4D CAD Application Examples and Directions for Development in Civil Engineering Projects

Joong-Min Kwak 1, Gwang-Yeol Choi 2, Nam-Jin Park 3, Hwa-Jin Seo 4 and Leen-Seok Kang 5+ 1 General Manager, Dept. of Project Management., GeoNT Co. Ltd., Korea,

2, 3, 4 MSc Student, Dept. of Civil Eng., Gyeongsang National University, Korea 5 Professor, Dept. of Civil Eng., Gyeongsang National University, Korea

Abstract. Recently, due to the growing interests in BIM, 4D CAD is being applied to a practical business of construction as a supporting tool for BIM. However, because some features of 4D CAD, which is being utilized in construction site, is only being used for visual representation of schedule information on site, those features of 4D CAD are not providing the advantages that can be applied practically in construction site. Therefore, the aim of this study is to suggest the extended functions and the future directions for 4D CAD with several effective application cases of 4D CAD so that the application of that can be efficiently improved.

Keywords: 4D CAD, BIM, 4D CAD Application Examples

1. Introduction With the growing interest in building information modeling (BIM) and the broader application of this

and other technologies to architectural fields, 4D CAD, which has been widely applied since the late 1990s, is increasingly becoming established as one of the basic technological fields for BIM. This broadened awareness of BIM is very encouraging in the sense that the BIM technique, which can enhance the efficiency of construction industries, is being utilized more widely. There have also been numerous reports that 4D CAD facilitates the visual examination of schedule simulation and progress management issues, which are not easily detected in 2D drawings and schedule chart. Thus, it serves as an important tool for supporting the decision-making process.

Some 4D CAD-applied sites, however, have unsuccessfully leveraged the advantages of 4D technology except for the visual expression of schedule it offers, as conventional 2D drawings and progress data are sufficient for forecasting and managing the schedules used at these sites. Wide-ranging needs are emerging from them, as the general functions of 4D CAD fail to bring significant benefits. Hence, more extended functions of 4D CAD are being developed and applied against this backdrop.

This paper aims to introduce several effective 4D application examples in Korea and around the world and discuss the implications of the technologies used as well as the future directions for 4D technology.

2. 4D application examples in civil engineering projects

2.1. Characteristics of 4D CAD in civil engineering projects Given the characteristics of infrastructure, civil engineering project has several aspects that differ from

those used in general architecture and plant-based fields. Civil engineering project involves broad bands, long spans, earthworks, underground structures and water-handling facilities. These aspects give rise to various constraints in 4D implementation. The first two make it difficult to view the construction progress at

+ Corresponding author. Tel.: + 82 55 753 1713; fax: + 82 55 753 1713. E-mail address: Lskang@gnu.kr

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2011 2nd International Conference on Education and Management Technology IPEDR vol.13 (2011) © (2011) IACSIT Press, Singapore

a glance from a 4D Model, as construction work is undertaken sporadically on a large 3D model. An underground structure involves underground construction work, especially in the case of a tunnel, with lining, paving and other types of construction work conducted inside it that cannot be viewed without relocating the viewpoint inside once the short-crete — the outermost part of the structure — is completed. These characteristics require a special 4D implementation technique, as the construction projects would not be able to utilize the 4D effects found in other types of construction unless such needs are fulfilled.

2.2. 4D CAD application examples in civil engineering projects

2.2.1. Underground storage cavern base construction example

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a 4D implementation of actual excavation progress based on input data from overseas underground storage cavern base projects by schedule. In the case of underground excavation, the 3D model cannot be segmented in advance as the excavation lengths of the data input points can scarcely be used for forecasting, hence the need to implement a special function to express the actual excavation lengths. The implemented function may also be applied to other types of tunnel structures.

Fig. 1: 4D implementation reflecting actual excavation progress in underground storage cavern based on construction

work.

Fig. 2: Entering of actual excavation data from underground storage cavern base construction work.

2.2.2. Multi-purpose temporary facility construction example

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Figures 3 and 4 are 4D application examples for multi-purpose temporary facility construction projects in which tunnel structures are built at the bottom of existing bridges. The construction of the new structures should continue while the existing superstructures remain in use during the construction period; the construction of temporary facilities is done in two phases, undergoing complicated procedures (i.e., primary and secondary) in each phase. In this type of construction work, interruptions may occur even between temporary facilities depending on the time of installation and demolition. Aimed at examining the integrity and workability of the working design, this example successfully detected an error that may have been overlooked without 4D CAD implementation, as indicated in the figures. Figure 3 intuitively suggests that the construction of the primary temporary facility becomes impossible if the construction of part of the secondary temporary facility begins before the primary facility in the middle is completed.

Fig. 3: Schedule error examination example through 4D application to a multi-purpose temporary facility construction

project.

Fig. 4: Schedule error modification example through 4D application to a multi-purpose temporary facility construction

project.

2.2.3. Tele-presence application example

Figure 5 represents a 4D application example for an express railway construction project. This example employs tele-presence technology that interfaces the planned 3D model for the current point of time with a CCTV (IP camera) screen from the actual site with the same viewpoint as a 3D model. By linking the site with the 4D CCTV screen for remote site checking and management, the tele-presence function helped

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identify the current progress against the plan more realistically and intuitively and thereby enhanced the progress management effects of 4D CAD.

Fig. 5: Tele-presence application example for an express railway construction work (bridge parts).

2.2.4. 4D application examples for other civil engineering projects

4D CAD has been applied to other civil engineering projects as well, such as road tunnels, stream improvements, subway construction, bridge construction, express railway construction and water wall construction. For each of the facilities, various field demands for 3D and 4D CAD have been embraced to develop/apply relevant functions and methodologies.

3. Directions for 4D CAD development in civil engineering projects 4D CAD has already been applied or is being applied to a considerable number of civil engineering

projects, thus raising the requirements and expectations of construction technicians managing and running the sites. In this sense, the greatest challenge ahead of us would be finding ways to identify and meet the needs reflecting various field characteristics and hidden demands as well as those related to basic schedule simulation and progress management activities. Unlike in architecture and plant-based fields, which are more structured fields, construction work in the field of civil engineering projects involves a wide variety of projects (e.g., roadways, railways, underground structures, housing sites, and stream and dam construction) with different characteristics. 4D CAD application to these projects does not bring about uniform effects, making it relatively difficult to apply 4D technology to civil engineering projects.

For the future development of 4D technology in civil engineering projects, technologies that may prove to be effective should be developed and systemized in terms of project type and scale and should be grouped into packages to enhance their usefulness upon application to their respective fields. When taking this approach, it becomes crucial to develop and use measures that can provide the management functions required each individual characteristic of a civil engineering project. For instance, the 4D implementation of a broad band or a long span, which cannot be handled on a single screen, and the development of lightweight models for large projects would be challenges for 4D technology in civil engineering. Such applications should be addressed as a top priority.

4. Construction 4D CAD is simply one of many tools for the successful implementation of construction projects

including civil engineering projects; it is neither an essential technology nor a fix-it-all instrument for construction management. What is clear here, however, is that the application of 4D technology to construction sites will prove successful only when the tool is proactively leveraged in a way tailored to individual sites with its effects fully understood. Amid growing interest in BIM and the active discussion

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about its benefits, construction technicians and other stakeholders should develop and apply technologies and methodologies for the implementation of BIM.

5. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Construction and Transportation of Korea for financially

supporting a part of this research under 2007 R&D program.

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[3] Ning Gu and Kerry London. Understanding and facilitating BIM adoption in the AEC industry. Automation in Construction, 2010, 19: 988–999.

[4] L.S. Kang, H.S. Moon, and S.B. Ji. Application of 4D CAD System for Highway Construction Project. AATT 2008. Athens, Greece. 2008.

[5] T. Olofsson, R. P. M. Jongeling, and S. Woksepp. The use of Virtual Reality in a large scale industry project. CIB W78 22nd Conference on Information Technology in Construction, 2005.

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[7] L.S. Kang, H.S. Moon, J.S. Moon, and C.H. Kim. Development of VR Simulation Functions for Supporting Optimal Design Information in Road Project. CONVR 2008. Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia. 2008.

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