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Off-site construction (OSC) is expected to boost productivity, shorten construction time, and reduce labour and material wastage. Despite these benefits, most OSC projects have not fully achieved these advantages, where a primary obstacle lies in the limited management of OSC knowledge. However, there is still no holistic understanding of the integration of KM in the OSC context. Therefore, this paper explores the latest development in KM for OSC through a systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and template analysis. The review is based on 66 screened and assessed journal articles from all years to 2024 with a particular focus on KM and OSC. Through the quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study groups four main research themes including KM for OSC design, KM for OSC project management, knowledge-based OSC decision-making, and the management of OSC knowledge. The results are discussed to gain a systematic understanding of key OSC knowledge domains, investigate the integration of KM for OSC, and explore future research needs including emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. [Display omitted] • Knowledge management (KM) in offsite construction (OSC) is still a global challenge. • 66 articles focusing on KM and OSC were analysed using PRISMA guidelines and template analysis. • OSC knowledge domains can be mapped in a "resource-process-product-performance" model. • The systematic integration of KM and OSC is limited. • Emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have potential to facilitate the smart use of KM for OSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts in construction projects have always been a major problem. Unless an alternate resolution mechanism is spelled out in the contract, these disputes are typically resolved in court, which might be time consuming and financially substantial. This paper represents a continuation in a research focused on creating robust methodologies for legal decision support within the construction industry. Consequently, this papers tackles the problem of automating the extraction of implicit knowledge about significant legal factors upon which verdicts of Differing Site Condition (DSC) litigations are based. To that end, the research methodology (1) utilized a set of 600 cases from the Federal Court of New York; (2) adopted 15 legal concepts that have been found to be statistically significant for DSC litigations; (3) implemented 4 weighing mechanism for data representation, namely Term Frequency, Logarithmic Term Frequency, Augmented Term Frequency, and Term Frequency Inverse Document Frequency; and (4) employed Machine Learning (ML) classifiers, namely Naïve Bayes, Decision Tree, and PART for the development of 12 prediction models. Among the finding of this study (1) ML classifiers present a suitable solution for the analyzed task; and (2) Naïve Bayes classifiers achieved the highest prediction accuracy of 88%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) play a vital role in the knowledge management (KM) of the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, which is knowledge intensive and yet faces unique challenges in managing knowledge due to its complex and dynamic nature. In order to show the state-of-the-art of ICTs for knowledge management in the AEC industry, this paper conducts a fifteen-year review of 89 related papers and reports from the industry. A clear line of key technologies evolving from ontology, semantic network to knowledge graph has been revealed from the collected literature. The interactions between different ICTs, as well as their advantages and disadvantages for different knowledge management process are discussed. The study also finds certain imbalance in the development of the industry and academia, as well as cognitive barriers and lack of evaluation standards. Suggestions for future development are also proposed to benefit the research community and relevant practitioners. [Display omitted] • A fifteen-year review of ICTs for the knowledge management in AEC industry is conducted. • A clear line of key technologies evolving from ontology, semantic web to knowledge graph has been revealed. • Certain imbalance in the development of the industry and academia has been identified. • Cognitive barriers and lack of evaluation standards are critical issues for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Effective risk assessment and management is critical for success in international construction projects. This paper proposes a knowledge-based risk mapping tool for systematically assessing risk-related variables that may lead to cost overrun in international markets. The tool uses an ontology that relates risk and vulnerability to cost overrun [1] and a novel risk-vulnerability assessment methodology [2] to estimate potential risk paths that may emerge in international construction projects. The tool has been developed in collaboration with an industrial partner, a construction management company that gives risk management consultancy services to Turkish contractors working in international markets. The tool has been designed by using the previous projects of the partner firm as test cases and preferences of company professionals are taken into account while determining the functions of the tool. As the reliability and usability of the tool significantly depend on the subjective evaluations of users about level of vulnerability and magnitude of potential risk events, a lessons learned database has been incorporated into the tool so that decision-makers may refer to risk event histories of previous projects to make estimations about forthcoming projects. In order to evaluate the usability of the tool, a usability test has been conducted by eight construction experts. Usability test results demonstrated that the tool can be utilized for prediction of probable risk paths and their impact on cost. Results of a case study, a building project in Serbia, have also been reported in this paper to demonstrate the functions and the performance of the tool. Although the usability and reliability test results are satisfactory, the tool should be seen as an initial platform which should be improved by increasing its “intelligence” by high quality and enough number of risk event histories, and also customized according to user preferences as well as company policies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: More and more construction organizations have adopted Knowledge Management (KM) to enhance their engineering services. However, most of the traditional KM methods suffer from their “reactive mode” of problem solving. To cope with this problem, a newly developed model, the Integrated Proactive Knowledge Management Model (IPKMM), is proposed in this paper. A leading engineering consulting firm in Taiwan was selected as a case study to implement the proposed model. The system implementation of IPKMM, the Integrated Proactive Knowledge Management System (IPKMS), is verified with real world cases. A novel Business Intelligence Index (BII) is also proposed in this paper to evaluate the relative competitiveness of different KM models. It is confirmed from the case study that IPKMM can significantly improve the efficiency of problem-solving and the competitiveness of an engineering consulting firm in the service market. This study demonstrates that IPKMM has great potential in enhancing emergent problem-solving for engineering consultants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper empirically investigates a sample of capital facility projects in the construction industry. The purpose of this paper is three-fold. The first objective of this study was to validate a model for assessing the relationships among IT application, KM practice adoption, and project success (project performance and project benefits). The second objective was to evaluate the mediating role of KM practice adoption in the relationship between IT application and project performance. The third objective was to investigate whether the effect of knowledge management on project success may be moderated by project type. The structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to validate the research model. These analyses suggest that levels of IT application are positively associated with projects'' levels of knowledge management. Additionally, project outcomes can be achieved with higher levels of knowledge management. The findings also indicate that KM practice adoption fully mediate the effects of IT application on project performance in terms of schedule and cost success as well as quality and safety performance. The results also show that team relationship and team size have a moderating effect on the relationship between knowledge management and project success. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract There is a wide range of literature on adopting ontology to solve construction problems, but no review of existing studies has systematically analyzed and visualized the trends in ontology research. This study reviews ontology research mainly published in the Scopus database from 2007 to 2017 with the combination of scientometric analysis and critical review. Scientometric analysis (e.g. co-author, co-word, co-citation, and clusters) objectively visualized the research status quo while a critical review was used to identify the research themes and challenges of ontology research in the construction industry. The results identified a large network of co-authors in this field to understand collaboration relationships. Over half the papers (53%) were published by the following three countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The top co-occurring keywords were "project management" at which ontology facilitates knowledge management and information retrieval. When the time factor was taken into consideration, keywords naturally evolved from "project management", and "knowledge management" to "building information modeling", and "compliance control" with the successful adoption of information techniques in the construction industry. Four research themes were identified with the combination of cluster analysis and critical review: "Domain ontology", "Industry foundation classes", "Automated compliance checking", and "Building information modeling". This review provides an in-depth understanding of existing ontology research and indicates the emerging trends in this research domain. Graphical abstract Keyword evolution and hot topics of ontology research in construction industry were identified through co-word analysis, cluster analysis, and manually review. Unlabelled Image Highlights • 199 journal articles were analyzed through the combination of scientometric analysis and critical reviews. • Major scientific collaboration networks in ontology research are visualized and analyzed. • Keywords co-occurrence and evolution of ontology in construction industry was visualized. • Four research themes and the corresponding challenges of ontology research in the construction industry were identified [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the built heritage context, BIM has shown difficulties in representing and managing the large and complex knowledge related to non-geometrical aspects of the heritage. Within this scope, this paper focuses on a domain-specific semantic-enrichment of BIM methodology, aimed at fulfilling semantic representation requirements of built heritage through Semantic Web technologies. To develop this semantic-enriched BIM approach, this research relies on the integration of a BIM environment with a knowledge base created through information ontologies. The result is knowledge base system - and a prototypal platform - that enhances semantic representation capabilities of BIM application to architectural heritage processes. It solves the issue of knowledge formalization in cultural heritage informative models, favouring a deeper comprehension and interpretation of all the building aspects. Its open structure allows future research to customize, scale and adapt the knowledge base different typologies of artefacts and heritage activities. Highlights • BIM shows difficulties in representing non-geometrical features of built heritage. • Semantic Web technologies enhance BIM to fulfil Heritage representation requirements. • A knowledge-based system is developed through the integration of BIM and information ontologies. • A prototypal application for Semantic-enriched BIM is applied to Built Heritage case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract One of the principal challenges in façade design is to support the architectural intent by devising technically viable (i.e. standard-compliant and manufacturable) solutions from as early as possible in the design stage. This is increasingly relevant as prefabricated façades increase in complexity and bespokedness in response to current societal, financial and environmental challenges. In this paper a process that addresses this challenge is presented. The process consists of two sub-processes 1) to build product-oriented knowledge bases and digital tools for supporting design on a project-by-project basis and 2) to help designers identify a set of optimal solutions that consider the façade-specific trade-off between architectural intent and performance requirements, while meeting the largest number of production-related constraints. This process was applied to a case study and the results were compared with those obtained from a recently-developed façade. It was found that, although the proposed process produces optimal solutions that are approximated, designers can benefit from more control over the product's manufacturability, performance and architectural intent in less time. Highlights • Two methodologies for digitalising and optimising facade design knowledge are proposed. • Data visualisation techniques are used to support decision making. • The methodologies are applied to a real-world case study. • The two methodologies help identify best solutions visually and interactively. • Results are compared with genetic algorithm and pros and cons are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Using the “tipping point” as a metaphor, the paper argues that the construction industry is ready to reap the benefits of using information technologies. Construction IT as an appropriating discipline is enabling us to have devices to speculate about designs, to have innovative modes of collaboration, communication and practice. “Virtuality” is the password for construction professionals to cross over into the experimental realms of installation and operation. The paper identifies the ingredients needed to ‘tip’ the balance for an accelerated penetration of information technologies into the construction industry. Core technologies are described as the prime mover of radical transformation in the construction industry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ontologies are the foundation on which knowledge-intensive problem solvers depend. Ontologies encapsulate domain concepts, tasks, problem-solving knowledge, and methods. This paper reports on a research project on ontology development for constructability assessment in steel frame structures. It discusses the conceptualisation and formal knowledge representation for the problem domain. The resulting knowledge structures facilitate reasoning in intelligent systems. The paper uses a case study to demonstrate the potential applications of ontologies in developing intelligent rule-based agents for constructability assessment, and reports on the experiments conducted to teach problem-solving agents. The results indicate great potential in developing high utility ontology-driven agents for use in organisational corporate knowledge management. The paper discusses the findings from the research project. The authors propose a constructability ontology for steel structures and an agent framework for constructability design knowledge acquisition. Recommendations are given for further work in developing ontologies for construction applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper introduces knowledge management as a key in establishing both valuation and value creation capabilities in the enterprise where dissemination of knowledge and effective sharing of information through collaboration spur creativity and stimulate business practices. The paper draws an original approach for the design and development of a universal information/knowledge visualisation tool, elucidates the mechanics that enable the working prototype and most important it elaborates on the concepts that have led to the adopted architecture. Finally it presents the next step in the system''s development cycle outlining its architecture and direction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Safety has always been a persistent problem in the construction industry, particularly for tunnel construction projects due to the inherent uncertainty in geotechnical conditions and the complexity of the tunnel construction process. Literatures and practices highlight the importance of safety knowledge to the construction safety. However, safety knowledge is not always provided in a convenient and timely manner. This paper develops a Knowledge-dynamics Integrated Map (KIM) to visualize safety knowledge flow in tunnel construction safety risk management. The KIM highlights the what, the who, and the why of knowledge flow by portraying its dynamics associated to the working processes. With the use of KIM, the safety knowledge flow barriers are identified so that knowledge flow facilitators can be designed. The KIM has been applied in Wuhan metro project as a blueprint for systematically developing effective safety knowledge management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A framework to assess the transactions of distributed Content Knowledge Resources (CKRs) in construction projects is presented, based on the concept of Transactive Memory Systems (TMS), which deals with encoding, storage, retrieval and update of knowledge across distributed sources. CKRs include all kinds of data, information and knowledge available to the project organization distributed across its people, software, information systems, smart-equipment, and paper-based systems. This approach recognizes that Knowledge Management (KM) requires coordination, sharing and transactions of distributed CKRs through which either existing knowledge can be applied or new knowledge can be created. To develop the framework, key TMS factor-groups relevant to the transactions of CKRs across distributed sources are identified and mapped against the different types of transactional links in construction projects. The paper argues the suitability of the TMS approach in advancing KM practices in modern construction projects. A preliminary case study is presented to validate the framework. • The project Knowledge management (KM) sources include people (H), software (SIS), hardware (HTS) and documents (AS) • The (content) knowledge resources (CKRs) in a project are distributed among its KM sources • Transactive Memory Systems (TMS) provide a useful framework to assess the transactions of (CKRs) between the KM sources • Using the TMS framework, patterns in transactions of CKRs among the KM sources can be identified to improve KM practices [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building information modeling is instrumental in documenting design, enhancing customer experience, and improving product functionality in capital projects. However, good building models do not happen by accident, but rather as a result of a managed process that involves several participants from different disciplines and backgrounds. Effective management of this process requires an ability to closely monitor the modeling process and correctly measure modelers' performance. Nevertheless, existing methods of performance monitoring in building design practices lack an objective measurement system to quantify modeling progress. The widespread utilization of Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools presents a unique opportunity to retrieve granular design process data and conduct accurate performance measurements. As a building's 3D model is gradually developed, model generation software packages, such as Autodesk Revit, automatically create log files that record design activities. This paper investigates what information these log files contain and how one can extract and further analyze the information to provide insight into the design modeling process. The specific objectives of this study were to: (1) investigate the presence of implicit patterns in 3-D design log files; and (2) to empirically characterize the performance of modelers based on the time it takes them to execute similar modeling tasks. To fulfill these objectives, design log files provided by an international architecture and design firm were analyzed. Using a tailored text file parser, user-model interaction data including modeler characteristics, command type, and command time were extracted from the journal files. To identify implicit command execution patterns, a sequence mining algorithm based on Generalized Suffix Trees (GST) was implemented. It was shown that there is a statistically significant difference between the average time it takes modelers to execute each command sequence. This study extends the existing knowledge by proposing a novel methodology to extract meaningful patterns from time-stamped unstructured design log data. This research contributes to the state of practice by providing a better understanding of information embedded in design log files. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current urban water research involves intelligent sensing, systems integration, proactive users and data-driven management through advanced analytics. The convergence of building information modeling with the smart water field provides an opportunity to transcend existing operational barriers. Such research would pave the way for demand-side management, active consumers, and demand-optimized networks, through interoperability and a system of systems approach. This paper presents a semantic knowledge management service and domain ontology which support a novel cloud-edge solution, by unifying domestic socio-technical water systems with clean and waste networks at an urban scale, to deliver value-added services for consumers and network operators. The web service integrates state of the art sensing, data analytics and middleware components. We propose an ontology for the domain which describes smart homes, smart metering, telemetry, and geographic information systems, alongside social concepts. This integrates previously isolated systems as well as supply and demand-side interventions, to improve system performance. A use case of demand-optimized management is introduced, and smart home application interoperability is demonstrated, before the performance of the semantic web service is presented and compared to alternatives. Our findings suggest that semantic web technologies and IoT can merge to bring together large data models with dynamic data streams, to support powerful applications in the operational phase of built environment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a large construction project delivery is usually handled by numerous subcontractors. Work plan reliability (WPR) of subcontractors is an essential element for improving project performance. Previous research mainly focused on the consequence of the WPR variability of a subcontractor on the following subcontractors in the project task-sequence. Construction industry lacks a good understanding of the social aspect of the subcontractors' WPR. Plausibly and arguably, construction subcontractors and their interactions/relationships in a project constitute a network, conceptualized as a “social network”. “Social conformity” is one of the various social influence types that results in a change of performance/behavior in order to fit in a group. This research aims to understand how conformity plays a role in the subcontractors' performance particularly in their WPR. The objective of this paper is to develop an analytical approach to 1) demonstrate the impact of conformity on the WPR of subcontractors, and 2) identify the role of social network in conformity occurrence in a construction project. Two construction projects, each including a general contractor overseeing several subcontractors, were studied. Findings show that deviation from norms decreases as project proceeds. It also shows that the tendency of subcontractors to follow the norms of their neighborhood (local) is higher than their willing to follow the project norm (global). The research contributes to the body of knowledge as it proposes a social network based approach for the first time to explore how the subcontractors' WPR in a construction project can be under the influence of the conformity phenomenon. Understanding the subcontractors' manner can be useful for project managers when they need to establish a long-term working relationship with a particular subcontractor, or when they need to know much effort is necessary to spend on improvement initiatives of planning reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a methodology for modeling repetitive construction projects by introducing a modeling procedure based on the system–model–simulator nexus, with the aim of developing an intelligent tool to facilitate decision-making in the construction implementation phase. The study offers a conceptualization of the construction processes designed for the monolithic construction computer-aided system (MoCCAS) that enables a flexible approach to managing repetitive projects within a dynamically changing construction environment. The discussion deals with the art of modeling the construction process and introduces a repetitive construction process formulated as (1) a dynamic construction process model in a temporal perspective (DCPM-TP), which is a construction process representation in a three coordinate system; and (2) a managing assumed goals (mag_811) module, designed to simulate process behavior and to create execution strategies. Both models are capable of handling variability during the construction process execution and address the complexity of the relations among the production system components, including resource mutual constraints. A case study is discussed which involves the execution of construction processes by means of a slip formwork system, which exhibits a large degree of repetition and, therefore, is a particularly useful example for illustrating the effectiveness of the modeling approach proposed. The original contribution of this research lies in (i) representing construction process by acknowledging the specificity deriving from the nature of repetitive projects and technological regime; (ii) developing flexible structures (DCPM-TP and mag_811) that enable the construction process complexity to be addressed; (iii) designing a representation of the construction process within the system–model–simulator nexus developed for MoCCAS. A significant outcome of the overall study is the development of a system capable of harnessing the cyclic nature of the repetitive processes and converting the repetitiveness into a vital asset in the construction management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the operation and maintenance phase of industrial plants, it is important to ensure that the as-built condition of every piece of installed instrumentation, and any changes that may subsequently occur, are properly recorded and adjusted in interpretive documents. However, the manual creation of industrial instrumentation models from an acquired set of three-dimensional (3D) point clouds is difficult. This paper proposes an approach for the reconstruction of 3D models of as-built industrial instrumentation from terrestrial laser-scan data and a 3D computer-aided design (CAD) database based on prior knowledge. An experimental evaluation of an actual industrial plant demonstrates that incorporating prior knowledge into the reconstruction process greatly reduces the manual interaction required, facilitating the process of reconstructing 3D models of as-built industrial instrumentation from unstructured (raw) laser-scan data. The proposed approach could be successfully utilized to assist in the reconstruction of 3D models of as-built industrial instrumentation during the operation and maintenance phase of an industrial plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Facilities managers need to identify failure cause–effect patterns in order to prepare corrective and preventive maintenance plans. This task is difficult because of the complex interaction and interdependencies between different building components. Standardization based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) provides new opportunities to improve the efficiency of facilities management (FM) operations by sharing and exchanging building information between different applications throughout the lifecycle of the facilities. This paper aims to utilize BIM visualization capabilities to provide FM technicians with visualizations that allow them to utilize their cognitive and perceptual reasoning for problem solving. It investigates a knowledge-assisted BIM-based visual analytics approach for failure root-cause detection in FM. For this purpose, the inspection and maintenance data of Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) are integrated with a BIM. Moreover, various sources of building knowledge such as fault trees and relationships between components are formally represented. These resources are used to create custom visualizations through an interactive user interface which helps in exploiting the heuristic problem solving ability of field experts to find root causes of failures in a building. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Knowledge management (KM) has been studied extensively in recent years. Some consider knowledge to be the most strategically important resource for any company, but the fragmented, project-based and task-oriented nature of construction work makes it more difficult to implement KM in this sector. This paper presents a survey of perceptions of KM implementation in the Spanish construction sector and compares the results obtained from design and construction firms. Data were collected from the leading civil engineering companies in Spain. The survey found that the Spanish construction industry is aware of the benefits of KM but that systematic KM is not generally implemented. The findings clearly demonstrate that changes in organizational culture are critical to successful KM. The survey also revealed some distinctions between the KM perception of design firms and that of construction firms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The knowledge can be reused and shared among the involved engineers and experts to improve the construction process and reduce the time and cost of solving problems. This paper proposes a new and practical methodology to capture and represent construction project knowledge by using project-based Communities of practice (CoPs) approach. Using project-based CoPs concepts, project participants and engineers can get an overview of available knowledge in core project areas and take appropriate management in tacit and explicit knowledge. This study proposes a Construction Project CoPs-based Knowledge Management (ConPCKM) system for use by general contractors during the construction phase. The ConPCKM is then applied in selected case study of a construction building project in Taiwan to verify the proposed methodology and demonstrate the effectiveness of sharing knowledge. The combined results demonstrate that a ConPCKM-like system can be an effective tool for tacit knowledge management by utilizing the CoPs approach and web technology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Domain ontologies are the cornerstone of informatics systems. Like their philosophical counterparts, they aim at providing a shared representation (language) for the concepts within a domain of knowledge. Ontologies are related more to knowledge representation rather than reasoning. Consequently, they normally can be complemented by artificial intelligence tools to enhance their decision support capabilities. This paper presents an ontology that is an abstract (yet extendable) philosophical (yet practical) conceptualization of the essence of knowledge that relates to construction aspects of infrastructure products. A product is the outcome of any work process and includes physical products, decisions, abstract knowledge and knowledge items generated based on all of these. A set of related constraints, mechanism, actors and process are identified along with these products. Product attributes and modalities are also presented to help describe the behavior of these products and support the generation of types or classes of these products. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Construction is an experience-based discipline. Knowledge or experience accumulated from previous projects plays a very important role in successful performance of new works. More and more construction organizations have adopted commercial Knowledge Management Systems (KMSs) to develop their own Knowledge Management (KM) functionalities. Most of the existing KMSs adopt Communities of Practice (CoPs) for knowledge sharing and exchange. Such an approach is found on the reactive problem-solver (RPS); that is, the problem raised by the questioner in the CoP has to “wait” for the “solution knower” to respond (or reply). Previous research indicated that the RPS approach may suffer in poor time and cost effectiveness. This paper proposes a Proactive Problem-Solver (PPS) approach for the problems encountered in construction engineering and management. Unlike RPS, the PPS proactively solves the problem based on lessons learned from previous projects. Should the solution be not available; the PPS dispatches the problem to the most appropriate domain experts so that the problem can be tackled timely and efficiently. A case A/E consulting firm is selected for implementation of the proposed PPS to demonstrate its applicability. It is shown that the proposed PPS improves more than 89.5% of efficiency both for timeliness and cost-saving of problem-solving. The proposed PPS demonstrates great potentials for improvement of emergent problem solving and enhancement of market competitiveness of a construction organization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Researchers often have to go to multiple information sources in order to identify high-quality, time-critical information. Due to the dynamic and unstructured nature of research results, they are faced with such problems as distributed sources and inter-disciplinary differences in terminology that prevent them from accessing the information they need. This paper presents the System for Active Knowledge Management (SAKM), a web-based system that addresses these problems by supporting effective information search and analysis, and by enhancing communication and collaboration among researchers. The system was implemented in the underground construction field, which has experienced tremendous growth and is facing increasingly complex and challenging research issues. Preliminary testing suggested that a tool like the SAKM could improve the information transfer of research results. The validation stage confirmed that the system met the requirements of the initially defined scenarios. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Due to the new threats and challenges faced by the construction industry today, construction companies must seek new solutions in order to remain ahead of the competition. Knowledge has been identified to be a significant organisational resource, which if used effectively can provide competitive advantage. A lot of emphasis is being put on how to identify, capture and share knowledge in today''s organisations. It has been argued over the years that due to the fragmented nature of the construction industry and ad-hoc nature of the construction projects, capture and reuse of valuable knowledge gathered during a construction project pose a challenge. As a result critical mistakes are repeated on projects and construction professionals have to keep “reinventing the wheel”. Given the nature of construction projects, collaborative knowledge management seems to be the most appropriate solution to capture project based knowledge. Information and communication technologies offer a number of solutions to implement collaborative knowledge management solutions. This paper discusses a range of these solutions and presents a case study where a collaborative knowledge management solution is implemented across a multi functional construction company. The work presented in the case study was carried out while the first author was employed by the case study organisation. A social web application was implemented to solve a particular knowledge sharing problem within the organisation''s concrete pumping business. The new solution provided an effective and simple way to create knowledge by taking employees'' ideas through an iterative cycle of discussion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper has developed a value engineering knowledge management system (VE-KMS), which applies the theory of inventive problem-solving and integrates its creativity tools into the creativity phase of the VE process and thus makes the creativity phase more systematic, more organized and more problem-focused. This attempt will significantly enhance the creativity power of the VE team beyond their collective capability and consequently enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the VE exercise. The data of a number of sample VE exercises has been extracted and stored in the database to test the validity of the information schema of the VE-KMS, and the domain knowledge is condensed and coded into a broad scope of ten disciplines to increase the utility of the VE-KMS. Furthermore, a transport interchange project is used to demonstrate the application of the VE-KMS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Corporate memory tools represent one way organizations can document, retrieve and utilize best practice and lessons learned in enhancing their performance. Using semantic systems in building these tools (along with database and/or AI-based systems) allows for more efficient representation of tacit knowledge. Such systems are based on a common ontology of the subject domain, where entities (such as actors, processes and products) are interlinked to represent the essence of the knowledge in the domain. The paper presents a taxonomy for building construction. The taxonomy includes 6000 concepts and was developed using OWL. It maps to existing classification systems to assure better coverage. The taxonomy is the first attempt to present building construction knowledge in a semantic way. It also represents the foundations developing ontology-based corporate memory systems. To demonstrate the role and contribution of the proposed taxonomy a prototypical ontology for building construction was developed. Furthermore, a framework for agent-based system for supporting semi-automatic generation of reports such as lessons learned, work forms, and meeting agendas. Such agents allow organizations to capture and document its knowledge (in a taxonomy-complaint format) and to feed back post-project knowledge into new ones through access to lessons learned and through pre-defined meeting agendas. Access to these reports is done through semantic search according to the proposed taxonomy. Future research will develop a formal ontology and further develop the framework and implement it in actual organizations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Due to the nature of construction projects, collection of sufficient data is usually challenging for knowledge discovery in construction databases. Previous researchers had explored the capabilities of various artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for the mining of construction databases including symbolic reasoning techniques (e.g., case based reasoning, CBR), and numeric reasoning techniques (e.g., artificial neural networks, ANN, and neuro-fuzzy system, NFS). Both of the above paradigms own their merits and drawbacks on data mining. This paper proposes a hybridization of both symbolic and numeric reasoning techniques, to form a new data mining technique that can achieve a higher mining accuracy and overcome the restrictions of traditional numeric reasoning techniques on data scarcity problems. The testing results show the proposed hybridization can improve relative system accuracy by 44% (ANN) and 68% (NFS) compared with traditional CBR, or by 33.62% (ANN) and 72.88% (NFS) compared with traditional ANN and NFS, respectively. It provides profound potential for improving performance of traditional AI techniques in data mining for scarce construction databases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Collaborative design has become a research paradigm in design studies. To make effective collaborative design, an information service mechanism for helping collaborators to access related information of specific design situation is getting important. This paper presents an approach of applying data mining techniques to reveal information patterns for managing collaborative design information. A visual interface of linking design information based on revealed patterns are presented and issues are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Knowledge Management (KM) has become an important term in the IT industry. Knowledge management involves creating, securing, capturing, coordinating, combining, retrieving and distributing knowledge. Most know-what, know-how and experience exist only in the minds of individual participants during the construction phase of construction projects. The knowledge can be reused and shared among the engineers and experts involved who participate in projects in order to improve the construction process and reduce the time and cost of solving problems. Sharing and reusing knowledge depends on acquiring and preserving both tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge as the property of a corporation. Effectively using information and web technologies during the construction phase of a project enables knowledge to be captured and managed to the benefit of future projects. This study addresses application of knowledge management to construction projects in the construction phase and proposes a Construction Activity-Based Knowledge Management (ConABKM) concept and system for general contractors. This paper proposes the concept of integrating IDEF (Integrated DEFinition function modeling) modeling methods and provides a prototype used for designing construction knowledge management systems. The ConABKM system is then applied in a case study of a highway construction project; the results demonstrate the effectiveness of sharing knowledge in the construction phase. The combined results demonstrate that by utilizing the latest web technology, knowledge exchange and storage concepts and modes of implementation, a ConABKM system is an effective tool for all experts and engineers participating in the construction phase of a project. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As a new and important technology in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), Building Information Modeling (BIM) has witnessed a decade of rapid development. It is highly necessary to analyze the research progress and development trend of BIM. Based on 1369 relevant literatures published and the core database "Web of Science", this study used co-citation analysis, co-word analysis, and cluster analysis to analyze the data and drew the mapping knowledge domains with Citespace software. The results show that BIM research is still in the rapid growth stage. And BIM research is mainly distributed in nine fields. In terms of time sequence, the development of BIM in the past decade developed from data collection to information integration and to knowledge management. The research hotspots are mainly concentrated in eleven directions, which can be further classified into three levels. This paper will provide valuable theoretical and practical reference for the future research of BIM. • Co-citation analysis, co-word analysis, and cluster analysis are used to draw the mapping knowledge domains. • BIM research is mainly distributed in nine fields that constitute the intellectual base of BIM research. • Research hotspots of BIM are mainly concentrated in the eleven directions. • The eleven directions of BIM research are classified into three levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]