| Abstract |
This research project addresses the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Strategic Goal 13, Construction Hazard Prevention through Design, and specifically explores potential opportunities for integrating CHPtD into newly emerging design tools such as BIM (Research Goal 13.3.1). The literature indicates a lack of prevention through design (PtD) tools and an absence of processes that can enhance architects and engineer's capabilities to carry out construction hazard prevention through design (CHPtD) responsibilities. The study addresses the lack of baseline data on how existing PtD tools are used and where new tools such as BIM can assist the CHPtD project team. The specific aims of this research were (1) to characterize the current status of PtD being used by project design teams; (2) to identify current PtD tools and the extent of their usage by design teams; and (3) to identify the ability of BIM to stimulate the construction industry to integrate PtD use at all levels. This research studied the implications of BIM which is incrementally being incorporated into mainstream project design without a comprehensive understanding of its extensive effects. This research focused on working with industry leaders who participated in this study as subject experts and helped to identify other key individuals and case studies in PtD, to systematically examine CHPtD processes and needs for new tools. These key individuals involved a broad spectrum of experts from the U.S., U.K., Australia, from companies in architecture, engineering, and construction. Expert interviews, an industry survey, and case study research provided the primary means to investigate and document what type of PtD tools design teams use and how they are used. The study revealed that designers lack skillsets and knowledge of hazard identification and risk assessment in construction. However, risk analysis of maintenance and operability worker safety was an area that were led by or aspired to be led by designers. In the US, designers were interested in defining consolidated code checklist to assist their endeavors. This study confirmed that practitioners believe that BIM offers benefits to CHPtD processes. Best practice tools identified in UK, Australian case studies included design guides and case study repositories. Assessment of the impact of PtD tools and BIM needs involved hands-on exploration of relevant software to address BIM system requirements for CHPtD. Development of rule-based model checking applications were identified as immediate impact areas of BIM based CHPtD tools. This project also addresses Research-to-Practice goals by disseminating the findings of best practices in PtD processes and tools. Based on the development of a framework towards collaborative BIM for CHPtD, this project provides the basis for subsequent research to develop a design and planning platform for the creation of a set of CHPtD BIM procedures and tools. The ultimate goal of this research is to streamline BIM tools and PtD processes to enhance the use of CHPtD across the facility lifecycle and all major stakeholders.
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