Show how a KM database impacts: cost, time, and quality. Demonstrate how Parametric Design could be used to save time, money, and improve quality

Transcription

1 Executive Summary: Thesis Proposal Final Draft The following pages contain a final draft of the thesis proposal for the South Baltimore District Court House. The basic layout consists of focusing on Knowledge Management (KM) and branching out by designing a basic KM database using the ASTM Uniformat II layout. See Figure: KM Logic For the Spring Thesis I would like to design a basic software package to demonstrate how Knowledge Management could be vital to the success of a contractor and quality of the building. I will demonstrate how KM is effective by designing a basic KM database focusing on three main topics that branch from the ASTM Uniformat. The three main topics include: shell, special construction & demolition, and building sitework. The three subtopics that branch from the Uniformat are: geotechnical reports, security issues, and parametric design. For my breath I would like to redesign the structural system using 3-D modeling and compare my findings to the original design. I will compare the cost, time, and quality impacts of the parametric design to the original design. I could then tie this into KM by demonstrating how that particular structural system was constructed. This way in the future the contractor could search on how similar systems were constructed, the problems that occurred and how to avoid those problems in the future. A simple breakdown of my thesis would include: Knowledge Management Software Show how a KM database impacts: cost, time, and quality Demonstrate how Parametric Design could be used to save time, money, and improve quality Demonstrate how KM is an effective tool that is essential for the success of a contractor in the ever changing construction environment 1

2 Contractor Knowledge Management (KM) ASTM Uniformat II Substructure Shell Interiors Services Equipment & Furnishing Special Construction & Demolition Building Sitework South Baltimore District Court House Analysis Parametric Design Using KM to help promote the usage of parametric design between the structural engineer and steel fabricator Security Design of Court Houses Using KM to design and implement security design for all court houses built by owner. Possibility for basic check list minimum requirements Geotechnical Reports Using KM to manage constructability issues such as pile driving and site/earth conditions analysis Knowledge Management Logic KM, also know as Knowledge Management, is an important tool that construction companies and owners could greatly benefit from by implementing such a system into their company. KM is a framework within which the organization views all its processes as knowledge processes. In this view, all business processes involve creation, dissemination, renewal, and application of knowledge towards organizational sustenance and survival. Knowledge Management is necessary for companies because what worked yesterday may or may not work tomorrow. To deal with the constantly changing construction environment owners and contractors need to remain aligned with the dynamically changing needs of the construction environment; companies need to continuously asses their business & construction methods to ensure effectiveness. Knowledge Management is a tool which contractors could use to greatly benefit their building selection, process, and methods. By keeping such a data base (lessons learned data base) contractors could produce more efficient buildings. The South Baltimore District Court House will be used as an analysis example for how KM would greatly benefit the entire building process. Three main areas will be researched: geotechnical reports, security design of court houses, and parametric design. Within theses three areas KM will be implemented and the pro and cons will be analyzed. For my proposal, I am suggesting that KM be broken down into the ASTM Uniformat breakdown. This way the KM data base would be organized in specific major group elements which would make data input and data output straightforward. A search engine would be used for locating specific information. 2

3 Level 1 Major Group Elements A. SUBSTRUCTURE B. SHELL C. INTERIORS D. SERVICES Figure 1 - ASTM UNIFORMAT II Classification of Building Elements (E ) Level 2 Group Elements A10 Foundations A20 Basement Construction B10 Superstructure B20 Exterior Closure B30 Roofing C10 Interior Construction C20 Staircases C30 Interior Finishes D10 Conveying Systems D20 Plumbing D30 HVAC D40 Fire Protection D50 Electrical Level 3 Individual Elements A1010 Standard Foundations A1020 Special Foundations A1030 Slab on Grade A2010 Basement Excavation A2020 Basement Walls B1010 Floor Construction B1020 Roof Construction B2010 Exterior Walls B2020 Exterior Windows Exterior Doors B3010 Roof Coverings B3020 Roof Openings C1010 Partitions C1020 Interior Doors C1030 Specialties C2010 Stair Construction C2020 Stair Finishes C3010 Wall Finishes C3020 Floor Finishes C3030 Ceiling Finishes D1010 Elevators D1020 Escalators & Moving Walks D1030 Material Handling Systems D2010 Plumbing Fixtures D2020 Domestic Water Distribution D2030 Sanitary Waste D2040 Rain Water Drainage D2050 Special Plumbing Systems D3010 Energy Supply D3020 Heat Generating Systems D3030 Cooling Generating Systems D3040 Distribution Systems D3050 Terminal & Package Units D3060 Controls & Instrumentation D3070 Special HVAC Systems & Equipment D3080 Systems Testing & Balancing D4010 Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems D4020 Stand-Pipe & Hose Systems D4030 Fire Protection Specialties D4040 Special Electrical Systems D5010 Electrical Service & Distribution D5020 Lighting & Branch Wiring 3

4 E. EQUIPMENT & FURNISHINGS F. SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION E10 Equipment E20 Furnishings F10 Special Construction D5030 Communication & Security Systems D5040 Special Electrical Systems E1010 Commercial Equipment E1020 Institutional Equipment E1030 Vehicular Equipment E1040 Other Equipment E2010 Fixed Furnishings E2020 Movable Furnishings F1010 Special Structures F1020 Integrated Construction F1030 Special Construction Systems F1040 Special Facilities F1050 Special Controls & Instrumentation F20 Selective Building Demolition F2010 Building Elements Demolition F2020 Hazardous Components Abatement Level 1 Major Group Elements G. BUILDING SITEWORK Figure 2 - ASTM UNIFORMAT II Classification of Building Related Sitework (E ) Level 2 Group Elements G10 Site Preparation G20 Site Improvements Level 3 Individual Elements G1010 Site Clearing G1020 Site Demolition & Relocations G1030 Site Earthwork G1040 Hazardous Waste Remediation G2010 Roadways G2020 Parking Lots G2030 Pedestrian Paving G2040 Site Development G2050 Landscaping G30 Site Civil / Mechanical Utilities G3010 Water Supply & Distribution Systems G3020 Sanitary Sewer Systems G3030 Storm Sewer Systems G3040 Heating Distribution G3050 Cooling Distribution G3060 Fuel Distribution G3070Other Civil / Mechanical Utilities G40 Site Electrical Utilities G50 Other Site Construction G4010 Electrical Distribution G4020 Exterior Lighting G4030 Exterior Communications & Security G4040 Other Electrical Utilities G5010 Service Tunnels G5020 Other Site Systems & Equipment 4

5 Analysis One Complete Geotechnical Reports before Design Phase 1. The South Baltimore District Court House has some complications with the geotechnical report. The soils report states the following information: November 30, 1999 We believe that 12-inch square precast piles will be difficult to drive through some of the dense layers without damaging the piles if the piles are designed for a design capacity of 90 tons. We recommend a design pile capacity of 50 tons for the precast concrete piles. As previously stated in our report, we expect the pile contractor will have problems driving the piles through some of the dense layers of compacted fill and alluvial soils. The precast piles should be preaugered prior to driving the piles. - Schnabel Engineering Associates, Inc. During the construction the contractor had some major problems with the precast concrete piles. The piles that were driven started to crack. About half of the precast piles started to break when they were being driven into the earth. This delayed the schedule, brought up the construction price, and some of the piles were then switched over to steel H-piles. 2. Another complication that occurred for the Court House pertaining to geotechnical reports happened in This Court House was almost at complete design phase when geotechnical reports indicated that the lot of land for the building was too contaminated to be built on. This delayed the project almost five years until a new lot of land was found that was suitable for the Court House. The old building design was used for this site; this means that no new drawings were developed and the Court House sits on a site which is was not designed for. The architect did have some problems with this but because of financial issues a new building was not designed to suite the site. This problem caused the schedule to be delayed for five years which did impact the total building cost. Conclusion: Knowledge Management could be used in the future to prevent such incidents from occurring again. One could search on the Database to see: local buildings in the area to check what types of foundation systems they have, the earth conditions of land close to the area, and what types of problems have occurred in the area or to this type of building. This search or knowledge could help reduce costs, reduce the schedule, and help with the overall quality of the construction process and building. Analysis Two Court House & Safety/Security Issues The South Baltimore District Court House was designed prior to September 11. Because of this, the court house really does not house any safety features which could prevent intruders from invading the building. The front of the building is a full two story 5

6 glass façade with drive up parking available here. One would think because this is a court house there would be many safety features implemented into the building. Conclusion: How can we make this court house safer for the people around and inside the building? How could we better design court houses to prevent intruders from invading the property? Could the Court House be built of better materials, or are some of the current materials inappropriate for such a building (i.e.: glass façade). Does adding safety feature impact schedule, cost, and constructability- does it add value to the building? A KM database could be used here to look up similar structures and what they used for security. The KM database could house information on how to make buildings safer for the tenants, how to design for safety, how to implement security features into the schedule, and how security features impact cost, time, and overall quality. Analysis Three Structural Engineer & Steel Fabrication Technology Parametric Modeling With an increase of IT-based tools, how can one speed up the process between the structural engineer and the steel fabricator? From speaking to a structural engineer and a steel fabricator one of the solutions is using computer programs to help speed up the process between the two parties. Most errors occur in the dimensioning on the structural framing plans. If these mistakes are then carried over to the contract drawings, the fabricators detailers mission is bogged down by constant RFIs. To this day, most architectural, engineering, and design firms produce drawing with or with out CAD in which every line is drawn as a single line. This causes a lot of frustration if something must be changed column spacing, footing alignment, etc. Parametric models, or 3-D modeling construction, are proving to be more efficient at rendering and discovering problems, but how does the fabricator know what has been changed? Current computer software is trying to solve just that problem. When dimensions are adjusted the software will point out where conflicts occur due to the change. This forces the resolution of the conflicts that occur when changes are made on the drawings. Using such a system speeds up the design phase dramatically, but only if the parties participating are knowledgeable in using such a system. Providing guidelines and standards is a concept that is in the near future. If 3-D modeling will be implemented into the construction world standardization is a must. Conclusion: How does the construction world implement such a program into a building? How does this system work? How does it reduce cost, accelerate the schedule, produce better CAD drawings, and provide an overall more constructible building? What are some of the complication with using such a system? How much does it cost overall to implement? Is it too far ahead in time? Is the software meeting the design teams needs? For parametric design one could use KM to have a system to compare it to. A basic structural design can be completed in a couple of days with complete shop drawings. One could keep the design of the building in the KM database for future uses; i.e. to compare and contrast with future court houses, foresee problems which occurred in 6

7 the structural system and prevent those problems from occurring again, and help organize a basic layout for a court house. Analysis One Analysis Two Analysis Three Value Engineering Constructability Review Schedule Reduction/ Acceleration Proposal Research or Developing Methods Study Systems Engineering Integration 7