case Studies on the Implementation and Benefits of 3D/4D CAD in the U.S., Scandinavia and China