Information Science in Construction Management

This assignment delves into the application of information science principles within the realm of construction management. It examines the crucial role of knowledge management systems and technologies in streamlining business processes, enhancing project execution, and promoting sustainable practices in the construction sector. The assignment analyzes various resources that shed light on the holistic approach to knowledge integration, data utilization, and the impact of building information modeling (BIM) on modern construction.

Integrated Project
Information Management

Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. Knowledge Management Concepts.......................................................................................2
2.1 Data, Information and Knowledge....................................................................................3
2.2 Holistic approach of information management.................................................................3
2.3 Characteristics of Knowledge Management.....................................................................4
2.4 Information Management in the construction Industry.....................................................5
2.5 Barriers to successful IS implementation in Construction Sector.....................................7
3. BIM Concepts.........................................................................................................................7
4. Potential Knowledge Integration in BIM.............................................................................8
4.1 Knowledge Management..................................................................................................9
4.2 Knowledge Integration......................................................................................................9
4.3 Benefits of Model Based Estimating..............................................................................10
5. Conclusion.............................................................................................................................10
References.....................................................................................................................................11
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1. Introduction
Information is contextual understanding product and data interpretation. It is the necessity
medium through which expertise, knowledge, judgment and decisions taken by individuals is
exposed, communicated and shared with others. Information management from organizational
aspects to invoke the activities that support the lifecycle of information management from
construction, representation and management through to interaction and reuse (Menkhoff, Evers
and Chay, 2010). An information intellectual organization is one which considers the value of
data or information and can successfully analyze, discover, assemble, search, benefit and reuse
all sort of information products need for any of its process. This is certainly important as
competitive benefits today makes data a core requirement for business process, increasing
performance of organization and obtain effectiveness of operation (Li and Poon, 2013). An
Enormous information is exchanged and lessons learned are accomplish in BIM activities.
However, recent knowledge management practice is an individual process and no procedure has
been established to collect those lesson learned in BIM (Chong and Hermreck, 2012). This
would lead to lose the knowledge that will have bad impacts on BIM model and collaborations.
Therefore, an integrated technique to perform knowledge management within the scope of BIM
is required, so that the knowledge received from the validation system of lesson learned can be
gathered in knowledge management system. This research intends to construct new building
approach that will associate BIM and KM to fully collect and reuse knowledge in BIM
movement, and facilitate constructing lifecycle mode and operation
2. Knowledge Management Concepts
The ‘knowledge base’ represents to the types of data, information or project knowledge that
is to be handled or managed. This KM (Knowledge Management Processes) defines to the
activities and tasks that are executed to manage knowledge, within the project or organization
context which is even called as process shaping factors (Robinson, 2010). Information is
contextual understanding product and data interpretation. It is the necessity medium through
which expertise, knowledge, judgment and decisions taken by individuals is exposed,
communicated and shared with others.
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2.1 Data, Information and Knowledge
The concepts of information, data and knowledge are closely related and it is commonly
considered that knowledge has higher level than information, and information is considered to be
higher level than data.
 Data is a group of raw facts
 Information is well structure and interpreted data
 Knowledge is known as extracted information
Data is a group of raw facts
Data is a group of distinct, objective facts about action and offers no interpretation and no
feasible basis of events. Data are syntactic things and patterns without meaning, and available in
usable or non-usable patterns without any implication beyond the existence.
Information is well structured and interpreted data
Information is well structured data provides with meanings, and is executed from the
interpretation data process. It represent information as data that are progress to be useful,
promoting solution to ‘who‘, when’, ‘what’, and, ‘where’ questions”.
Knowledge is extracted information
Today knowledge is become the most essential resource and asset for industry.
Knowledge is dynamic justified belief of truth, and it is developed by individual and association
communication in the society. It is the function of data and information, and it answers ’how’
questions. Although, Knowledge is developed through subjective efforts and involve judgment
related to data and information. Data is a carrier and collection of information and knowledge,
and a publish for knowledge transfer and information exchange (Sarngadharan and Minimol,
n.d.). It is determine that information is related and detailed to the past and the present, while
knowledge can be utilized to predict the future within a particular limit. The role of knowledge is
to promote the operation of transforming data into information through interpretation of data,
receive new information from existing information through expansion, and achieve new
knowledge through learning.
2.2 Holistic approach of information management
A holistic approach to information management needs the integration of tools, skills,
processes and strategies within group to manage all sort of recorded data through its complete
lifecycle from creation to deletion accompanied by essential technologies and administrative
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infrastructure. Such techniques requires an appreciation of how the industry can best structure,
use and explicit data to achieve desired outcome across it’s processed of diverse. Many
technologies do exist which plan to enable this, however critical to the holistic approach success
is emphasis on corporate policies and strategies guiding the benefits and evaluation of
appropriate technology. A holistic approach to information system consist of four key
components which is necessary to ensure the techniques is appropriate and contextual to support
organization efficiently. The components are:
Content Model
Content model representing the nature of content, structure, lifecycle, business
application, suitability for the industry and attributes. This also contains taxonomy and metadata
Enterprise Model
Enterprise model is depend on research of the organization, culture, its operation,
partners, and supply chain management based on their communication with information through
process.
Technological requirement
Technological requires to facilitate the execution of the predefined strategy also called as
system or technology.
Implementation & Change Management
Change and implementation management is to maintain the transition and accompanied
to the strategy implementation. Precede to providing the findings, it is essential to differentiate
Information Management and other integrated concepts in both practice and research.
2.3 Characteristics of Knowledge Management
Knowledge management tie on a large number of diverse sector such as:
• Management science
• Cognitive science
• Anthropology and sociology
• Education and training
• Linguistics and computational linguistics
• Information technologies such as document, knowledge-based systems and information
management, electronic performance support systems, and database knowledge.
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• Communication studies and story telling
• Journalism and technical writing
• Collaborative technologies such as CSCW (Computer-Supported Collaborative Work)
and groupware as well as extranets, intranets, portals, and other web technologies.
• Library science and information
The above points is by no means an intensive list but promotes to show the highly varied
roots that knowledge management develop of and continues to be depend on now. The
multidisciplinary characteristics of knowledge management shows a double-face sword: it is an
advantage as probably anyone can recognize a familiar foundation upon which to base an
understanding on the one hand and even process of knowledge management.
2.4 Information Management in the construction Industry
The model and construction process is associated with numerous stakeholder and
participant working together as temporary professionals through the procurement process to
construct and implement unique solution to meet the client requirements (Luo, 2012). The
outcome resulting from this often complex communication are created through the spontaneous
exchange off information. Due to the complex nature of this data for executing the task at hand,
maintaining it has been discovered as crucial to efficient delivery of the projects. Construction
analysis into information management concentrated on the environment of the project frequently
highlighting the requirement for enhanced coordination and collaboration between stakeholders.
Indeed, strides create in this field have given rise to emergent standard for collaborative
information environments. While group in the construction industry generally works on projects,
project centric aspects does not define all the data created, distributed and managed within the
association, nor does it enable group working on multiple projects to control cross-project data.
Managers also lack considerate of the wider problems around information management, the kind
of information different people within their group require and want, and how to create and
implement a suitable information management strategy to support their corresponding
organization. This study looks provides the findings from a detailed research into information
management in construction industry.
Information Systems in Construction Management explains the business globe is instant
changing, and the move in significance in management in group from tactical to strategic is very
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clear. The construction field is becoming more dynamic, and requires to think differently about
how it will organize Business in a highly competitive surroundings. A study recognize that IS/IT
can be implement to, and assist, the construction field in three main operation, namely:
• Administration and construction management;
• Construction engineering; and
• Automated information acquisition and process management.
To highlighting the strategic importance of Information system in the construction industry,
and represents that information system is very critical to business performance of the two group.
Figure 2.3.1 represent some examples of generic and proprietary kind of IS/IT rule which are
essential in construction. These involves, Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD),
accounting system and quantities bills. Manual mechanism are important (Shally-Jensen, n.d.). A
key tender decline of these systems at the time the advance is to be submitted could be of critical
significance. Figure 2.3.1 role of information systems in construction industry.
Various of the more recent benefits in Information system technology that are utilize in the
construction industry, involves the Internet, wireless technology, and World Wide Web (WWW),
integrated databases, videoconferencing, electronic tendering and recording.
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2.5 Barriers to successful IS implementation in Construction Sector
Information is a key assets in the construction field, and software developers, researchers,
and practitioners are now implement information system to automate named phases of the
construction operation. Considering the relevant limited detailed inquiry that has been taken in
this area. it is very complex to represent the outlook and boundaries of the performance and
benefits of Information System in construction industry. For many construction group
Information System encompasses the utilization of all electronic equipment of data transfer,
while others view information system as the use of the recent technology, and some view it as
portion of management strategies. This divergence has led to the amount of various information
system representation within the construction field. Consequently, an information-centric
representation might be that information system comprises the need of electronic system and
programs for storage, processing and production of information. This definition demonstrates the
important aspects that information system plays in developing the effectiveness of interaction
and exchange information in the context of controlling construction progresses. The successful
achievement of construction projects based up on the effectiveness, accuracy and timing of the
information exchange between the members in the project team.
The factors that prevent the adoption of information system in construction industry include:
• Detention from executive management;
• Strong profit limit;
• Lack of IS or IT awareness;
• Lack of training and employee education;
• Degree of needed association change; and
• Trust that the company is doing well without IT or IS.
The literature offers ambiguity about the received strategic role of information system in the field
of construction and its implementation in process. The research also found that information
system played a key portion in the execution of construction projects and many construction
industry had advantage from the strategic moment offered by information system.
3. BIM Concepts
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Coordination between trades of construction is quit challenging. The old 2D drawing based
process is often period’s complex to follow for the participants of the project. Resolution and
identification of problems often needs a great deal of technical experience and skill. 3D building
information model (BIM) and touch screen offering technology create process easy to understand
for entire participant of the project. The ease in which problem can be discovered and promoted
helps to facilitate interactions among the trades and leads to more interference resolution
(Machado and Davim, 2014). The virtual trade association progress is a valuable process that can
be evaluated during pre-construction stage and during MEP coordination process in the phase of
construction. Designers and subcontractors develop digital, 3D modes of the corresponding
scope of work depends on their model documents. These designs are then uploaded to a common
server which then associates the discipline, design and trade particular designs into a
consolidated 3D model and from the combined model, develop Clash Repots (Zhang, Han and
Zhao, n.d.). The Clash Report and models in coordination meeting with the subcontractors and
designer are inspected and solution to the analyzed issues are discussed. The designer and
subcontractors update their designs and 3D-models and resubmit the 3D-designs for next phase
which based on the above discussed solution. The level is repeated until all associated parties
have confidence in the development of construction of the coordinated design. The MEP-
association process is non –linear which means that the subcontractors create their models in
parallel, initiate with vertical shafts, major parts of equipment and trim and major lines
(Svenson, n.d.). Once these materials are integrated the subcontractors expand on details (Lytras
et al., 2010). MEP engineer determines the sequence of association and expands the phase of
details in drawing. BIM can be used to provide a comprehensive design of the construction
project quantities. Model based measuring systems enables calculators to assign properties to 3D
building elements. Estimators can easily able to filter quantities, discover constructability
problem and develop cost estimates by using Model Based calculating system.
4. Potential Knowledge Integration in BIM
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BIM is a key technology which is used for the association of project management and
constructing information. Constructing information designing and design execution is an
evolutionary process, and it is difficult for us to collect knowledge in this progress from one
level to another (Kuchiki, Mizobe and Gokan, n.d.). However, recent BIM technique is not
matured enough to execute and collect knowledge, and knowledge management is a stand-alone
method which is separated from BIM practice.
4.1 Knowledge Management
Knowledge management conduct, plans, motivates, and maintain individuals and IS to
enhance the organization’s knowledge property and development efficiency. Content of
knowledge management system processes is knowledge execution, codification of knowledge
and coordination, and transfer of knowledge. Even though, knowledge management consist five
processes that are construction, validation, distribution, presentation and application. Knowledge
management is used to accelerate the association improvement by properly practice these
processes (Linger, 2013). The significance of well-designed knowledge management technique
has been entirely identified, and the knowledge management has become one of the main area
for decision making and business aspect processes. In the survey organized by KPMG (2003), a
vast part (80%) of the participating industry identified knowledge as their strategic properties,
and few representatives even determined that a possible 6% of annual revenue was due to the
decline of knowledge management. The objective of knowledge management is to improve the
productivity and the manner of team works through a knowledge distributing platform (Mill,
2016). In order to accomplish success, a group should execute knowledge management activities
as an entire, and motivate individuals to utilize the process. Knowledge acquirement is to
identify and store knowledge, and evaluate information acquired. Knowledge distribution is to
exchange and transfer knowledge to an organization through some platform like phone,
document and the internet; reuse of knowledge is to re-execute knowledge collected for
innovation; and knowledge management is to extract knowledge in the repository, and only keep
the essential information up-to-date. The implementation of knowledge management in
association should promote knowledge transfer cross various projects, as well as gaining and
storing knowledge in powerful way. The organization’s knowledge data and innovation capacity
should be enhanced in the process of management.
4.2 Knowledge Integration
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Recent BIM applications are information-supported building modeling techniques with
satisfactory element-relevant information commit to each portion of the design. Knowledge
management is an independent and separate process, with no composition with BIM
implementation. As a result, the KM and the BIM techniques have to be regulate and control
separately, thus minimize the ability of project collaboration. As both of them are achieved
throughout the lifecycle of a project. Then, knowledge is known as higher level of information, it
is beneficial and practical to split the border of them and coordinate into BKM (Building
Knowledge Modeling). To minimize the search capacity in the process, an additional passage
that shows information about the input data is joined to enable the information cooperate
visualization (Lee, 2009). In such case of the system, the visualization ability and effectiveness
would be enhanced by responding on the information abstracted from the resources.
Furthermore, knowledge from the user is the essential section of the visualization process and
inadequate domain knowledge generally reduces quality of the performance (Plattner, Meinel
and Leifer, 2015). Therefore, a knowledge-based system that contain expert knowledge is
append to utilize the operation by promoting domain knowledge distributing and reusing
between various users. BIM can be developed in the same way, by elaborating information
exchange into knowledge distribution with the combination of a complete functional KMS. The
BIM applications and Knowledge management system which stores knowledge in a Knowledge
Management repository are joint and operated simultaneously to fulfill information exchange
requirements of BIM application and knowledge sharing, capture, reuse and maintenance
requirements of Knowledge management.
4.3 Benefits of Model Based Estimating
 To a cost of estimate, transparently connect the outlook and the quantities.
 It is very easy to promote the scope and the object visually show in the 3D design are also
produce in the estimate.
 Model based Estimate theory permits calculators to effectively handle scope changes and
make sure that the altered scope is then accurately produce in the estimate.
5. Conclusion
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This paper promotes the research from an investigation into the essence of Information
management in the Construction Industry reflecting the multidimensional essence of a holistic
approach. The research highlight the significance of an association aspects on information
management and the rising practitioners are laying on how information can be better controlled
to support their major processes. Business process for which the technology is proposed and the
received value of the innovation for the business. BIM has been widely used in the A/E/C
industry with the aim to build a virtual facility design precede to constructing it physically to
facilitate collaboration and model (Thatchenkery, Avital and Cooperrider, 2010). It originated
from BDM, which handled a construction project by unstructured date such 2D drawing and old
CAD technologies etc. knowledge management is critic to improve the productivity and
adaptability of a project. It equips groups or organization with competitive advantages and
facilitates business reflective and decision making processes. From the research in the paper, we
can see the feasibility and possibility of the BKM approach by associating knowledge collect and
reuse in BIM uses with the integration module knowledge. A succeed BKM strategy is having
the capability of collecting, distributing, reusing and managing knowledge sequentially in the
collaboration and communication activity throughout the lifecycle of building. The BKM
approach activates a comprehensive knowledge management techniques as well as building
information to facilitate collaboration of team and project management. Additionally, redundant
and unwanted rework can be minimized by fully using expert knowledge to facilitate energy
effective model.
References
Chong, W. and Hermreck, C. (2012). ICSDC 2011. Reston, Va.: American Society of Civil
Engineers.
This resource taken from American society of civil engineers and it describe about how
information system adopted construction industry.
Kuchiki, A., Mizobe, T. and Gokan, T. (n.d.). A Multi-Industrial Linkages Approach to Cluster
Building in East Asia.
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This journal describe about the multi-industrial linkage of construction which utilizes
knowledge management.
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This resource is taken form information science and it represents business system
management and IT and its uses in this construction field.
Li, R. and Poon, S. (2013). Construction Safety. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
It describes the holistic approach of knowledge management
Linger, H. (2013). Building sustainable information systems. New York: Springer.
The resource is taken from New York springer and describe knowledge management and
knowledge integration.
Luo, J. (2012). Soft computing in information communication technology. Berlin: Springer.
It describes the information system Barriers to successful IS implementation in
Construction Sector.
Lytras, M., Ordonez De Pablos, P., Ziderman, A., Roulstone, A., Maurer, H. and Imber, J.
(2010). Knowledge Management, Information Systems, E-Learning, and Sustainability Research.
Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
The resource is taken from Berlin, Heidelberg: springer and describe knowledge
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Machado, C. and Davim, J. (2014). Transfer and management of knowledge. London, England:
ISTE.
It describe potential knowledge integration in BIM and benefits of model based
estimating.
Menkhoff, T., Evers, H. and Chay, Y. (2010). Governing and managing knowledge in Asia.
Singapore: World Scientific.
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The resource is taken from Singapore: World Scientific and it demonstrates knowledge
management and holistic approach of KM.
Mill, J. (2016). A System Of Logic, Ratiocinative And Inductive. Dinslaken: Anboco.
It describes characteristic of knowledge management.
Plattner, H., Meinel, C. and Leifer, L. (2015). Design Thinking Research. Cham: Springer
International Publishing.
It describe about model research in information management and potential knowledge
integration in building model.
Robinson, H. (2010). Governance & knowledge management for public-private partnerships.
Chichester, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell.
It describe about knowledge integration and detailed description of data, information and
knowledge concepts.
Sarngadharan, M. and Minimol, M. (n.d.). Management information system.
It describe about management information in system in construction industry and
collected business process research to achieve in field.
Shally-Jensen, M. (n.d.). Careers in building construction.
It describe about knowledge management to building construction and additionally
explain about business model estimating and also about building information model advantages
and tools.
Svenson, N. (n.d.). The United Nations as a knowledge system.
It describe briefly about data, knowledge and information and knowledge system in
united nation how they achieve business plan using this knowledge system.
Thatchenkery, T., Avital, M. and Cooperrider, D. (2010). Positive design and appreciative
construction. Bradford: Emerald Group Publishing.
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It represents building information model in potential knowledge integration and also
explains BIM concepts.
Zhang, H., Han, M. and Zhao, X. (n.d.). Advanced research on industry, information system and
material engineering IV.
It describes about advance research about information system and how knowledge
management utilizes those construction tool to achieve their business strategy using BIM
technology
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