Distributed Virtual Workspace for Enhancing Communication within the Construction Industry

The DIVERCITY Geometry Multiresolution Module (GMM) enables the DIVERCITY Lighting Application to speed up the computation of complex surface shapes in applications comprising highly tessellated models, using data such as that from 3D-CAD. GMM provides a variable accuracy interface to highly tessellated models. With this module, the core memory and time required to answer a geometric query are functions of the prescribed accuracy of the result, and not of the initial model tessellation. Simulations using this code therefore scale well when used with complex models. In particular, lighting simulation complexity is sub-linear in the number of input triangles. The work carried out within DIVERCITY multiresolution module task led to the following results: - Definition of algorithms and data structures for multiresolution handling of large tessellated models - Creation of a multi-platform software library that supports face-clustering and vector radiosity. The library has been implemented in C++ and runs on Linux, Silicon Graphics IRIX, and Win32 platforms - Definition of a higher order extension of the face cluster radiosity technique. - Definition of a technique for quickly rendering vector radiosity solutions using OpenGL register combiners extension; To our knowledge, no commercial system currently specifically addresses large tessellated models. The contribution given by the multiresolution module developed at CRS4 is thus a potential advantage over possible competitors.

Current methods of communicating building design information can lead to difficulties. Typically, these include incomplete understanding of the planned construction, functional inefficiencies, inaccurate initial work or clashes between components. By resolving the above difficulties, integrated software solutions based on visualisation and simulation technologies can bring significant improvements and cost reductions to the construction industry. The DIVERCITY project has secured funding from an EU Commission to explore new, cost-effective solutions for the construction industry. DIVERCITY has developed a toolkit of six software applications, which allow users to visualise and simulate aspects of a project during briefing, design and scheduling. The six applications are: - Client briefing; - Acoustics simulation; - Lighting simulation; - Thermal simulation (i.e. energy consumption); - "Constructability" simulation (titled Visual Product Chronology); - Site Analysis. These applications can be used independently, or simultaneously. They are also suitable for collaboration between end users who may be in different geographical locations. This handbook provides more detail on the DIVERCITY toolkit. If you are interested in using any part of DIVERCITY on your construction projects, please visit www.e-DIVERCITY.com. DIVERCITY applications are currently available for use on a consultancy basis. In the light of strong interest from construction companies, the applications will also be developed as off-the-shelf packages in the future. Using Divercity tools during the tendering stages of "prestige" projects, and in particular for communicating with clients, can improve your company's tender success rates and its image. As the tools become more established, and your business learns how to use them, they can also improve productivity in design and construction.

The communication layer provides an interface to distribute DIVERCITY's, and third party, applications. It is connected to the transaction manager that controls the user rights and authorisation. The main innovation of the communication layer is that it is based on new Internet technologies that provide: Secure communication. High compatibility with firewall/proxies. The communication layer is based on SOAP protocol (a network protocol based on XML format). The communication layer is a stand-alone layer that can be used by any application (so long as it has the appropriate interface) to communicate either in a client/server or in a peer-to-peer schema. The first protocol will be build upon the main framework. This layer is not restricted to the construction domain and can be useful for any distributed project.

Research has shown that the client briefing stage of the project lifecycle is vitally important to get right as it has a dramatic effect on the whole of the construction lifecycle. However, clients and potential users of the building often find it difficult to portray their requirements for a new facility to the design team. DIVERCITY aims to ease this difficulty by developing a virtual design workspace that enables clients, users and the design team to communicate their ideas to each other in a more understandable format. The workspace contains a set of tools that allow the development of a graphical building program, describing the semantics of the proposed building. This model allows the client and designer to consider the spatial needs and relationships and define them in a manner that makes them more accessible to the later stages in the design process. From the structured building program spatial layouts are developed. These represent conceptual sketches of the building form, developed in a 3D-modelling environment. Because these models are developed from the building program, analysis of the matching between clients' requirements and the conceptual design is possible, providing designers with quantitative measures that aid in refining the initial design. Once the layout has sufficient detail the user is able to export the 'space layout' file to a CAD application to enable the design to be taken further. DIVERCITY does not intend to develop a new CAD system so having the ability to 'export' the files between the client briefing application and the CAD packages using the IFC format was seen as a new way if allowing the CAD applications to be integrated into the DIVERCITY system.

This application allows users to assess both energy consumption and thermal comfort. Engineers can calculate the energy consumption of a building with respect to the architectural choices made (surface of glazing, orientation, etc.) and technical solutions considered (materials, etc.). Thermal comfort conditions are calculated in order to verify that comfort conditions are met throughout the building. Comfort conditions are represented in 3D, using colour coding. Hot zones are coloured in red and cold zones in blue. Main features of the thermal application include: - Changing weather conditions; - Changing building materials, e.g. walls, etc., on-line; - Performing fine or coarse simulations, e.g. hourly, monthly; - Controlling precision of thermal simulation; - Splitting the building into zones and allowing heating activity levels for each zone; - Viewing different results, e.g. temperature, humidity ratios, energy consumption, energy gains, and exploitation costs values; - Viewing the results in 3D.

Lighting simulation provides lighting engineers with a tool to determine the optimum lighting solution for a building. Its main innovation is that it provides an interactive interface allowing users to change the configuration of both light fittings and furniture in the rooms in near real-time. Users can walkthrough the building, as changes are made to the scene, and the new lighting solution appears progressively. If a light is modified or an object in a room is moved, the update of the lighting will be produced in an interactive time (less than 10 seconds, usually less than 5 seconds). Additional features of the simulation are: Multiresolution lighting: integration of multiresolution module (result 9) to provide a rapid update lighting solutions. Full collaborative working: Lighting engineers and all participants to this simulation can run the application at the same time on the same model but at distant sites. They are able to work collaboratively on the model, with updates to the model sent to other participants in real-time. The current release includes all these features but is only working with simple scenes. Future work aims to take into account complex geometries (curved walls for example), and to include textured scenes.

The site planning and analysis application comprises the following components: Site space analysis, Path analysis, Hazard zone definition, and Site layout optimisation. Space analysis enables the user to classify the various spaces on the construction site according to their relative importance in terms of visibility and accessibility. A visibility analysis prototype has been developed that identifies spaces on a construction site with higher degrees of visibility and accessibility. Hazard definition enables the graphical representation of risks/hazards zones surrounding various spaces in a construction site such as vehicles and cranes. Path analysis allows the user to generate paths for operatives/logistics according to distance and safety related criteria. The path computed is based on minimising the transportation cost, and whilst maximising visibility and safety. Site layout optimisation takes spatial, safety and other site layout related information, and produces enhanced site layout in which temporary facilities are located such that travelling distance and interaction with hazard zones is minimised.

The framework is based on a client/server type system, which provides a single client application that may be dynamically reconfigured to support the six DIVERCITY applications: Client Briefing, Thermal, Acoustic and Lighting Simulations, Visual Product Chronology, and Site Planning and Analysis. The client/server system supports the user needs for a collaborative environment; both as an asynchronous design workspace and as a synchronous interactive shared virtual design space. Clients can choose which applications they would like to use at any one time. This includes support for the relatively simple extension to user in-house, or third party, applications. In addition to supporting a dynamically re-configurable workspace the framework also provides a centralised runtime data repository. This repository supports the maintenance of multiple, linked semantic representations of the project data that allows the preservation of native application data graphs. Using this technique design data created by one application, such as a CAD package, can be preserved in its native format within the DIVERCITY framework, allowing this data to be manipulated by the DIVERCITY modules and then exported back to the original application.

A clear need has been identified for the visualisation of construction schedules for all partners of a construction project. Subcontractors and material suppliers need to have an easy to use application for accessing the latest schedule and for visualising it based on building 3D geometric data. Visual Product Chronology (VPC) provides a dynamic, real-time link between VR software, the building schedule and an IFC compliant 3D model of the building over the Internet. VPC is based on software that can be used locally (geographically dispersed) for accessing schedule data and geometric building model data located on a remote server. The local application requires a standard web-browser and user programmes for server access and data transfer. Main operations: Users interact with the environment by linking 3D building components with schedule items to construct a 4D building process model, which allows: The interactive visualisation of the construction sequence and its data as it is being carried out over time. Alternative construction sequence studies. Feedback for the stakeholders on the planned construction process Identification of conflicts: Numerical and graphical representation of time and spatial conflicts. Classification of conflicts into different categories/levels of risk.

The acoustics application simulates the effect of sound within a building. The designers and engineers can alter the building material on-line, in order to achieve the desired soundproofing. This application is particularly useful for designing hotels, or industrial facilities, where soundproofing has a critical impact. The simulation is in virtual reality (VR), and can be shared by architects and engineers in disperse geographical locations, over the Internet. This allows a quick first cut sound calculation, which can be shared with the clients in a user-friendly manner. Here is a short summary of how the application works: - The application receives drawings (IFC based) from CAD. - It adds acoustics information about the listener; the sound sources; and the acoustics properties of the walls, automatically. - It simulates the acoustics transmissions in the VR environment. - If the noise transmission is too much, the designer can change the thickness or material of the walls and ceilings on-line. - Another simulation can be performed in real time, to observe the impact of changes. Some of the features of the application include: - The listener can be moved into any space within the building. - The sound sources can be changed and moved, in real time, as required. - The sound volume can be changed. - Doors & windows can be opened or closed. The sound can be heard via speakers, which are attached to the computer. However, headphones provide a more accurate simulation.

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