Improving the planning and design phases of construction projects by using a case-based digital building system

The construction industry is known for having well-defined and systematic processes for the different phases of a project. Improvements, however, are possible with respect to how information is used in these phases and how the experience gained from previous projects is exploited. In this paper, an example of how new technologies can be used to improve the planning and design of buildings is shown. In the example, a Case-Based Digital Building System (CB-DBS) in which every building as an integrated structural system consisting of highly parameterized standard elements is used in the planning phases of projects. In the planning phases, case-based reasoning is used to identify similar completed projects that would enable faster starts of new projects. In the design phases, case-based design is used to identify similar portions of completed projects that would enable faster designs of the more detailed parts of the buildings. A proof of concept using housing projects from a design–build–operate company based in Switzerland is used to test the viability of the proposed system. It is shown that the CB-DBS enabled faster planning and design phases of new projects and improved exploitation of the knowledge gained in previous projects.