Abstract
The Built Environment sector, which includes planning, design, and construction, produces long-lasting products like spaces, buildings, and infrastructure. Design documentation must adhere to strict norms and regulations to transition from paper to construction. However, there is a lack of specifications in the technological setup that supports design teams in seamlessly evolving the product and its corresponding documentation. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the industry's reliance on in-person communication, opportunistic information exchange, and decision-making.
The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry historically relied on physical artifacts such as sketches, drawings, and models for collaboration and decision-making. Since then, the industry has undergone a significant digital transformation, with new technologies digitizing every part of the design process. Despite this progress, there remains a gap in integrating these technologies in a coherent and non-disruptive manner, enabling end-to-end digitalization and a transparent workflow. This transformation brings numerous benefits but also challenges, from data protection to miscommunication due to fragmented data exchange.
The objective of my PhD research is to identify existing collaborative work patterns, particularly opportunistic ones, and explore the role of information technologies in shaping these patterns. Additionally, it aims to investigate the potential for more efficient utilization of state-of-the-art technologies for multi-disciplinary collaboration. The research's primary contribution is shedding light on the underexplored impact of technologies on the work of multi-disciplinary teams and their indirect influence on project outcomes. It also proposes a framework for assessing team collaboration infrastructure and identifying areas and methods for improvement.
A systematic and practical approach is necessary to organize the various parts of the architectural design collaboration into a structured model with integrated yet individual components. The findings from this research provide insights to enhance our understanding of how technology can optimize collaborative processes within the Built Environment sector and lead to improved project outcomes.