4D-Toolbox

A collection of tools which simplifies modelling, optimization, management and controlling of construction processes and provides highly interactive visualization environments.

Starting Position

4D Technologies allow the modelling of building processes over the whole life cycle of buildings. Therefore the spatial representation of buildings (3D CAD) need to be transferred into so-called 4D models, where their related building processes will be visualized over time as the 4th dimension. The compilation and administration of 4D models are tedious and time consuming tasks. The aim of the 4D Toolbox is to speed up and simplify the compilation and administration of 4D models.

Objectives

Provide tools which simplify modelling, optimization, management and controlling of  construction processes and provide highly interactive visualization environments.

Approach

The 4D Toolbox consists of the following tools:

  • 4D Model Builder
  • Discrete Event Simulator (DES)
  • Genetic Algorithm Process Optimizer (GAPO)
  • 3D Viever
  • 4D Navigator with Virtual Reality (VR) Studio integration

The 4D Model Builder supports the transformation of 3D building models into 4D models. In order to enrich a 3D model with 4D information, the 3D model will be analyzed by means of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Based on this analysis a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is created and the appropriate processes are added and assigned to the corresponding building elements. The Discrete Event Simulator (DES) automatically sequences the activities of a 4D model into a network plan by taking structural and process constraints into account.
The Genetic Algorithm Process Optimizer (GAPO) uses the generated network plan and decides on the appropriate methodology of how elements should be built and how many resources should be assigned to construct an element. The resulting schedule and the decisions leading to this schedule can be optimized by taking multiple criteria into account. Possible criteria are:

  • Project duration
  • Resource management and resource usage
  • Costs
  • Safety
  • Avoidance of space and time conflicts
  • etc.

The 4D Navigator can now visualize the optimized schedules either in the 3D Viewer or the Virtual Reality studio. This enables the detection of potential problems already during the early planning phases and not only through the course of the real building processes on the construction site.
Results
The 4D Toolbox has been validated and improved through several study and research projects. Currently it is deployed and further developed at a project of the Swiss Confederation’s innovation promotion agency (CTI) in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Railway Corporation (SBB).

More Information

i4Ds has published the following papers about the 4D Toolbox:

  • Märki, F.; Fischer, M; Kunz, J.; Haymaker, J. (2007): Decision Making for Schedule Optimization, Department of Civil Engineering, Stanford University. Stanford 2007, USA. Electronic version of the paper: http://cife.stanford.edu/online.publications/TR169.pdf
  • Märki, F.; Vogel, M.; Breit, M.; Fischer M. (2006): Interactive Toolbox for 4D Modeling. Published at the Joint International Conference on Computing and Decision Making in Civil and Building Engineering 2006. Paper number IC-293, Montreal, Canada

Project Participants

Lead

  • Prof. Dr. Manfred Vogel

Project team

  • Fabian Märki
  • Michael Raps
  • Prof. Dr. Manfred Breit
  • Marco Rietmann
  • Markus Benz