The architecture, engineering, construction, and facility management (AECFM) industry has been experiencing many changes since inexpensive networked, mobile computing devices have become ubiquitous. We have also significantly benefitted from learning and working across our traditional disciplinary boundaries. With the rising amount of information and data generated in the life cycle of capital projects, information modeling and data integration have become a critical element in design, engineering, construction, and maintenance of capital facilities. Recent advances in building information modeling (BIM) have the potential to address a number of these pressing challenges. The objective of this talk is to discuss challenges and ongoing research in BIM – more broadly information modeling – including automated BIM upkeep (i.e., LivingBIM); virtual reality for design review; and data integration for climate and community resilience.

Fernanda Leite is the Associate Dean for Research in the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. She is the past Chair of a University-wide Bridging Barriers research initiative called Planet Texas 2050. Most of her research has been in building and infrastructure systems information modeling, Scan-to-BIM, visualization and collaboration technologies, and circular economy in the built environment. At the University of Texas, Dr. Leite has taught courses on Building Information Modeling, Project Management and Economics, Construction Safety, and Sustainable Systems Engineering