Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) is the management of integrated multi-disciplinary performance models of design

Design

Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...

-construction

Construction

In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...

 projects, including the product (i.e., facilities

Facility

Facility may refer to:* An installation, contrivance, or other things which facilitates something; a place for doing something:** A commercial or institutional building, such as a hotel, resort, school, office complex, sports arena, or convention center...

), work processes

Workflow

A workflow consists of a sequence of connected steps. It is a depiction of a sequence of operations, declared as work of a person, a group of persons, an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms. Workflow may be seen as any abstraction of real work...

 and organization

Organization

An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...

 of the design - construction - operation team in order to support explicit and public business

Public works

Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...

 objectives.

The theoretical basis of VDC includes:

• Engineering
  Engineering
  Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
  
   modeling
  Scientific modelling
  Scientific modelling is the process of generating abstract, conceptual, graphical and/or mathematical models. Science offers a growing collection of methods, techniques and theory about all kinds of specialized scientific modelling...
  
   methods: product
  Product (business)
  In general, the product is defined as a "thing produced by labor or effort" or the "result of an act or a process", and stems from the verb produce, from the Latin prōdūce ' lead or bring forth'. Since 1575, the word "product" has referred to anything produced...
  
  , organization
  Organization
  An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
  
  , process
  Business process
  A business process or business method is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers...
  
  
• Analysis
  Analysis
  Analysis is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of it. The technique has been applied in the study of mathematics and logic since before Aristotle , though analysis as a formal concept is a relatively recent development.The word is...
  
   methods - Model-based design: including quantities
  Quantity
  Quantity is a property that can exist as a magnitude or multitude. Quantities can be compared in terms of "more" or "less" or "equal", or by assigning a numerical value in terms of a unit of measurement. Quantity is among the basic classes of things along with quality, substance, change, and relation...
  
  , schedule
  Schedule (project management)
  In project management, a schedule consists of a list of a project's terminal elements with intended start and finish dates. Terminal elements are the lowest element in a schedule, which is not further subdivided...
  
  , cost
  Cost
  In production, research, retail, and accounting, a cost is the value of money that has been used up to produce something, and hence is not available for use anymore. In business, the cost may be one of acquisition, in which case the amount of money expended to acquire it is counted as cost. In this...
  
  , 4D
  Spacetime
  In physics, spacetime is any mathematical model that combines space and time into a single continuum. Spacetime is usually interpreted with space as being three-dimensional and time playing the role of a fourth dimension that is of a different sort from the spatial dimensions...
  
   interactions and process risks, these are termed Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools
  Building Information Modeling
  Building information modeling is the process of generating and managing building data during its life cycle.BIM involves representing a design as objects – vague and undefined, generic or product-specific, solid shapes or void-space oriented , that carry their geometry, relations and attributes...
  
  
• Visualization methods
• Business metrics - within Business analytics
  Business analytics
  Business analytics refers to the skills, technologies, applications and practices for continuous iterative exploration and investigation of past business performance to gain insight and drive business planning. Business analytics focuses on developing new insights and understanding of business...
  
   - and a focus on strategic management
  Strategic management
  Strategic management is a field that deals with the major intended and emergent initiatives taken by general managers on behalf of owners, involving utilization of resources, to enhance the performance of firms in their external environments...
  
  
• Economic impact analysis
  Economic impact analysis
  Economic impact analysis examines the effect of a policy, program, project, activity or event on the economy of a given area. The area can range from a neighborhood to the entire globe...
  
  , i.e., models of both the cost
  Cost
  In production, research, retail, and accounting, a cost is the value of money that has been used up to produce something, and hence is not available for use anymore. In business, the cost may be one of acquisition, in which case the amount of money expended to acquire it is counted as cost. In this...
  
   and value
  Value (economics)
  An economic value is the worth of a good or service as determined by the market.The economic value of a good or service has puzzled economists since the beginning of the discipline. First, economists tried to estimate the value of a good to an individual alone, and extend that definition to goods...
  
   of capital investments

VDC Managed Project

"Virtual Design and Construction BIM models are virtual

Virtual

The term virtual is a concept applied in many fields with somewhat differing connotations, and also, differing denotations.The term has been defined in philosophy as "that which is not real" but may display the salient qualities of the real....

 because they show computer-based descriptions of the project. The BIM project model emphasizes those aspects of the project that can be designed and managed, i.e., the product

Product (business)

In general, the product is defined as a "thing produced by labor or effort" or the "result of an act or a process", and stems from the verb produce, from the Latin prōdūce ' lead or bring forth'. Since 1575, the word "product" has referred to anything produced...

(typically a building

Building

In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...

 or plant

Factory

A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...

 [and infrastructure]), the organization

Organization

An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...

that will define, design

Design

Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...

, construct and operate

Operate

"Operate" is a Dance-punk song written and recorded by Peaches. The song was released as a double limited vinyl A-side with "Shake Yer Dix" to promote the release of her second studio album Fatherfucker.-Song usage:...

 it, and the process

Business process

A business process or business method is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers...

that the organization teams will follow, or POP. These models are logically integrated in the sense that they all can access shared data

Concurrent data structure

In computer science, a concurrent data structure is aparticular way of storing and organizing data for access bymultiple computing threads on a computer.Historically, such data structures were used on uniprocessor...

, and if a user highlights or changes an aspect of one, the integrated models can highlight or change the dependent aspects of related models. The models are multi-disciplinary in the sense that they represent the Architect

Architect

An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...

, Engineering

Engineering

Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...

, Contractor

General contractor

A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...

 (AEC) and Owner of the project, as well as relevant sub disciplines. The models are performance models

Performance testing

In software engineering, performance testing is in general testing performed to determine how a system performs in terms of responsiveness and stability under a particular workload...

 in the sense that they predict some aspects of project performance, track many that are relevant, and can show predicted and measured performance in relationship to stated project performance objectives. Some companies now practice the first steps of BIM modeling, and they consistently find that they improve business performance by doing so."

Construction Industry BIM Tools and Methodologies Utilized by VDC

BIM Software Tools ArchiCAD ArchiCAD ArchiCAD is an architectural BIM CAD software for Macintosh and Windows developed by the Hungarian company Graphisoft. ArchiCAD offers specialized solutions for handling all common aspects of aesthetics and engineering during the whole design process of the built environment — buildings, interiors,...  from Graphisoft Graphisoft Graphisoft SE develops Building Information Modeling software products for architects, interior designers and planners. The company is headquartered in Graphisoft Park Budapest, Hungary. Graphisoft has subsidiaries in Germany, USA, UK, Spain, Japan and representative offices in Russia and Singapore... Building Explorer Building Explorer BuildingExplorer is a software product for the AEC industry, developed and marketed by -Introduction:Building Explorer is Building Information Modeling cost estimating software for Microsoft Windows that improves cost predictions of building information models by automating the entire virtual model... Autodesk Autodesk Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...  Navisworks JetStream 4D JetStream (software) JetStream is a 3D design review package for Microsoft Windows.Used primarily in construction industries to complement 3D design packages JetStream allows users to open and combine 3D models, navigate around them in real-time and review the model using a set of tools including comments, redlining,... Autodesk Autodesk Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...  Revit Revit Autodesk Revit Architecture often referred to as simply Revit is a Building Information Modeling software developed by Autodesk. It allows the user to design with both parametric 3D modeling and 2D drafting elements... Autodesk Autodesk Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...  AutoCAD Civil 3D Tekla Structures from Tekla Corporation Tekla Tekla Corporation is a software engineering corporation specializing in model-based software products for building and construction and infrastructure management. The company was founded in 1966. The headquarter is in Espoo, Finland, but there are offices all over the world... Advance Concrete Advance Concrete Advance Concrete is a computer-aided design software application developed by GRAITEC and used for modeling and detailing reinforced concrete structures in AutoCAD. Advance Concrete is used in the structural / civil engineering and drafting fields.... Advance Steel Advance Steel Advance Steel is a CAD software application for 3D modeling and detailing of steel structures in AutoCAD and automatic creation of fabrication drawings, bill of materials and NC files, developed by GRAITEC.- Features :... Microstation Microstation MicroStation is a CAD software product for 2- and 3-dimensional design and drafting, developed and sold by Bentley Systems. The latest versions of the software are released solely for Microsoft Windows operating systems, but historically MicroStation was available for Macintosh platforms and a...

VDC Related Methodologies Semantic integration Semantic integration Semantic integration is the process of interrelating information from diverse sources, for example calendars and to do lists; email archives; physical, psychological, and social presence information; documents of all sorts; contacts ; search results; and advertising and marketing relevance derived... Learning-by-doing Learning-by-doing Learning-by-doing is a concept within economic theory. It refers to the capability of workers to improve their productivity by regularly repeating the same type of action... Deductive-nomological model Scientific evidence Scientific evidence Scientific evidence has no universally accepted definition but generally refers to evidence which serves to either support or counter a scientific theory or hypothesis. Such evidence is generally expected to be empirical and properly documented in accordance with scientific method such as is... Hypothesis Hypothesis A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. The term derives from the Greek, ὑποτιθέναι – hypotithenai meaning "to put under" or "to suppose". For a hypothesis to be put forward as a scientific hypothesis, the scientific method requires that one can test it... Qualitative research Qualitative research Qualitative research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts. Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such... Quantitative research Quantitative research In the social sciences, quantitative research refers to the systematic empirical investigation of social phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to... Case-based reasoning Case-based reasoning Case-based reasoning , broadly construed, is the process of solving new problems based on the solutions of similar past problems. An auto mechanic who fixes an engine by recalling another car that exhibited similar symptoms is using case-based reasoning...

Case study Case study A case study is an intensive analysis of an individual unit stressing developmental factors in relation to context. The case study is common in social sciences and life sciences. Case studies may be descriptive or explanatory. The latter type is used to explore causation in order to find... Action research Action research Action research or participatory action research – is a reflective process of progressive problem solving led by individuals working with others in teams or as part of a "community of practice" to improve the way they address issues and solve problems. Action research is done simply by action,... Power of a method Power of a method In methodology, the power of a method is inversely proportional to the generality of the method, i.e.: the more specific the method, the more powerful.-Examples:very specific * confirm presence of blood with luminol;somewhat specific... Upper ontology within the Ontology Ontology Ontology is the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence or reality as such, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations...  domain Schema Diagram A diagram is a two-dimensional geometric symbolic representation of information according to some visualization technique. Sometimes, the technique uses a three-dimensional visualization which is then projected onto the two-dimensional surface...  representation Work breakdown structure Work breakdown structure A work breakdown structure , in project management and systems engineering, is a deliverable oriented decomposition of a project into smaller components. It defines and groups a project's discrete work elements in a way that helps organize and define the total work scope of the project.A work... Object-oriented programming Object-oriented programming Object-oriented programming is a programming paradigm using "objects" – data structures consisting of data fields and methods together with their interactions – to design applications and computer programs. Programming techniques may include features such as data abstraction,...

See also

Industry Foundation Classes Industry Foundation Classes The Industry Foundation Classes data model is intended to describe building and construction industry data.It is a neutral and open specification that is not controlled by a single vendor or group of vendors... Interoperability Interoperability Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to... List of computer vision topics Building Information Modeling Building Information Modeling Building information modeling is the process of generating and managing building data during its life cycle.BIM involves representing a design as objects – vague and undefined, generic or product-specific, solid shapes or void-space oriented , that carry their geometry, relations and attributes... Information model Information model An information model in software engineering is a representation of concepts, relationships, constraints, rules, and operations to specify data semantics for a chosen domain of discourse... Spacetime Spacetime In physics, spacetime is any mathematical model that combines space and time into a single continuum. Spacetime is usually interpreted with space as being three-dimensional and time playing the role of a fourth dimension that is of a different sort from the spatial dimensions... Metadata Metadata The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at... CIFE scope, time, cost software page

Linear scheduling method Linear scheduling method Linear Scheduling Method is a graphical scheduling method focusing on continuous resource utilization in repetitive activities. It is believed that it originally adopted the idea of Line-Of-Balance method.-Application:... Critical path method Critical path method The critical path method is an algorithm for scheduling a set of project activities. It is an important tool for effective project management.-History:... Vitruvius Vitruvius Marcus Vitruvius Pollio was a Roman writer, architect and engineer, active in the 1st century BC. He is best known as the author of the multi-volume work De Architectura .... construction management Construction management Construction Project Management is the overall planning, coordination and control of a project from inception to completion aimed at meeting a client’s requirements in order to produce a functionally and financially viable project that will be complete mingement is project management that applies... construction engineering Construction engineering Construction engineering is a professional discipline that deals with the designing, planning, construction, and management of infrastructures such as highways, bridges, airports, railroads, buildings, dams, and utilities. Construction Engineers are unique such that they are a cross between civil... List of project management topics Applied ontology Applied ontology Applied ontology involves the practical application of ontological resources to specific domains, such as biomedicine or geography. Much work in applied ontology is carried out within the framework of the semantic web...

Research Centers

• Carnegie Mellon University mosaic
• BIM at UTexas
• Stanford University Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) research
• UTexas Field Systems and Construction Automation Laboratory (FSCAL)
• Construction Information Technology Laboratory (CITL) at the Georgia Institute of Technology
• Real-time Automated Project Information and Decision Systems (RAPIDS) laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology
• Real-time and Automated Monitoring and Control (RAAMAC) laboratory at Virginia Tech
• Feniosky Peña–Mora Research Group at MIT