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Tongrui Zhang

Bio: Tongrui Zhang is an academic researcher from Auckland University of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Building information modeling & Green star. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 11 publications receiving 363 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A systematic review of the development of green rating systems is presented in this article, where the authors identify the similarity, difference, strength and weakness of green ratings, and examine whether they fully assess the projects in all aspects of sustainability.

353 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an Integrated Knowledge-based Building Management System using nD BIM applications (BIM-IKBMS) was proposed to advance the successful implementation of sustainable building performances.
Abstract: The construction industry has been evolving to embrace sustainability. This has highlighted the necessity to inspect sustainable performances throughout the post-construction building lifecycle. Application of relevant Building Management Systems (BMS) to achieve this goal is essential. Likewise, it is vital to balance the maximization of building energy efficiency and users’ desired level of comfort while employing an efficient BMS for sustainable maintenance of facility operations. The high probability of inaccurate manual building inspections plus the lack of real-time input of dynamic factors urges development of automated BMS. Therefore, Building Information Modelling (BIM) plays a key role towards automation in construction and corresponding management systems. Despite the nD capability of BIM enabling its potential practice during building lifecycle phases, designers-contractors focused primarily on the application of BIM during design-construction management stages. Moreover, integration of knowledge management systems empower handling and sharing of building maintenance information during the building lifecycle. This is essential for post-construction sustainable performance. Focusing on building energy efficiency, this article has reviewed 96 papers and suggests engagement of an Integrated Knowledge-based Building Management System using nD BIM applications (BIM-IKBMS) during the post-construction building lifecycle to advance the successful implementation of sustainable building performances.

90 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study identifies the interoperability of the proposed framework by standardizing communication protocols, data formats, naming convention, evaluation systems, and modulization and generates a range of detailed 3-hierarchical Icam DEFinitions for Function Modeling 0 (IDEF0) diagrams outlining the proposed nD BIM-IKBMS structure.

26 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The research offers a variety of suggestions to encourage Green Star development, with more extensive education playing a critical role, combined with greater integration of BIM with Green Star.

18 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
12 Nov 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the perspectives of the key actors in the New Zealand construction industry towards BIM adoption, including what BIM is, BIM knowledge and understanding, benefits of BIM, and challenges/barriers to BIM.
Abstract: PurposeThis research aims to explore the perspectives of the key actors in the New Zealand construction industry towards BIM adoption. Specifically, four themes are examined, including what BIM is; BIM knowledge and understanding; benefits of BIM adoption; and challenges/barriers to BIM adoption.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach using 21 semi-structured interviews with industry experts was adopted.FindingsThe results raise a question concerning whether the New Zealand construction industry needs a unique definition of BIM to achieve a clear and consistent understanding amongst construction practitioners. It was found out that most of the construction practitioners in New Zealand are not well aware of BIM, especially the contractors, QSs, supply chain companies and the SMEs. Fourteen potential benefits and ten barriers/challenges to BIM adoption were identified. Individually, time-saving was considered as the most benefit of BIM adoption while BIM understanding was suggested as the most significant barrier by all the interviewees.Originality/valueThe research provides valuable insights into BIM understanding as well as recommendations regarding BIM adoption in New Zealand. The results could be considered baseline information for the companies and government to have effective strategies towards BIM adoption. Furthermore, it confirms that characteristics such as benefits and barriers to BIM adoption amongst different countries could be similar. Therefore, it could be useful to analyse the studies, strategies and practices of the pioneer countries in BIM adoption for the implementation.

17 citations


Cited by
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Book Chapter
01 Jan 2016
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compare TBL approaches and principles-based approaches to developing such sustainability criteria, concluding that the latter are more appropriate, since they avoid many of the inherent limitations of the triple-bottom-line as a conception of sustainability.
Abstract: Sustainability assessment is being increasingly viewed as an important tool to aid in the shift towards sustainability. However, this is a new and evolving concept and there remain very few examples of effective sustainability assessment processes implemented anywhere in the world. Sustainability assessment is often described as a process by which the implications of an initiative on sustainability are evaluated, where the initiative can be a proposed or existing policy, plan, programme, project, piece of legislation, or a current practice or activity. However, this generic definition covers a broad range of different processes, many of which have been described in the literature as 'sustainability assessment'. This article seeks to provide some clarification by reflecting on the different approaches described in the literature as being forms of sustainability assessment, and evaluating them in terms of their potential contributions to sustainability. Many of these are actually examples of 'integrated assessment', derived from environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA), but which have been extended to incorporate social and economic considerations as well as environmental ones, reflecting a 'triple bottom line' (TBL) approach to sustainability. These integrated assessment processes typically either seek to minimise 'unsustainability', or to achieve TBL objectives. Both aims may, or may not, result in sustainable practice. We present an alternative conception of sustainability assessment, with the more ambitious aim of seeking to determine whether or not an initiative is actually sustainable. We term such processes 'assessment for sustainability'. 'Assessment for sustainability' firstly requires that the concept of sustainability be well-defined. The article compares TBL approaches and principles-based approaches to developing such sustainability criteria, concluding that the latter are more appropriate, since they avoid many of the inherent limitations of the triple-bottom-line as a conception of sustainability.

859 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The paper reviews the multi-faceted applications of BIM during the construction stage and highlights limits and requirements, paving the way to the concept of a Construction Digital Twin, described in terms of underpinning research themes, while elaborating on areas for future research.

401 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the different certification procedures employed in several countries all over the world, considering also which Green Building Rating System (GBRS) is only applied in its own country and which one is developed in other countries by means of proper adaptations.
Abstract: Building performances play a fundamental role in the worldwide energy scenario. In the last years, many countries have developed certification procedures in order to rate the environmental sustainability of buildings, aiming at reducing energy consumptions and environmental impacts during the construction, management and operational phases of a building. This study firstly provides an overview of the different certification procedures employed in several countries all over the world, considering also which Green Building Rating System (GBRS) is only applied in its own country and which one is developed in other countries by means of proper adaptations. Five widespread and well known green building rating systems (CASBEE, Green Star, BREEAM, LEED and ITACA) are then analyzed in detail and differences and similarities among them are highlighted. To this aim, six new macro-areas (site, water, energy, comfort and safety, materials and outdoor quality) are defined and a normalization procedure is implemented, in order to provide significant information about the sustainability aspects taken into account in the different rating tools and aiming at comparing them. This comparison allows to identify the main features of the five tools and to highlight qualitative and quantitative differences. The analysis shows that the certification tools are not homogeneous from both points of view. The aim of this work is to understand which issues have more influence on the final performance rate of each system and to give to final users a deeper knowledge of the aspects included in these tools.

195 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
Geoff Zeiss1
23 May 2011
TL;DR: The integration of BIM, geospatial, physical modeling and 3D visualization provides a framework of interoperability that enables an intelligent synthetic model of entire urban environments.
Abstract: Using digital design models has been a common practice in the manufacturing industry for decades. Project teams at companies such as Boeing and Toyota have placed digital models at the core of their collaborative, concurrent engineering processes. The same approach, called building information modeling (BIM), is increasingly being adopted by architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) service providers for building and infrastructure projects. Unlike CAD, which uses software tools to generate digital 2D and/or 3D drawings, BIM facilitates a new way of working: creating designs with intelligent objects that enables cross-functional project teams in the building and infrastructure industries to collaborate in a way that gives all stakeholders a clearer vision of the project. Models created using software for BIM are intelligent because of the relationships and information that are automatically built into the model. Components within the model know how to act and interact with one another. BIM not only enables engineers architects and construction firms to work more efficiently, but creates a foundation for sustainable design, enabling designers to optimize the environmental footprint of a structure during the design phase. Convergence is breaking down the barriers between technical disciplines. The integration of BIM, geospatial, physical modeling and 3D visualization provides a framework of interoperability that enables an intelligent synthetic model of entire urban environments.

194 citations