| Robert Amor's Publications in 2016 |
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Shastri, Y., Hoda, R. and Amor, R. (2016) Does the "Project Manager" still exist in Agile Software Development Projects?, Proceedings of APSEC 2016, Hamilton, New Zealand, 6-9 December, pp. 57-64. |
Abstract: The project manager has been a ubiquitous feature of traditional software development projects. However, agile software development (ASD) methods which emphasize self-organizing teams and rapid response to change have done away with the project manager's title. New job titles such as the scrum master and product owner have been introduced instead. It is unclear as to what extent the "project manager" is still encountered in the agile software industry. An online survey was posted out to agile special interest groups on popular social media platforms to discover the frequency of the job title "project manager" in agile projects. Analysis of the 97 responses from 31 countries around the world revealed that: a) the title of project manager is still widely used (67%); b) there is a correlation between the team size and presence of project manager such that there is a higher probability the project manager will be present in teams of 5-10 members and those over 25 members; and c) there is an inverse correlation between the co-location of a team and presence of project manager. Further research is needed to better understand why the project manager continues to be present on ASD projects and how their role may have changed.
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Dimyadi, J., Solihin, W., Eastman, C. and Amor, R. (2016) Integrating the BIM Rule Language into Compliant Design Audit Processes, Proceedings of CIB W78 2016, Brisbane, Australia, 31 October - 2 November, pp. 1-10. |
Abstract: Extracting the right information from Building Information Models (BIM) and Regulatory Knowledge Models (RKM) is a core activity in computer-aided compliance audit processes. Despite many research atempts, however, this has remained a challenging task. One reason is that BIM is necessarily a highly complex model. Representing all components of such a complex object as a building is a huge challenge. Equally complex is accessing existing regulatory knowledge from voluminous paper-based documents conveyed in natural language and not readily suitable for computer processing. Most regulatory knowledge can be represented as rules, but there are some that cannot be pre-defined and require human intervention and/or supplementary processes. Tis paper describes how BIMRL can be integrated into a computer-aided compliance audit framework and used as a companion, or an alternative, to RKQL to beter facilitate information gathering in the execution of CDP workflows Te study is based on two independent research projects recently looked at addressing these challenges. One project focused on the data management level and developed the BIM Rule Language (BIMRL) query system that enables efficient access to BIM and RKM data. Te other project focused on high-level Compliant Design Procedures (CDP) by utilising an open standard BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation)-compliant executable workflow model in conjunction with a purposebuilt domain-specific Regulatory Knowledge Qery Language (RKQL). To illustrate its potential application, a sample building model was chosen as a case study together with a set of performance-based compliance criteria from a compliance document of the New Zealand Building Code relating to fire safety in buildings.
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Poulitaival, T., Amor, R., Ghaffarianhoseini, A. and Park, K.S. (2016) Supporting BIM Adoption and Implementation - Case New Zealand, Proceedings of UK BIM Academic Forum Conference 2016, Glasgow, UK, 13-15 September, pp. 358-367. |
Abstract: There is a significant list of reported reasons for why the construction industry is not adopting Building Information Modelling (BIM), or delaying the decision to use BIM. The most common reasons, regardless of the global location, have been 'limited demand for BIM from clients or from other companies on projects', 'lack of standardised tools and protocols', and 'lack of expertise and insufficient training'. These barriers to adoption are also evident in New Zealand (NZ) context. This case study discusses the support mechanisms in place in NZ for wider BIM adoption and implementation. To address the barriers in New Zealand National Technical Standards Committee (NTSC) was established in 2012, BIM Acceleration Committee (BAC) and National BIM Education Working Group (NBEWG) in 2014. Members of the first two committees represent both industry and government. The National BIM Education Working Group has representatives from all tertiary institutes who have interest in BIM and wish to include it as part of their programmes. National Technical Standards Committee is overseeing the development of open industry standards for building and location data. BAC's main role is to increase the use of BIM in New Zealand by generating demand for BIM through client education and by enabling the industry. This is being done through training, networks and communication, and BIM guidelines and BIM project examples. NBEWG promotes integration of BIM into all architectural, engineering and construction programmes in New Zealand by providing national curriculum guidelines and guidance in adopting BIM curriculum. All three groups work in close collaboration, supporting each other and sharing resources to guarantee consistency of the BIM message from government to industry to education. An example of collaboration is evidenced by common training packages being prepared by a group of people from industry and tertiary education.
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D'Souza, M., McArthur, J. and Amor, R. (2016) Steel Framing Construction with AR Onsite, Proceedings of CIB WBC, Tampere, Finland, 30 May - 3 June, Vol 3, pp. 441-449. |
Abstract: New approaches to prefabricated steel framing are proving popular in both first world and third world countries. A container can be packed with a steel section fabricator and all materials required to construct the steel framing for a range of client specified building designs. Such a container can be delivered to a building site in even the most extreme and isolated locations to enable a building to be erected. However, especially in third world environments with a poorly trained workforce, it is possible to assemble the framing incorrectly (e.g., back to front sections) which can have negative consequences on the building's ability to withstand design loads. Steel section fabrication machines have the ability to print onto the steel sections that they roll, which provides a potential for more sophisticated handling of the framing construction process. In this project the use of fiducial markers on the steel framing is investigated as a means of serving the construction process as well as for quality assurance processes. Fiducial markers allow a virtual connection to be established between the BIM design model and the rolled element such that an Augmented Reality (AR) application can be used onsite to support both the construction, and quality assurance, processes. Low cost tablets were investigated as the AR environment to support visualization of framing design on top of the steel framing and to develop a quality assurance application. The impact of accuracy of marker placement, types of fiducial marker, rendering accuracy, field of view of cameras in different tablets, and ease of use were explored for the developed application.
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McMeel, D.J.J. and Amor, R. (2016) Knitting Patterns: Managing design complexity with computation, International Journal of Art, Culture and Design Technologies (IJACDT), 5(2), pp. 1-16. |
Abstract: Large software conglomerates like Trimble and Autodesk provide consumers with suites of software that perform many functions within the design and construction process. Communicating with software outside of the suite can be highly problematic as file types and communication protocols are proprietary and closed within that software family - the antithesis of interoperability). This is in stark contrast with emerging trends in consumer computing, where we find a rich ecosystem of devices and services facilitating a period of intense innovation. This paper documents original research that aims to implement communication beyond specific software suites and test, to what extent, wider software ecosystems revolving around open standards might be implemented within the design and construction domain. Our first test case-an agentbased dynamic simulation combining natural and built environmental components-is deployed to explore the city as a multitude of interrelated natural and built patterns. We analyze the role this simulation might play in managing the complexities of rebuilding a sustainable urban environment after the devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. The second test case deploys an iPad application to communicate with a BIM model - exploring the development of a mobile application and methodology for openly communicating outside of the intended software family. Through these case studies we begin to identify ways to leverage emergent device and data ecosystems and representations for 'knitting' devices and services together in innovative ways to advance design and construction processes.
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Dimyadi, J., Pauwels, P. and Amor, R. (2016) Modelling and Accessing Regulatory Knowledge for Computer-Assisted Compliance Audit, ITcon, 21, http://www.itcon.org/2016/21, pp. 317-336. |
Abstract: The ingredients for an effective automated audit of a building design include a building model containing the design information, a computerised regulatory knowledge model, and a practical method of processing these computable representations. There have been numerous approaches to computer-aided compliance audit in the AEC/FM domain over the last four decades, but none has yet evolved into a practical solution. One reason is that they have all been isolated attempts that lack any form of industry-wide standardisation. The current research project, therefore, focuses on investigating the use of the industry standard building information model and the adoption of open standard legal knowledge interchange and executable workflow models for automating conventional compliant design processes. This paper provides a non-exhaustive overview of common approaches to model and access regulatory knowledge for a compliance audit. The strengths and weaknesses of two comparative open standard knowledge representation approaches are discussed using an example regulatory document.
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Dimyadi, J., Clifton, C., Spearpoint, M. and Amor, R. (2016) Computerising Regulatory Knowledge for Compliant Fire Engineering Design, ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 30(5), pp. 1-13. |
Abstract: Two common challenges in the computer-aided compliance audit of building engineering designs are being addressed in the current research. The first is to ensure that any form of computable representation is practical and relatively easy to use and maintain. The second is to ensure that performance-based regulatory compliance criteria, which are often qualitative in nature, are adequately addressed and correctly represented. This research proposes a method of automating manual compliant design procedures using an open standard executable workflow representation that can be specified and maintained relatively easily by a design engineer. This executable workflow is referred to as the Compliant Design Procedure (CDP) and can be described graphically using a subset of the open standard Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN). When executed in a computing environment, a CDP can guide the compliance audit process by checking a given design represented in a model view or subset of the BIM model, referred to as the Building Compliance Model (BCM), against the criteria in a digital building code, referred to as the Regulatory Knowledge Model (RKM), which is developed specifically for this purpose. This paper describes the process of modelling and encoding BCM, CDP and RKM, which are independent input components of the proposed compliance audit system framework. Supplementary human input and the ability to exchange input and output data with external simulation tools to solve some of the more complex qualitative criteria are important features of the framework.
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D'Souza, M., McArthur, J. and Amor, R. (2016) Steel Framing Construction with AR Onsite, Proceedings of CIB WBC, Tampere, Finland, 30 May - 3 June, Vol 3, pp. 441-449. |
Abstract: New approaches to prefabricated steel framing are proving popular in both first world and third world countries. A container can be packed with a steel section fabricator and all materials required to construct the steel framing for a range of client specified building designs. Such a container can be delivered to a building site in even the most extreme and isolated locations to enable a building to be erected. However, especially in third world environments with a poorly trained workforce, it is possible to assemble the framing incorrectly (e.g., back to front sections) which can have negative consequences on the building's ability to withstand design loads. Steel section fabrication machines have the ability to print onto the steel sections that they roll, which provides a potential for more sophisticated handling of the framing construction process. In this project the use of fiducial markers on the steel framing is investigated as a means of serving the construction process as well as for quality assurance processes. Fiducial markers allow a virtual connection to be established between the BIM design model and the rolled element such that an Augmented Reality (AR) application can be used onsite to support both the construction, and quality assurance, processes. Low cost tablets were investigated as the AR environment to support visualization of framing design on top of the steel framing and to develop a quality assurance application. The impact of accuracy of marker placement, types of fiducial marker, rendering accuracy, field of view of cameras in different tablets, and ease of use were explored for the developed application.
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Boonstra, S., van der Blom, K., Hofmeyer, H., Amor, R. and Emmerich, M.T.M. (2016) Super-structure and super-structure free design search space representations for a building spatial design in multi-disciplinary building optimisation, Proceedings of EG-ICE 2016, Kraków, Poland, 29 June - 1 July, pp. 1-10. [Best paper award]. |
Abstract: In multi-disciplinary building optimisation, solutions depend on the representation of the design search space, the latter being a collection of all solutions. This paper presents two design search space representations and discusses their advantages and disadvantages: The first, a super-structure approach, requires all possible solutions to be prescribed in a so-called super-structure. The second approach, super-structure free, uses dynamic data structures that offer freedom in the range of possible solutions. It is concluded that both approaches may supplement each other, if applied in a combination of optimisation methods. A method for this combination of optimisation methods is proposed. The method includes the transformation of one representation into the other and vice versa. Finally, therefore in this paper these transformations are proposed, implemented, and verified as well.
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Dimyadi, J., Amor, R. and Spearpoint, M. (2016) Using BIM to Support Simulation of Compliant Building Evacuation, Proceedings of EC-PPM 2016, Limassol, Cyprus, 7-9 September, pp. 511-518. |
Abstract: Buildings must have a means of evacuating their occupants at times of emergency such as in the event of a fire. Such a provision typically needs to conform to applicable regulatory requirements. For simple buildings, this is achieved by incorporating a set of prescriptive requirements into the design. For more complex build-ings, engineering analysis and simulation using advanced computational tools are often necessary to demon-strate conformance. This analysis and simulation process can be laborious if the required geometric and occu-pant data must be manually gathered from paper-based design information and relevant regulatory publica-tions. BIM can provide an effective sharing of building information for the simulation stage and the output from the simulation can be used for compliance audit. In this paper, we develop a process of sharing BIM data with a probabilistic network evacuation simulation tool and use the output from the tool to inform a computer-aided compliance audit framework.