| 1. |
- Bahrami, Soheila, et al.
(author)
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Communicating the Acoustic Performance of Innovative HVAC Solutions
- 2018
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In: Springer Proceedings in Energy : Cold Climate HVAC 2018 - Cold Climate HVAC 2018. - 9783030006617 - 9783030006624 ; , s. 1085-1085
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent years have seen considerable advancements in Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV) systems aimed to improved energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality in buildings. A significant aspect of DCV systems is their impact on the acoustic comfort in buildings. This study is part of the Urban Tranquility project with a focus on innovative DCV systems. The objective is to add more understanding about communicating the acoustic performance of innovative HVAC solutions during the diffusion phase of the innovation. The research method is a case study on an innovative DCV system that shows how the acoustic performance of the system is communicated with the stakeholders and in what ways the applied methods can be improved. Data collection has been performed through reviewing relevant technical documents and software as well as semi-structured interviews with different stakeholders. The data has been analyzed with reference to three types of knowledge about an innovation. The results indicate that the acoustic performance of this new DCV system has not been effectively communicated due to inconsistent methods of expressing the information. This has revealed the need for developing a systematic method of communicating the acoustic information on DCV systems with the key stakeholders.
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| 2. |
- Bahrami, Soheila
(author)
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Diffusion of sustainable HVAC innovations in BIM platforms
- 2019
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Sustainability attributes of building ventilation products have considerable impacts on building performance aspects such as energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) manufacturers allocate resources to develop innovating ideas for improving the sustainability attributes of their products. The diffusion of those sustainable innovations, however, needs effective communication of product information with the key stakeholders. Building Information Modelling (BIM) objects represent products such as ventilation system components in design, simulation and purchasing processes. The availability of high-quality BIM objects is thus significant for increasing the efficacy of these processes and demonstrating the relative advantage of the products they represent. BIM library platforms are growing as the ecosystems for creating and exchanging BIM objects. The aim of this research is to explore the ways of facilitating the diffusion of the abovementioned innovations and creating sustainable value in BIM library platforms. Critical realism is the philosophical approach adopted for this research. A qualitative methodology was employed to conduct three studies designed as single and multiple cases. The findings indicate that the potential of BIM library ecosystem for supporting the diffusion of sustainable innovations has not been exploited effectively. The factors influencing the quality of BIM objects, BIM library interfaces, and participation on the platforms run the risk of impeding the diffusion of sustainable innovations. The detailed exploration of relevant standards performed in this research suggest that standardization can improve the quality of product information and BIM objects, and consequently enable the diffusion of innovations. This research has implications for the key stakeholders including HVAC manufacturers, BIM platform owners, standards organizations, Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) companies and facility owners. The theoretical contributions of this research are: a framework for interdisciplinary study of BIM platform ecosystems. A model illustrating the theoretical functions of standards on product information in supporting the diffusion of innovations, a model showing the relations between those functions and the characteristics of BIM objects in supporting the diffusion of innovations, a matrix for the assessment of BIM library platforms, a model visualizing the theoretical function of BIM library platforms in the diffusion of innovations and a diagram illustrating this research as a contribution to the field of applied critical realism.
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| 3. |
- Bahrami, Soheila, et al.
(author)
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Enabling the diffusion of sustainable product innovations in BIM library platforms
- 2019
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In: Journal of Innovation Management. - : University of Porto. - 2183-0606. ; 7:4, s. 106-130
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Building Information Modelling (BIM) objects represent building products in design, simulation, and procurement processes. This paper explores how BIM objects could be created and exchanged to enable the diffusion of innovative products with enhanced sustainability performance. Two BIM library platforms were examined by taking a new approach that integrates the concepts of sustainable value, diffusion of innovations, information, software usability, and platform ecosystems. The findings show that the diffusion of sustainable products can be inhibited due to problems with the mechanisms for creating and exchanging BIM objects, quality of BIM objects, the usability of BIM library platforms,and participation on the platforms. This study deepens an understanding of the problems by focusing on ventilation products in Sweden. Identified shortcomings in the current practices of BIM platform owners and participants could be reduced by effective platform strategies, certification schemes for BIM objects,and BIM object creation processes integrated with product lifecycle management.
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| 4. |
- Bahrami, Soheila, et al.
(author)
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Innovation diffusion through standardization : A study of building ventilation products
- 2019
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In: Journal of Engineering and Technology Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0923-4748. ; 54, s. 56-66
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Standards on product information can facilitate the diffusion of innovations. This paper explores the standards related to the ventilation products with improved acoustic performance and the stakeholders involved. We introduce a new approach to classification and identification of the functions of standards in supporting such innovations. Moreover, our analysis of stakeholders indicates that the companies providing building modeling software have a pivotal role to play regarding the exchange of product information and the diffusion of innovative products. This is due to a market-mediated interdependence among ventilation product manufacturers, software companies, and engineering services firms that can create network effects.
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| 5. |
- Bahrami, Soheila
(author)
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Product Information Quality : A sustainability challenge in design and construction
- 2021
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The adverse consequences of building product performance pose sustainability problems for the built environment. Effective approaches to these problems require a clear understanding of building product information and its provision by manufacturers. This is an essential need for sustainable growth in industrialized construction, a system characterized by the expanded role of the manufacturing sector. Furthermore, a sustainable transition to digitalization in the construction industry needs digital interfaces capable of providing the information required for sustainable design and construction. The aim of this research is to contribute to an increased understanding of how building product information can support sustainability in the built environment. To this end, two fundamental aspects have been examined: the quality of information on the sustainability performance of building products and the usability of the digital interfaces providing such information. This research relies on critical realism and adopts a qualitative methodology to analyze and explain the mechanisms of creating and providing product information in four sequential case studies. Systems thinking and process tracing method have been applied to analyze the flow of product information in the construction industry, the operative processes that can support sustainability, and the stakeholders involved. In the first three case studies, the operative process is the diffusion of innovative ventilation products with superior indoor environmental performance. The first case study identifies the problems affecting this process. The second and third case studies, respectively, explore how product information and information exchange on building information modeling (BIM) library platforms can support the process. Influenced by the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017, the fourth case identifies the product information problems that can contribute to harmful facade fires threatening sustainability in the built environment. The study examines the capabilities for avoiding the identified problems and explores how an operative process of design, manufacturing, and construction of fire-safe facades can be supported. The findings reveal problems concerning the quality of information on the sustainability performance of products and the methods used by manufacturers for presenting such information. These problems have limited the availability and usability of the information in product databases and BIM object libraries. This defective flow of information affects the design process and can lead to unacceptable consequences such as facade fires. In addition, the inefficient methods of supplying product information have impeded the adoption of innovative products with improved sustainability performance. To address these issues, this research proposes the standardization of product information in collaboration with effective legislation and establishes a framework for evaluating the provision of information on the sustainability performance of building products. The theoretical contributions of this work include five tools: (1) a model for applied critical realism towards sustainability, (2) a matrix for the qualitative analysis of BIM object library platforms, (3) a matrix for evaluating the quality of information and digital interfaces, (4) a model of the functions of the standards on product information, and (5) a conceptual model of product information for sustainable design and construction.
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| 6. |
- Bahrami, Soheila, et al.
(author)
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The sustainability challenge of product information quality in the design and construction of facades : lessons from the Grenfell Tower fire
- 2023
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In: Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. - : Emerald Group Holdings Ltd.. - 2046-6099 .- 2046-6102. ; 12:3, s. 488-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: This paper explores the quality and flow of facade product information and the capabilities for avoiding the risk of facade fires early in the design process. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study using the process tracing method is conducted in two stages. First, a thematic analysis of reports and literature identified two categories for the problems that caused fast fire spread across the Grenfell Tower facade. This enabled classifying the identified problems into four stages of a facade life cycle: product design and manufacturing, procurement, facade design and construction. Second, the capabilities for avoiding the problems were explored by conducting in-depth interviews with 18 experts in nine countries, analyzing design processes and designers' expertise and examining the usability of three digital interfaces in providing required information for designing fire-safe facades. Findings: The results show fundamental flaws in the quality of facade product information and usability of digital interfaces concerning fire safety. These flaws, fragmented design processes and overreliance on other specialists increase the risk of design defects that cause fast fire spread across facades. Practical implications: The findings have implications for standardization of building product information, digitalization in industrialized construction and facade design management. Originality/value: This research adds to the body of knowledge on sustainability in the built environment. It is the first study to highlight the fundamental problem of facade product information, which requires urgent attention in the rapid transition toward digital and industrialized construction. © 2022, Soheila Bahrami and Davood Zeinali.
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