| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 246309 | Automation in Construction | 2015 | 14 Pages |
•A formalized Bim-based methodology for master planning of large-scale developments is presented.•A decision-support system based on the methodology has been developed.•The methodology formalizes information for generation and evaluation of master plans.•The system automates the evaluation of multiple time-dependent metrics.•The system automates integrated visualization of scenarios and their metrics.
The development of large-scale projects has comprehensive effects on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. These effects are closely related to the time of the development. The evaluation of various time-dependent metrics for multiple development scenarios supports stakeholders in making informed decisions for their master plans. However, current practice lacks an integrated methodology that enables automatic evaluation of the metrics and visualization of the evaluation results, making the master planning process arduous. The existing Building Information Model (BIM)-based decision-support methods have been used to create alternatives rapidly, evaluate multiple metrics, and visualize alternative plans prior to actual construction; however, those methods have primarily focused on building design and construction. Therefore, they are limited in their ability to provide an appropriate methodology for master planning of large-scale development projects. This paper introduces the Development Strategy Formulation and Evaluation Methodology (DSFEM), which is tailored for the master plans of large-scale developments. Based on this methodology, we developed the Development Strategy Simulator (DSS), an automated and integrated decision-support system. We applied the DSFEM and DSS to the Qatar Economic Zone (QEZ) project as a case study. The application results demonstrate that the DSFEM and DSS allow for automatic and integrated evaluation and visualization of development scenarios and their metrics, supporting multiple stakeholders in making timely and informed decisions.
