A Method to Provide Integrated Design through Systems-Level Automation

摘要

Construction projects often exceed budgets and schedules, and the industry, in general, has failed to keep up with other sectors in terms of productivity growth. Fragmentation of the many designers and builders and the methods to bring these participants together for project delivery are major factors affecting project outcomes. One commonly-cited remedy is the application of integrative processes, where the project team is brought together early and often to collaborate on the best design options for the project goals. However, integrative practices have received limited application in the construction industry and have demonstrated only incremental improvements to project outcomes. This paper presents three case studies of integrative structural design processes that are enabled by systems-level automation and have demonstrated significant benefits in terms of design exploration and knowledge management. These systems are evaluated for their potential implications for structural engineering and the industry in general.