Digital Building Process

The construction industry is in the middle of a significant development step - the digitalisation of construction processes. Similar to the buzzword "Industry 4.0", one could speak here of "Building 4.0". The term "BIM" (Building Information Modelling) is often used for this, initially referring to the holistic modelling of the building with all its component properties. However, BIM also refers to an innovative working method that includes the centralisation of project data and knowledge. In other words, the construction process chain is digitally connected. This digitalisation is only at the beginning of its development.

However, digitalisation will not only influence the planning of the building but, above all, the building processes themselves. There will be an active and passive influence on the construction processes. Suitable modern management approaches (such as lean management) can now be integrated into construction processes.

Therefore, it is essential to look at the processes in more detail because it is true:
"If a bad process is digitised, it remains a bad process. "
For this reason, analysing the ACTUAL processes is at the beginning of every digitisation step for the ZDB. Based on this, we examine optimisation potentials to rethink and adapt the processes with new technologies.

Flowchart on the topic of digitalisation in the construction industry

© A. Gerger

Digitalisation in 5 steps: 1. determination of the status quo, 2. process analysis, 3. determination of the innovation potential, 4. creation of a vision and 5. implementation of the vision including continuous evaluation.

The research unit Digital Building Process addresses these issues in research work on an interdisciplinary basis in cooperation with research partners within and outside the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and industrial partners. It is also a central contact point for research collaboration with the construction and software industries.