IT In The Building Industry - A U.S. Industry Perspective Dr. Vladimir Bazjanac Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory IT In The Building Industry - A U.S. Industry Perspective Dr. Vladimir Bazjanac Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Leader, IAI Technical Advisory Group

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Prologue: If Today Were... If today were July 6, 1899 If today were July 6, 1899 you would not have this in your office How would you do your job? Would you have your current job?

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Current information exchange Four apparent rules that govern the current information exchange in the U.S. building industry:Four apparent rules that govern the current information exchange in the U.S. building industry: Formally record only what is required or may be contested in the future Formally record only what is required or may be contested in the future Submit only what was requested Submit only what was requested Digest only what is immediately pertinent Digest only what is immediately pertinent Minimize cost (cash outlay) of the exchange Minimize cost (cash outlay) of the exchange These rules will vanish with industry- wide use of ITThese rules will vanish with industry- wide use of IT

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Recent developments and trends Internet and WorldWideWebInternet and WorldWideWeb High-performance, low-cost hardwareHigh-performance, low-cost hardware Increase in productivity with professional CAD softwareIncrease in productivity with professional CAD software Increase in productivity with other professional softwareIncrease in productivity with other professional software Non-professionals’ access to professional informationNon-professionals’ access to professional information Customers’ increase in expectations from the productCustomers’ increase in expectations from the product

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Internet and WWW Speedy access to information: one minute to download a document that will take more than one hour to readSpeedy access to information: one minute to download a document that will take more than one hour to read More information than can be readily comprehended: complex documents that often take more time to digest and absorb the information than the time availableMore information than can be readily comprehended: complex documents that often take more time to digest and absorb the information than the time available Unknown and unmapped sources of information: it may take longer to find the information than to digest itUnknown and unmapped sources of information: it may take longer to find the information than to digest it Continuous and rapid change in informationContinuous and rapid change in information Inexpensive distribution of information to multiple destinations: , lists, exploders, file transfer (ftp access)Inexpensive distribution of information to multiple destinations: , lists, exploders, file transfer (ftp access)

LBNL vb:1/7/99 New hardware High-performance, low-cost hardwareHigh-performance, low-cost hardware PCs that outperform workstations of a few years ago by orders of magnitudePCs that outperform workstations of a few years ago by orders of magnitude Inexpensive memory: allows efficient use of complex software (without paging)Inexpensive memory: allows efficient use of complex software (without paging) Cheap storage devices and large capacities: quick access to much more information, easy back-up and archivingCheap storage devices and large capacities: quick access to much more information, easy back-up and archiving LANs: connection of and access to multiple systemsLANs: connection of and access to multiple systems

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Productivity increase from CAD software Professional CAD software: allows a single individual to do what took 10 or more individuals only a few years agoProfessional CAD software: allows a single individual to do what took 10 or more individuals only a few years ago One change automatically includes adjustments to other affected informationOne change automatically includes adjustments to other affected information Global changes/corrections in documents: change of one instance results in changes of all instancesGlobal changes/corrections in documents: change of one instance results in changes of all instances Incorporation of multiple documents into one: addition of notes, comments, references, dates, etc. to drawingsIncorporation of multiple documents into one: addition of notes, comments, references, dates, etc. to drawings Master documents: documents that serve as the basis for other documents (no need to redraw or duplicate)Master documents: documents that serve as the basis for other documents (no need to redraw or duplicate) Multiplication, reduction and amplification of information: global and conditional copying, zoom-in, zoom-outMultiplication, reduction and amplification of information: global and conditional copying, zoom-in, zoom-out Multiple views: rotation, isometric projections, 3D viewsMultiple views: rotation, isometric projections, 3D views High resolution/high quality visualization: lighting effects, incorporation of photographs and renderingsHigh resolution/high quality visualization: lighting effects, incorporation of photographs and renderings New critical job classifications: CAD operator, data-base manager, communications officerNew critical job classifications: CAD operator, data-base manager, communications officer

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Productivity increase from other software Software that delivers technical answers in a fraction of time: quantitative support information, engineering information of various kind, cost dataSoftware that delivers technical answers in a fraction of time: quantitative support information, engineering information of various kind, cost data Simulation software: the simulation of system performance, of overall building performance, in section of time, over prolonged timeSimulation software: the simulation of system performance, of overall building performance, in section of time, over prolonged time

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Open access to professional information Easy access to information that in the past was accessible only by those who needed itEasy access to information that in the past was accessible only by those who needed it Mistreatment of professional information: taken out of context, misinterpreted, misrepresentedMistreatment of professional information: taken out of context, misinterpreted, misrepresented The “wrong information in wrong hands” syndrome: unrealistic expectations (cost, time, etc.)The “wrong information in wrong hands” syndrome: unrealistic expectations (cost, time, etc.)

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Customers’ increased expectation Increase in demand for value of invested moneyIncrease in demand for value of invested money Continuously changing building program/brief and useContinuously changing building program/brief and use Shorter and shorter pay-off cycleShorter and shorter pay-off cycle Diminishing concern with quality (declining willingness to pay for better quality)Diminishing concern with quality (declining willingness to pay for better quality) Increase in litigationIncrease in litigation Building viewed as an investment (concern with return on investment) Building viewed as an investment (concern with return on investment)

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Blueprint for IT in the building industry Analysis and synthesis of enormously large data bases: making use of all available/generated informationAnalysis and synthesis of enormously large data bases: making use of all available/generated information Distributed computing and data basesDistributed computing and data bases New tools to aid communication specific to the industryNew tools to aid communication specific to the industry Virtual buildings/environmentsVirtual buildings/environments Project-based virtual enterprisesProject-based virtual enterprises Interoperability for integration of available information Interoperability for integration of available information

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Benefits to other industries: Shell Findings from a Shell report that assessed the use of IT in process plant facilities: Findings from a Shell report that assessed the use of IT in process plant facilities: Current approaches to the exchange and sharing of information are very costly Current approaches to the exchange and sharing of information are very costly Good quality information plays a role to reduce costs and improve the effectiveness of a facility throughout its life Good quality information plays a role to reduce costs and improve the effectiveness of a facility throughout its life

LBNL vb:1/7/99 The impact on economy The 1994 Latham report challenged the UK building industry to achieve a 30% reduction of time and cost, partially through the use of ITThe 1994 Latham report challenged the UK building industry to achieve a 30% reduction of time and cost, partially through the use of IT 40% of the GNP in the U.S. involves buildings in some way40% of the GNP in the U.S. involves buildings in some way A mere 15% reduction in the cost of design, construction and operation of buildings amounts to 6% of the U.S. GNPA mere 15% reduction in the cost of design, construction and operation of buildings amounts to 6% of the U.S. GNP

LBNL vb:1/7/99 What is possible now Evolve to “digital” waysEvolve to “digital” ways Evolve in the ways you practiceEvolve in the ways you practice On the verge of automatic import- export of building geometry through Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) of the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI)On the verge of automatic import- export of building geometry through Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) of the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI)

LBNL vb:1/7/99 Industry-wide goal EFFORT TIME DESIGN WORKING DRAWINGS BID CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION CONTINUED SERVICES ERROR REDUCTION GMP NOWNOWFUTUREFUTURE