An IFC-based framework for optimizing level of prefabrication in industrialized building systems

This dissertation presents a framework on the incorporation of spatial relationships of building elements and constructability analysis in resource planning and scheduling of prefabrication using artificial intelligence techniques. This framework is aimed to move beyond traditional prefabrication method in which building elements are produced individually towards configuring higher level of prefabrication. Level of prefabrication is coined to emphasize the importance of amount of off-site work in Industrialized Building Systems. In this regard, the proposed framework which is called Component Configuration of Prefabricated Structures (CoCoPS) configures the grouping of elements into higher level components in order to minimize the total number of components so as to reduce transportation and installation costs and at the same time to maximize the number of identical components due to the economy of scale in terms of mould fabrication cost.