Automation in construction/project management

本研究计划的目的是在目前的发现资助期内，推进知识体系并扩展申请人及其同事在以下两个主要领域的发展：1)可持续民用基础设施系统（CISs）的智能系统和方法，主要关注市政基础设施（MI），占加拿大CISs的70%；2)基于信息技术（IT）的施工管理技术和决策支持系统，用于优化已建成设施的交付。在过去15年中，北美民用基础设施状况的恶化引起了公众的关注，并引起了政府机构、工业专业人员和学者的相当大的注意。ASCE 2009年关于CIS状况的“报告卡”描述了美国水和废水基础设施状况接近不合格等级（D-）。加拿大估计耗资1.6万亿美元的民用基础设施的情况也没有太大不同。拟开展的研究重点是：(1)研究、建模和开发水、废水和下水道网络的非侵入性、非破坏性和智能检测和创新状态评估方法，并在集成环境中开发算法、方法和自动化系统，以支持可持续市政基础设施的优化投资规划和预算分配；(2)探索和扩大对自动化现场数据采集和基于it的建筑工程和管理方法的研究，使用优化算法、智能系统和空间、无线通信和网络支持技术来获取和处理数据和知识，重点是提高加拿大建筑业的生产力和竞争力。拟议的方案有助于培训加拿大经济重要部门的高素质人才。它利用了一项大型创新科技基金研究基础设施拨款所提供的资源，为拟议的研究提供所需的计算设施。

The aim of this research proposal is to advance the body of knowledge and expand upon the development made by the applicant and his coworkers, over the term of the current Discovery Grant, in two major areas: 1) intelligent systems and methods for sustainable civil infrastructure systems (CISs), focusing primarily on municipal infrastructure (MI), which represents 70% of CISs in Canada, and 2) information technology (IT)-based construction management techniques and decision support systems for optimized delivery of constructed facilities. The deteriorating condition of civil infrastructure in North America gave rise to public concern and attracted considerable attention from government agencies, industry professionals and academics over the last l5 years. The ASCE's 2009 "Report Card" on the status of CIS depicts near failing grade (D-) for the condition of water and wastewater infrastructure in the USA. The picture is not much different in Canada's estimated $1.6 trillion civil infrastructure. The proposed research focuses on (1) studying, modeling and developing non-invasive, non-destructive and smart inspection and innovative condition assessment methods for water, wastewater and sewer networks, and on developing algorithms, methods and automated systems -in an integrated environment- to support optimized investment planning and budget allocation for sustainable municipal infrastructure; and (2) exploring and expanding the research conducted on automated site date acquisition and on IT-based construction engineering and management methods using optimization algorithms, intelligent systems and spatial, wireless communication and web enabling technologies for data and knowledge capturing and processing with a focus on improving productivity and competitiveness of Canadian construction industry. The proposed program contributes to training of highly qualified personnel in vital sectors of the Canadian economy. It leverages the resources provided by a major CFI research infrastructure grant that provides the required computing facilities for the proposed research.