BIM-enabled Decision Support System

The challenge addressed by the research was the complexity and inefficiency in decision-making for off-site construction (OSC) projects. The Canadian construction industry faces a growing housing shortage and inefficiencies with traditional construction methods. The transition to OSC presents a solution, promising significant savings and improved project outcomes. However, selecting appropriate OSC strategies involves navigating a complex array of factors and uncertainties, particularly in choosing the most suitable Industrialized Building System (IBS). This research overcame the challenge by developing a two-stage BIM-enabled Decision Support System (BeDSS) framework, which integrates fuzzy logic with the analytic hierarchy process to support OSC decision-making. The framework provides a structured ontology for formalizing decision factors and a Revit plugin for real-time BIM data integration. It evaluates the feasibility of OSC and identifies the most suitable IBS, addressing uncertainty and subjectivity in decision-making. By operationalizing decision criteria and validating them through expert feedback and real-world application, the BeDSS bridges the gap between theoretical models and industry practice. It offers a practical, validated solution that enhances decision-making transparency and efficiency, facilitating the adoption of OSC and digital transformation in the construction industry. The framework's successful implementation in a Canadian project demonstrated its capability to guide stakeholders in selecting optimal construction methods, ultimately contributing to more efficient and sustainable building solutions

The solution developed effectively resolves the challenge of decision-making in off-site construction (OSC) by introducing a comprehensive two-stage BIM-enabled Decision Support System (BeDSS) framework. This framework addresses the complexity and uncertainty inherent in selecting suitable construction methodologies and Industrialized Building Systems (IBS). The BeDSS leverages advanced digital technologies and processes by integrating fuzzy logic with the analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) within a BIM environment. This allows for structured, data-driven decision-making, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods that often struggle with vague or subjective inputs. One of the key features of the BeDSS is its ability to automatically extract relevant data from the BIM model, such as building size, location, and design parameters. This ensures that decision-makers have access to accurate and comprehensive information, facilitating more informed choices. The system also provides automatic scoring recommendations based on project characteristics and client needs, streamlining the evaluation process. By operationalizing decision criteria through a structured ontology and customized FAHP model, the BeDSS formalizes decision factors, enabling transparent and consistent evaluations. The framework was validated through expert feedback and a real-world case study, demonstrating its practical value in guiding stakeholders to select optimal construction methods and IBS solutions. Ultimately, the BeDSS enhances decision-making transparency and efficiency, promoting the adoption of OSC and digital transformation in the construction industry, and pushing the boundaries of innovation and efficiency.