By Randy Rapp, Soowon Chang, and Akram (Mina) Mahdaviparsa
School of Construction Management (Tech) Purdue University
As the restoration industry increasingly integrates sensor instruments and software to better locate and predict disaster damages to structures and their recovery costs, application of building information modeling (BIM) to structural drying seems to be a natural step in the evolution of restorative project management. Almost certainly, some readers were among the respondents to the Purdue-RIA survey of 2009, when Marty King, Pete Consigli, and Cindi Hereth collaborated with Purdue to vet and endorse the survey, which put us onto the path to a Certified Restorer® Body of Knowledge (CRBoK). RIA leadership has once again agreed to support Purdue’s effort to discover by what means and how readily newer technologies might best be developed and adapted to restoration industry needs.
Building information modeling has been with us for the past generation. Computer assisted design, which has been widely used the past 40 years, was further enhanced to include characteristics of building components powered by parametric modeling techniques, so that more complete information is used for planning. Say, a steel beam of a digital drawing includes not only its dimensions but also assigns values to every structural component to enhance construction management in terms of weight, cost, and labor effort, too. BIM draws owners, designers, and contractors to work more collaboratively. It requires more effort early in the project cycle, so that BIM saves time and money during the construction phase. Even decades ago, improved planning was calculated to save from four to eight times its cost in reduced conventional construction errors and improved economics. It is not unreasonable to expect good economic benefits for restoration, as well, when BIM can be adapted to requirements. This was the thought behind making sure the CRBoK included BIM within its Building/Site Information section of the Management Knowledge arm.
Where might the use of BIM for water loss restoration lead? Initial mapping of readily observable water damage can lead to prediction of its source and where migrating moisture might spread, whether by gravity or capillarity, and the components that will be damaged. This prediction will be based on building characteristics provided by BIM about structural configurations and material properties, assisted by artificial intelligence (AI). Water damage and drying chamber dimensions supplemented with specifications for available equipment might enable the BIM/AI interface to suggest an optimal equipment plan and drying strategy for restoration projects. It seems buildings of more complex design will most benefit from this potential capability. To guide the effort, data about how restoration professionals learn, work with, and view technological applications will be helpful. This is where the survey comes in.
Purdue’s Institutional Review Board carefully reviewed the survey to ensure it protects the rights and welfare of respondents (IRB # 2023-848). Besides questions about technology and interactions with it, the survey seeks typical demographic data and requires 12-15 minutes to complete. If the history of technology is a guide, then industry practitioners, not university researchers, will probably be the people who quickest learn to adapt BIM to its most effective restoration uses and to enhance its economic benefits.
Prof. Soowon Chang leads the research team investigating this opportunity since August 2022. Ms. Mina Mahdaviparsa, MSCM, applies her construction industry experience to this graduate work. Her efforts have been partly paid from funds donated to Prof. Randy Rapp for academic work to benefit the restoration industry.
Survey link
https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d1qXR7lshcDXsai
Related Posts
