Information and Communication Technology - Case Study Example

The use of Information and Communication Technology in today's building environment has promoted quality and efficiency. From design, planning, mobilization, and execution, ICT has consolidated systematic process into a less complex undertaking. Previously, building and construction have been a slow process incorporating a large team divided into smaller teams to undertake every step of the building. For instance, a complex structure like the Swedish multi-story buildings required a specialized team for every level. These included design, material selection, planning, and implementation (Acar, 2015). However, in the current building environment, ICT has promoted building through consolidation of these processes into a single step carried by a separate team of experts in almost all fields. Further, it has allowed pre-fabrication and testing through modelling and prototyping. Such process has reduced the possibility of failure after design implementation. Prototyping has presented an opportunity for pre-testing and design analysis to identify the likelihood of faults or weaknesses, which could lead to the collapse of a building later (Bröchner, 2012). Therefore, ICT has revolutionized structure and construction environment. The following case study analyses the application of ICT in the construction of Swedish buildings. It will elaborate the application of ICT to promote the effectiveness of structures. It will evaluate the use of design software in Swedish buildings.

The Design and Construction Process

Swedish building environment has presented complex designs. Application of ICT is evident throughout the entire process of design. This paper will consider the case of Landback buildings. These structures are located in the northern part of Sweden. The buildings have unique complexity ranging from simple to sophisticated. The use of a creative material combination is evident (Bröchner, 2012). Application of information technology in creating these designs is paramount and inevitable in this environment. The sizes and appearance of the Landback buildings are different depending on the purpose of each building (Bröchner, 2012). The complexities of designs are dependent on the intensity of ICT application in the entire process of design and implementation.

The process of building construction encompasses several steps. These are design, prototyping, pre-testing (simulation), functional design, sites selection, material selection, and creation of a physical structure. Design involves presenting an innovative idea into a real structure. Swedish buildings are built from original plans, and their complexity has been promoted by the availability of creative designers. A designer creates rough sketches of a structure incorporating simple details, appending all desired peripherals, curves, and features. The drawings are then transferred into a clear and detailed design using design software and computers (Acar, 2015). The software has provided a more comfortable user interface where the program used promptly allow the user to create structures through commands and input devices. Use of computer has permitted inclusion of details in design that could not be included in the manual drawing. Additionally, the software has a built-in feature that is pre-designed and the designer select from wide range structures, which can also be customized to suit the designers' needs.

Prototyping has promoted design and economized the use of resources. A prototype is a model of the desired structure created to analyse its behaviour when exposed to particular conditions. For instance, in locations prone to natural calamities like earthquakes, a prototype of a building can be created to assess its behaviour when actuated to different parameters of an earthquake. Such prototype will help in selecting the required materials suitable for prevailing natural conditions (Bröchner, 2012). Further, it will assist in analysing the feasibility of design in a particular location when the behaviour of a prototype is analysed with similar parameters. Therefore, resources will be conserved after the recommendations made from the analysis. This process is called pre-testing where a building is tested with same conditions as the prevailing environment. Therefore, before the builders embark on implementing a design, the designers will present best practices required, best materials needed, and all activities involved.

The other step in the process of construction is the development of the functional design. Here, the designer will create a working design and present them as diagrams showing the position of each feature as well as the location of every detail and curves. The appearance of the final structure is presented through functional design. These are helpful to the builders while implementing the idea. ICT have promoted this step making it fast and factual. Computer Aided Design allows the creation of the exact appearance of the structure. Therefore, before embarking on the real work, all teams involved will have an idea of the final product.

The uses of ICT have promoted site selection. Design software allows the designers to analyse the location of intended structure to determine its feasibility. Based on environmental conditions, some areas are not suitable for a particular structure. For instance, there are types of soils that cannot support multi-story buildings. As such, pre-testing stage will allow assessment of the suitability of such locations. In this step, the designer will also analyse the practices required before implementing a design in certain locations. Therefore, there will be no wastage of resources when a structure collapses.

ICT has been applied in the process of selecting the required materials. Prototyping allows the designer to make informed decisions concerning the best necessary materials in construction. In the case of Swedish buildings, the designers use models to select the appropriate materials required for a particular structure (Bowden, 2016). Since buildings are used for different purposes, there is a material selection criterion used. Such approaches have been integrated through design software that gives accurate selection depending on loading factors, complexity, purpose, location, size, and shape of a building. The design software combines these elements to determine the most suitable material. The process is fast, accurate, and reliable. Further, the designer can customize the materials used and study the behaviour of the structure under particular conditions.

In the design and construction process, ICT has also been applied in creating final structures. Such structure is a combination of all other processes that enhance the creation of a reliable building. In the creation of Swedish buildings, the operations are combined in a single software with sections from sketching to the rendering of the final structure (Bowden, 2016). Before starting the real construction, everyone has an idea of the final appearance. Therefore, chances of deviation from the consumer requirements are minimized.

In the cause of development of final structure, there is a need for a systematic assessment of its integrity. The ICT has provided mechanisms necessary to provide an overview of the standards used. Computer Aided Design provides the means of analysing the reliability of the final product. Swedish buildings have a pre-test approach and systematic approach to investigating their suitability for the intended purposes. Further, there is a set practice of continuous design and amendment during the process of design implementation. These modifications are possible since the created prototypes can be customized using different specifications to develop new practices (Bowden, 2016). For instance, when there is a change in the purpose of the building during the process of implementation, the Swedish buildings have a clear approach of the specifications that need to be re-examined to establish the necessary changes.

Application of ICT in Geotechnical Investigations

In the process of building, engineers must establish the geotechnical factor influencing construction. These include the subsurface characteristics that may affect the integrity of the building. Previously, technicians and engineers used traditional means of the comparison, probability tests, or assumptions to determine the suitability of a site. The process was erroneous and relied on correct assumptions to establish structures.

The use of design software has reduced the uncertainties created while implementing a design. Most of the structural design software has incorporated parameters for geo-mapping, structural analysis, and simulations. When a design passes through these steps, there is reduced the possibility of uncertainties in the final product. Further, design software help in quantifying risks involved when particular practices are applied. Therefore, there is a low level of inherent risks associated with particular design practices, engineers, and contractors.

The use of ICT in promoting Innovation and Technological Feasibility

In the current technological environment, ICT has played a major role in promoting innovation. It has provided a faster and cheaper way of creating many designs that when compared provide avenues for modifications and creation of new ideas (Kagioglou, 2010). Visual aids help in creating structures that are aesthetically appealing and attractive. Further, when a designer creates many designs, there are rooms for development.

Design software has allowed further studies and applications. The complexity of a structure depends on the time invested in design, prototyping, site selection, and material selection. This software provides better means of analysing the behaviour of certain features when incorporated in a structure (Ahuja, 2014). There are features that when included in a building, reduces their reliability and integrity. Therefore, ICT applications have allowed the engineers to establish these provisions before implementation. Additionally, there is room for assessing the suitability of particular materials in a building. During design, engineers and designers can alternate various materials to evaluate if their applicability. As such, there is room for the creation of new material combination promoting building sector. Therefore, ICT has supported R&D in a construction environment.

The Swedish Buildings present complex combination of materials as well as features. These have allowed construction of dependable and physically appealing buildings (Sterner, 2014). As such, these buildings have a wide difference from the traditional structures that relied on manual work and use of hand tools to create functional designs (Ahuja, 2014). Therefore, there is a paradigm shift between the current and previous buildings.

Discussion and Conclusion

ICT has become a vital component in designing Swedish buildings. The importance starts from the use of geo map applications in analysing the geotechnical factors affecting a particular structure. These processes of design are also subjected to quick analysis aimed at establishing the necessary materials required for the construction. ICT has also benefited designers who work against limited time provided by the consumers. The complexity of current buildings involves an investment of more time to present reliable working designs. Therefore, the use of software allows a fast and reliable means of designing.

The analysis of Swedish buildings shows that most of them have employed engineering techniques like Computer Aided Designs. ICT has presented these technologically feasible approaches for engineers and designers.

Prototyping has promoted design and economized the use of resources. A prototype is a model of the desired structure created to analyse its behaviour when exposed to particular conditions. For instance, in locations prone to natural calamities like earthquakes, a prototype of a building can be created to assess its behaviour when actuated to different parameters of an earthquake. Such prototype will help in selecting the required materials suitable for prevailing natural conditions (Bröchner, 2012). Further, it will assist in analysing the feasibility of design in a particular location when the behaviour of a prototype is analysed with similar parameters. Therefore, resources will be conserved after the recommendations made from the analysis. This process is called pre-testing where a building is tested with same conditions as the prevailing environment. Therefore, before the builders embark on implementing a design, the designers will present best practices required, best materials needed, and all activities involved.

The other step in the process of construction is the development of the functional design. Here, the designer will create a working design and present them as diagrams showing the position of each feature as well as the location of every detail and curves. The appearance of the final structure is presented through functional design. These are helpful to the builders while implementing the idea. ICT have promoted this step making it fast and factual. Computer Aided Design allows the creation of the exact appearance of the structure. Therefore, before embarking on the real work, all teams involved will have an idea of the final product.

The uses of ICT have promoted site selection. Design software allows the designers to analyse the location of intended structure to determine its feasibility. Based on environmental conditions, some areas are not suitable for a particular structure. For instance, there are types of soils that cannot support multi-story buildings. As such, pre-testing stage will allow assessment of the suitability of such locations. In this step, the designer will also analyse the practices required before implementing a design in certain locations. Therefore, there will be no wastage of resources when a structure collapses.

ICT has been applied in the process of selecting the required materials. Prototyping allows the designer to make informed decisions concerning the best necessary materials in construction. In the case of Swedish buildings, the designers use models to select the appropriate materials required for a particular structure (Bowden, 2016). Since buildings are used for different purposes, there is a material selection criterion used. Such approaches have been integrated through design software that gives accurate selection depending on loading factors, complexity, purpose, location, size, and shape of a building. The design software combines these elements to determine the most suitable material. The process is fast, accurate, and reliable. Further, the designer can customize the materials used and study the behaviour of the structure under particular conditions.

In the design and construction process, ICT has also been applied in creating final structures. Such structure is a combination of all other processes that enhance the creation of a reliable building. In the creation of Swedish buildings, the operations are combined in a single software with sections from sketching to the rendering of the final structure (Bowden, 2016). Before starting the real construction, everyone has an idea of the final appearance. Therefore, chances of deviation from the consumer requirements are minimized.

In the cause of development of final structure, there is a need for a systematic assessment of its integrity. The ICT has provided mechanisms necessary to provide an overview of the standards used. Computer Aided Design provides the means of analysing the reliability of the final product. Read More