How did the research turn out? What were the findings? Researchers themselves report briefly on the research they have undertaken with funding support from the Formas Research Council.
Editor: Margaretha Nordahl
Visualisation and product modelling as decision support in early stages
Stefan Woksepp
Doctoral thesis “Virtual reality in construction” from Luleå University of Technology (2007).
Email: Stefan.Woksepp@ltu.se
The design process in the construction industry is at present informal and document oriented. Documents which set out the design, construction and quality of a project constitute the principal basis for the implementation of the project. In order that IT systems should be capable of supporting formal systems, the information must be easy to interpret. While traditional use of CAD programs produces only a 2D graphic presentation of the object in the form of drawings, object oriented 3D CAD programs yield a description where data, relations and hierarchy can be coupled to each object. The objective of the project has been to find how 3D with the focus on virtual reality (VR) can be used in the planning and construction of large complex buildings.
Through a case study of a large industrial project (MK3 pelletisation plant in Malmberget), in which VR is used as coordination tool, it has been possible to identify and quantify a number of benefits. The results show that VR can contribute to improvements in the construction process by coordinating design and preventing collisions between various subsystems. Most of all, there is better, more rapid and clearer communication between the actors, which means that the final product is better adapted to the client's wishes. However, the technique poses certain demands as to how the project is procured and implemented.
Demonstration projects as an arena for the implementation and development of sustainable construction
Michael Edén (project leader)
Summary of results with list of publications from Architecture, CTH.
Email: eden@chalmers.se
Today, there are successful but isolated projects which demonstrate that it is possible to build environmentally friendly and ecological houses, but it is evident that it is not so easy. The construction sector is more difficult to influence than other industrial sectors. Perhaps a change is about to occur? A number of conventional projects show that tightened demands regarding energy performance and the development of environmental programmes produce results in the long run. Over a two year period, a group of researchers at the Department of Architecture at Chalmers have had meetings with practitioners engaged on new demonstration projects (Demo04). The aim was to create a local arena for discussing and learning from the experiences concerning important issues, e.g. how is it possible to build in an environmental manner in a normal market oriented project.
The research has a more indirect effect on the implementation of sustainable construction. The postulates of the research are now beginning to have an effect on the governing phenomena and rules that control the adoption of innovations and the choice of hypotheses. There is a great need at present for accessible reference material. There is a constant demand for simplified manuals. The question today is: are there simple guidelines available for how to build a passive house? There are no standards to comply with - only limiting values and common goals. The final question is: are we to be satisfied with the “passive house concept” or must we demand further efforts?
Responsible for this page: Kerstin Franklin