Staff from Robert Gordon University (RGU) will deliver a keynote address and present a range of research at an international conference on Building Information Modelling (BIM).
Professor Richard Laing, who specialises in Built Environment Visualisation, will deliver the keynote speech at the conference on BIM in Design, Construction and Operations which is being held at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol from September 9 to 11.
Prof. Laing, who is course leader for the university’s MSc Visualisation in Architecture and Built Environment course, is also co-chairing the conference with Professor Lamine Mahdjoubi of UWE, who is a Visiting Professor to RGU.
In his address, Prof. Laing will propose that the industry needs to think about how best to use information technology and BIM, to help ensure that design and construction are most effective, and that buildings best meet the needs of their users.
He said: “It is great to be part of a conference such as this as there are many exciting developments in the area at the moment which will make for a very interesting couple of days
“With regard to my own research, myself and my colleagues describe a process whereby data can be transformed to produce realistic virtual models of buildings, which can then be connected with information about materials, performance and even heritage studies.
“The development of methods to help the incorporation of already existing buildings and areas within BIM will be of great value within facilities management, building conservation and new design alike.”
Also presenting at the conference from RGU is post-doctoral researcher Dr Marianthi Leon, who focuses on Collaboration Management, Visualisation and BIM in the Architecture Engineering and Construction industry.
She will also present research carried out in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen’s Department of Computing Science on the use of argumentation algorithmic methodologies for being able to trace back the decisions impacting on a project’s development.
She said: “The early design stages are the most vital for the development of the design of a building project and the decisions taken during these steps are significant for the further progress of the project, regarding aspects like cost, performance, reliability and sustainability.
“It is truly exciting to present the design processes and protocols we have developed as part of our ongoing research at such a renowned conference.
“We have looked at methods to help make sure that key decisions are made early in the planning stages and that information on that decision making process is then available to those involved later in a project.”
The BIM 2015 conference brings together experts from industry, practice and academia, to debate key topics, develop innovative solutions, and predict future trends.
For more information, visit www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2015/bim-2015